Check It Out: Grads are headed to infinity and beyond!
By Joan Janzen
joanjanzen@yahoo.com
There are hundreds of parades taking place throughout Saskatchewan and Alberta ... graduation parades, accompanied by abbreviated outdoor ceremonies. Those abbreviated ceremonies could also imply the commencement speeches will also be shorter than traditionally presented.
Those speeches are packed full of advice and encouragement, but at the end of the day, does anyone remember what was said at their graduation commencement speech? So I decided to venture where no human being has gone before, and I began listening to famous commencement speeches from past graduations. After listening to a couple of complete talks, I concluded I could fast forward to the last five minutes and hear the overall summary, without needing to listen to the previous twenty minutes of preamble.
I also came to the conclusion that the most helpful talks weren’t delivered by famous people, but by everyday local citizens. One of those talks was given by a businessman who owned a reddi mix concrete plant. As a youngster he was passionate about trucks and equipment, and he had a neighbour who not only recognized his passion, but was willing to take him under his wing and teach him all about running big equipment.
He said he was lucky to have people help him along the way. Mentors who gave their time and wisdom to help him achieve, and business partners who helped him achieve his dream of owning a business at a time when they didn’t have to take the risk.
“Strive to surround yourself with positive people. Don’t go around telling people your problems because 90 percent of people don’t care, and the other ten percent are glad you have them,” the businessman said.
“Keep positive thoughts flowing through your mind, even when it’s tough to do so,” he advised. “My mentor taught me that saying please and thank you don’t cost you anything but are very valuable. Treat people the way you want to be treated, even if it’s not easy.”
“Make adversity an opportunity from which to grow and learn. Be better, not bitter,” he said. He spoke about his youngest son who was born with a mental disability, but instead of being an adverse circumstance, the youngster grew up to be the glue that held their family close together.
“Find something you’re deeply passionate about. If you’re not passionate about something, you’re wasting your time. Being passionate about something will make every day a new adventure,” the business owner said.
“Always strive to get better no matter what your age or level of success,” he advised. He lived this out in his own life. At the age of 42, he completed his college degree by going to night school.
“Don’t buy into the theory that you can’t get close to the people you lead or employ. People know if you’re genuinely interested in them and their well being,” he concluded.
Yet another everyday business person said to his audience of graduates, “My dad dropped out of school at Grade 3 to help on the family farm. But he kept on learning because he never stopped asking questions, and he always took the time to listen to the answers.” We can learn from the example of pre-schoolers who continually ask ‘why?’ No matter how old you are, you should continually ask questions, and dig for answers.
And finally I’ll throw in a few unique quotes voiced throughout the years by unknown individuals. 1. Every year, many, many stupid people graduate from college. And if they can do it, so can you. 2. Congratulations on getting through the easiest part of life. 3. You will never have more energy or enthusiasm, hair, or brain cells than you have today. So use them wisely. 4. If you think you are too small to be effective, you have never been in the dark with a mosquito.
To all the grads of 2021 I leave you with the famous words of Buzz Lightyear, “You are headed to infinity and beyond!”