I'm in a line of work where I have to listen to a lot of graduation speeches-- at least one per year. Yesterday, though, I got a phone call asking me to give one at my old high school's graduation in three and a half weeks.
This is kind of a weird situation, because while it has been 20 years since I graduated (twenty years this year, in fact), and I have had a fairly successful career to this point, I'm not sure I can distill any generally applicable advice from that. I've been very lucky in a lot of things, and most of the coolest stuff I've had the opportunity to do has been through some weird and contingent process.
So, I thought I would throw this out to my wise and worldly readers. If you were giving a talk to a graduating high school class, what would you say? And let's take the "sunscreen" references as given, please.
I've got two vague ideas in mind. One would be a kind of "think like a scientist" spiel, basically building off stuff I said in posts like What Everyone Should Know About Science and Science Is What Makes Us Human, and talking up the virtues of science as systematized curiosity. This has the advantage of being fairly generally applicable and not too dependent on my personal history.
The other line would be a "be open to opportunity" sort of thing. I've been very lucky in a lot of ways, but that luck has come about in part because I took advantage of opportunities that came my way. I ended up in academic research in part because one of my freshman physics professors announced in class that they were looking for a summer research student, and I followed up on that. That got me a couple of summer jobs and an in with the NIST group where I did my grad school research. This is more personal, which in some ways makes for a better speech, but it runs the risk of coming across as bragging.
It's also a little difficult to do that one without having it reek of economic privilege-- it's easy to run with opportunities and do what you love when you don't have to earn money to support a family. That's going to be a fairly immediate concern for a fair number of graduates, unless the local demographics have changed in improbable ways over the last twenty years.
It's a tricky question. I'll come up with something, I'm sure, but I am interested to hear what other people think.
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Luck favors the prepared. What you think of as a bunch of one off chances are merely examples of you being able to take advantage of opportunity because you had the talent and training necessary when they arrived. That doesn't change no matter who you are or what field you're in. There's always something cool going on somewhere involving people with the necessary talent and skill. You worked to make yourself one of those people.
I tell them two things: !. Pay Attention! Don't be oblivious to the world around you. you may see something that interests you, or that you would like to change.
2. Ignore things: Turn off the TV, computer, iphone and a few other things so that you will be ready to pay attention to what is important. Celebrity lifestyles are not as important as your own.
I get to make fun of myself by pointing out one of my summer jobs (high school through college) involved screening sand and loam (a true punishment job). by the end of the summer I had an idea about the angle the piles made, and when I went back to school I checked the soil samples I had saved. I came home around Columbus Day, stopped in at work to see the gang, and announced my relationship.
Gee, Joe, it's called the "angle of repose", it's in all the civil engineering handbooks.
Even though I hadn't discovered anything too new, I was happy that my powers of observation led me in the right direction.
This advice isn't particularly profound, but you'd be shocked at how many people forget it. Remember that you aren't the main show. People are there for the graduation, not the speakers. That means keep it short and light. Try to focus on getting across one point that they can remember, not a 12 point outline for their future.
The "science is what makes us human" stuff is good, but remember that you're speaking to an audience of more than just future scientists (heck, some of them probably dreaded every day of science class and are looking forward to never opening up a biology book again), so think of a way to make it apply to all of them. I like the previous poster's "pay attention" idea as a good way to do this.
I've been asked to give a 10 minute speech to the adults graduating from the adult ed centre so I'm looking for inspiration, too. I like joemac53's suggestions (pay attention, ignore things).
I also plan on something along the lines of 'keep asking 'why is that so?' and 'why is it not something different?' and also 'keep in contact - you can come to us for advice or just to let us know how you are doing.'
One of the best speeches was that by van Horne on the completion of the first railway across Canada, after several thousand miles and several years of arduous and dangerous work. The full text was 'All that I can say is that the work has been well done in every way.' Says it all, really,
With more freedom comes more responsibilities, we're taught as kids. But in their 20s, these kids will get a whole lot more freedom with only a little more responsibility; the major responsibilities (marriage, a mortgage, kids) come later. Coupled with a physical resilience that will also ebb as they enter their 30s, they'll be able to do any number of things that people your age can only wistfully contemplate: backpack around the world, party until the wee hours and still get up for work the next day, work all-out on a presidential campaign, spend 20000 hours in a windowless lab trapping atoms--or painting or writing. All are only feasible when you haven't made other substantial commitments of yourself. And how you choose to use this flexible freedom will absolutely set the stage for the rest of your life, so choose carefully.
