0 to 25: Are You Read? My First Commencement Speech

Today I gave my first commencement speech at Wyncote Academy. It was truly a pleasure to fill in at the last minute for their original speaker. Here is a little taste of what I said today: 

As early childhood educator I am always reminded of the power of words and their impact on our lives. It has been a little under a week since the death of Muhammad Ali, and he has left us with a few great words of wisdom that I would like to call “Words of Wisdom to get you through the next 25 years. Why do you ask I place such great focus on the next 25 years of your life? It is because they will be the years of tremendous growth for you as a human being. During this time, many of you will attend college and graduate, marry, beginning your dream job and much more. So I would like to share with you a few of Ali’s most powerful quotes and how you can apply them to the next 25 years of your life.

The 1st quote of wisdom is Ali’s “Don't count the days. Make the days count.” This quote is very reflective of how you will want to spend every day of your life. Often the transitions in our lives cause us a temporary sense of discomfort. For some this can be greater than others, but we all will feel it. And at times, it will make you want to quit. Don’t. Every transition leads to something better and giving our best on most days is essential to making this happen.

The 2nd quote of wisdom is Ali’s “If my mind can conceive it, if my heart can believe it--then I can achieve it.” One of the greatest predictors of success in life is our internal belief that our goals are achievable. All us have been told or will told that something we want to do it not achievable. Ali’s life proves that wrong. At age 18 he won a Gold medal at the Rome Olympics. At age 22 he beat Sonny Liston to become a Heavyweight Champion. At age, 42 he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s and would go on battling the debilitating disease for next three decades. My point is that our internal belief can trump all the negative nellies we may face. Whether it be during your collegiate career, profession career, or personal life.

The 3rd quote of wisdom is Ali’s “A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” This one is one of my favorites because it reminds us of the importance of continuing your education. Whether you go to college, a trade school, or directly into the workforce you must always hone your craft. To do that you must stay current and this is often done through getting your education and continuing to be a lifelong learner. In addition, when you read and do so broadly and often, you open your eyes to concepts, people and beliefs that you may not otherwise be aware of. So expect to change greatly over the next 25 years, and it will be for the better. 

Lastly, the 4th quote of wisdom is Ali’s “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” This is by far the best advice I can give you. As human beings we must develop the capacity for compassion for our fellow mankind as well as animals. This compassion often manifests itself in service or giving back. Many of you may be thinking about pursuing a profession where service is the heartbeat such a teaching, social work and the medical field. Regardless of your future pursuits, make time for service. It is in our service that many blessings are received. Many people who dedicate their lives to service and/or incorporate service into their lives have a higher sense of purpose, stay physical and mentally active, have reduced stress levels and live longer (Create the Good, 2016). I would encourage you to find an organization that you can support throughout your lifetime and make time to volunteer your services on ongoing basis.

I wish you all great success and remember that the next 25 years will seem like 0-60 and the best way to be prepared is to live life fully, with an optimistic and giving heart. Congratulations on your achievement today! 



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