"You're not special"

quoted from http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout...ker-tells-students-not-special-145709954.html

good stuff. I wish my graduation had been as much of a reality check as this one. And I really hope those students got the message, because honestly, of the handful of speeches given at my ceremony, only one of them wasn't the same rehashed crap we've heard year after year at every assembly.


your thoughts?

Also, I highly recommend you follow the link at the top and watch the video. The whole speech is very good.

 

That's a great speech..

 

That was quite a compelling read. Although at the time they would probably have though he was just being an arrogant jack ass, he was really - as you said, giving them a reality check.

Though, if there are 7000 people like one "one in a million" person, those other ones are probably not utilizing their talents in the same way as you are, effectively adding another variable to the mix.

 

Yeah, I was a little surprised at the audience's reaction when he first says "you're not special". There's was laughter when I expected there to be astonishment. Seems like they started to listen seriously as the speech went on though.

 

Meh, I am really on the fence about this one.

What he is saying may be true and unfortunately really is the bitter reality of things. But he could have worded it much better in my opinion... it comes out sounding like he is basically just belittling the graduating students lol. I haven't watched the video and seen the whole speech though, so I will report back once I've watched it.

I think the message towards the end is important though, and he should have done more to emphasize the truth that people don't necessarily have to achieve massive things to live a successful and fulfilling life. To conclude, I love when he says, "do whatever you do for no reason other than you love it and believe in its importance."

 

One of my teachers used to say this all the time. But the message is correct at the end of the day.

 

He's right. And what he says actually makes you think about what or where you stand in life.

 

700,000 not 7,000

 

no its 7,000

7,000 multiplied by one million=7 billion

700,000 multiplied by one million= 700 billion

 

I saw this article the other day. I was actually quite compelled at this. This is a speech he wants them to remember for the rest of their life, and I'm sure he got the job done. I'd have loved to have had a teacher like this.

 

A fantastic speech, both eloquent and truthful.