"You're not special"

[T V]

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

Social media was buzzing about a Boston-area high school teacher's blunt commencement speech that told students they "are not special."

Wellesley High English teacher David McCullough Jr. told graduates "You are not special. You are not exceptional," quoting empirical evidence:

"Across the country no fewer than 3.2 million seniors are graduating about now from more than 37,000 high schools. That's 37,000 valedictorians ... 37,000 class presidents ... 92,000 harmonizing altos ... 340,000 swaggering jocks ... 2,185,967 pairs of Uggs," he said in the speech published in the Boston Herald.

He added: "Even if you're one in a million, on a planet of 6.8 billion that means there are nearly 7,000 people just like you."

McCullough makes a statement on parents who overdo it in a modern society focused on collecting achievements. "You've been pampered, cosseted, doted upon, helmeted, bubble wrapped ... feted and fawned over and called sweetie pie." But he adds in a video on Wellesley Channel TV YouTube page. "You see, if everyone is special, then no one is. If everyone gets a trophy, trophies become meaningless. ... We have of late, we Americans, to our detriment, come to love accolades more than genuine achievement."

McCullough's address does push students to recognize real achievement: "The fulfilling life, the distinctive life, the relevant life is an achievement," and he encourages graduates "to do whatever you do for no reason other than you love it and believe in its importance."
near the end of the address he says, "The sweetest joys of life, then, come only with the recognition that you're not special. Because everyone is."

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.

 

[-Ryan]

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.

 

[T V]

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.

 

[Zerkerfist]

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."

 

[slysteeler]

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

 

[One And Only]

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

 

[ROFLZONE]

700,000 not 7,000

 

[toy suomi]

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

 

[McKinnonj]

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.

 

[malakadang]

A fantastic speech, both eloquent and truthful.