Actually, I think the "think like a scientist" idea is a great one for ALL humans, and this is coming from a teacher of history and English. Logic is rarely taught anymore, and students often don't think through the differences between association and causation. It's important.
I have some other thoughts about taking chances and trying things you just know you won't like, but they're still a little less than half-baked. Sorry.
Know the difference between BS and reality.
This probably isn't a good motivator, but I really don't think it matters too much what you say, because they're not going to listen anyway. My own high school graduation was 10 years ago and I have no idea what was said. My best friend spoke, and I'm not sure if I could have told you what he said 2 days later.
So, if they're not going to get anything long term out of it, go for some short term gains and tell some jokes. I would have welcomed 5 minutes of good jokes to break up a ceremony that consisted of reading of 674 names.
Just tell them to take college seriously, and enjoy the hell out of it. That the most common regret of most college grads cum responsible adults is that if they'd known how unique a time college was, when your JOB is to learn as much as you can and as much as you want, they would have done things very differently. Challenge them to be the exception to the adage "education is wasted on the young."
I like your ideas a lot, especially the second one. You needn't sound like you're privileged or bragging -- opportunity's knock can take many forms, and you can keep an ear out for it even if you're supporting a family rather than going to college.
For the benefit of those who aren't science inclined, make sure you ally that "think like a scientist" bit clearly with both critical thinking skills *and* learning enough statistics to be able to spot when people are using statistics inappropriately.
I think I've mentioned this before, but the only college course I took that has had direct application in every job I've ever held was statistics.
"You are entering a world so deeply in debt that liquidation of the entire planet would not cover it. Seven billion people are eating your future, and their many children will overrun your few. You will be supporting 60 million retired Baby Boomers whose appetites for what has been stolen from them - never mind insanely expensive healthcare - vastly exceeds your ability to be taxed even if the Feds take every penny. 60% of America will be subliterate minorities demanding their rights.
"Energy generation is declared sin by Enviro-whiners. Petrochemistry will not supply you with personal fuel and polymeric materials. Infrastructure is rusted and crumbling. International politics is now spiced by everybody having nuclear warheads and long range missiles. America is purely incapable of physical manufacture at scale. American finance is an suppurating wound.
"You will witness the fall of First World Civilization, never to reappear. Cities will burn. Your future sums to dominions of poverty, hunger, disease, filth, death, and silk-clad priests with whips.
"Now get up off your fat asses and do something about it."
That is awesome that you are speaking at the graduation...You could always re-read part of your speech from your own graduation and update it with what you have now (really) learned!
I think a big thing for WP is looking for open doors and at least going through them to see what is there...in many forms (work, school, relationships, etc.) Of course life may come full circle (or 3 houses around the circle in my case :) but you never know your path until you try the doors.
You've got a lot of quality advice available in those students you work with up there, tap them for advice/suggestions/funny quotes.....intersperse the speech with sage wisdom from facebook status updates....don't be afraid to go the personal route, it can be done humbly and they are expecting you to be an expert anyways, don't run from that, just respect it. Charles Gibson's speech last year was so great because of his genuine connection with the place, you have that as well, use it and blend it with your real life insights, genuine speechs always are the best....and congrats by the way, should be a great experience, well deserved....don't forget to plug the book, after all....you are big in Japan.
I wish I had something more profound than "You will f@#$ up. You will pay dearly for it. And you will survive and move on with life."
Since life often ends up being highly nonlinear, I'd go with the "weird and contingent process." I'd also stress that decisions are made by those who show up.
But they're 18, and right now they're convinced that they are smarter and wiser than you.
For what it's worth, I think that your "Science is what makes us human" post is your best one to date, and it might serve as the basis for an excellent graduation speech.
Thanks, Uncle Al. My youngest is graduating high school Saturday. I can't wait to sent her to your comments. You are the (put it in perspective) MAN!
Existence is futile, prepared to be sublimated.
The "be open to opportunity" line sounds great to me. Beyond that, how about some confidence-boosters like "follow your heart" and "trust yourself"?