WOW, JUST WOW

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In related news:

High school teacher tells graduating students: you’re not special
Commencement speech aims to deflate self-important kids

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/nati...icle-1.1092109

A good dose of reality. He was tactful, and truthful. I don't see any harm in that. The few that needed to hear those words likely didn't, anyway.

[KB3LAZ]

A good dose of reality. He was tactful, and truthful. I don't see any harm in that. The few that needed to hear those words likely didn't, anyway.

I am willing to bet that at least one of them was/is/will be exceptional. I think he could have got the point across faster by saying ¨You are nothing special, just like me". Also, you are right, the ones that think they are "the shit" and needed to hear that, didnt pay attention.

[n2ize]

A good dose of reality. He was tactful, and truthful. I don't see any harm in that. The few that needed to hear those words likely didn't, anyway.

Hmmm... I have mixed feelings.In some ways I am sick of hearing the stereotypical "you've been pampered and coddled" routine. Sure. Children are born they are dependent on adults. That is a given. We don't need someone making a guilt trip out of it. At the same time I do think it is important to explain to middle class and poor kids that they are basically shit. They can have al the education and background in the world but they'll end up shoveling shit against the tide unless they do something to make a name and reputation for themselves. That in life they are going to get one kick in the ass after another and, that nobody is going to praise them for or even notice whatever good they may do in life but, they will be noticed and receive much criticism and pay dearly for even the tiniest mistake. They need to understand that nobody is going to knock on their door and say "hey, you are a nice guy, I think I'll give you a great high paying job and some free money to go with it."

I will say it is different than the typical graduation speech.

[n2ize]

I am willing to bet that at least one of them was/is/will be exceptional. I think he could have got the point across faster by saying ¨You are nothing special, just like me". Also, you are right, the ones that think they are "the shit" and needed to hear that, didnt pay attention.

The ones that think they are "the shit" are going to find out that they certainly are "the shit" (literally) when they get their first kick in the ass.

[KB3LAZ]

I am from the generation of coddling. Where they would tell us, you can do anything you set your mind to. That you never know where life is going to take you. You are just along for the ride, what you do on that ride is up to you. Were they exaggerating, probably. However, people seem to think that we are stuck in this mold that we are born into. That really isnt the case.

You truly get what you put in. You get kicks to the ass and slaps to the back of the head, as John put it, but that is part of life, and it is reality.

People seem to judge life on a set scale. The problem is that, to me, life is about being happy. What one considers success, regardless of what some may think, is subjective.

I would consider myself successful, and I am happy. The best part of that is that my life has only just begun. It will get better, too. I will see to that. That may sound like conceit but it isnt.

[KB3LAZ]

The ones that think they are "the shit" are going to find out that they certainly are "the shit" (literally) when they get their first kick in the ass.

In my graduating class, some have done just that. Some have also rebounded and turned into fine young adults. It is funny how some people change after high school, but it is not funny how some dont.

[W5GA]

Excellent speech.

[WN9HJW]

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[WN9HJW]

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[KB3LAZ]

I don't remember my high school graduation speech.That was almost 40 years ago and Richard Nixon was President (well, until a few months later).

I doubt if any of these kids will remember theirs, either.

In any case, I'm pretty sure that my high school graduation speaker did not tell us we all were "special". If he did, he would have been shouted down and kicked off the faculty as a commie.

I remember my graduation, it was a drag. They played a song. They announced who was going to what school or what branch of the military, etc. They teachers said they would miss us and wished us luck in life. Our valedictorians made some speak that none of us listened to. Then we got our papers and all went our separate ways.

What I remember more are the memories high school itself created and the lessons it taught. Not only education wise from a book but life lessons as well.

Things that I have recently learned about high school. Lets start off with a statistic. My graduating class should have been 144 people but by the time people moved, dropped out, or passed away from either an accident or taking their own life we were down to 119. Now, seven years later we are down to 99. Twenty of my class mates have died over a seven year span. Three by suicide and the others either in via the military or car accidents, etc. We have one right now that is dieing of a brain tumor. ...that´s a lot of people dieing under the age of 30. My parents, aunts, and uncles seem to this this is normal. They said when they went to their 10th reunion 10-15% of their graduating class had died off..shame.