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Graduates can grow beyond big challenges
(by Christine Thome - June 04, 2009)
BEYOND MY CONTROL, BY CHRISTINE THOME
Graduates can grow beyond big challenges
I've been waiting for my invitation to be a commencement speaker for the graduation ceremonies at an institute of high learning. President Barack Obama got the invite from Notre Dame. Ellen DeGeneres got hers from Tulane. I was at least hoping to be invited to speak at Mrs. Freshman's preschool graduation. I'm sure the invite was simply lost in the mail, or perhaps my kids forgot to write down the very important phone message. Again.
With so much advice just bubbling up inside of me, I guess I will have to transfer my speech to paper and bestow upon you, my lucky readers, the wisdom that I intended to impart on future generations.
Graduation is a noun, meaning a ceremony to mark the completion of studies. This completion did not come overnight; it was gradual, and, like life, sometimes a slow, gradual approach does more good than one large gesture.
When you were a toddler, the world was huge! Your dad was a giant, the kitchen counters towered over you, and the only thing remotely your size was the family dog. But gradually you grew, and everything became smaller until it was the manageable size it is today.
As you go forward, there will be many instances in which life, once again, seems huge and unmanageable. But remember that living and learning is a gradual process, and, as you grow as a human being, these obstacles will eventually come into perspective, and you will be able to handle them.
For the first 18 years of your life, your parents regularly told you "no" and expected you to obey. But for the rest of your life, please promise me that you will never take "no" for an answer. Question everything. Believe nothing.
If you really want to do something, don't let someone else tell you that you shouldn't, couldn't or wouldn't. Consider their advice, for most of it is given in good nature. But if, after considering all the negatives, you still feel a passion for whatever it is you want to do, then go forward and make your dreams a reality.
In college, I almost flunked freshman English. The professor was much more concerned with comma placement than with creative and thoughtful writing. One comma out of place meant an instant F, regardless of content. She thought I had no future as a writer, and I thought she was wrong. My editors today will tell you that I still misplace commas, among other grammar atrocities, but my passion for writing has never died. In fact, it has gradually strengthened as I've experienced more of life.
College counselors tried to talk me out of pursuing a career in public relations. "It's women dominated," one said. "You'll never make any money," another cried. And they were right. In the 20 years of my on-again-off-again public-relations career, I have met some of the most intelligent, funny and creative women in the world, and, although I am filthy rich in my heart and ambition, I will never have an overflowing bank account.
Some of you may not want to leave your home and venture into today's society. Heck, there are many days I want to run back home to the financial safety of my parents! The world seems to be spinning out of control, but the problems we have today did not happen overnight -- they happened gradually. And I have no doubt that, slowly and gradually, your generation will be able to put the world back on its axis.
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