To those deaf and hard of hearing students who have graduated from high school or college, I have something to say to you in the hope that you'll be inspired to rethink of what the world awaits you once you get your diploma or degree.
All of your life growing up you have been coddled and pampered upon. You have been fawned and doted upon by your parents and grandparents. Your Mommy or Daddy, or both, have held you, hugged you, kissed you, fed you breakfast, lunch and dinner, wiped your bottom, trained you, taught you, listened to your complaints, your rants, your rage, your sadness and joys. You've had people who encouraged you, sympathized you, consoled you and encouraged you again umpteen times.
And over the years you had your sports games, your theatrical plays, musical recitals, and the many science fairs. Or you became class president, secretary or treasury and delved into school politics or became the school newspaper editor or reporter. Maybe you were well liked by friends and acquaintances where they would smile at you the moment you step into a classroom or whenever you approach them at a cafeteria table. Or they would take delight with your constant tweets or blogs thinking you're cleaver or funny.
Having said those things just don't get the idea that you're special because you're not. You're not the center of it all. The Earth is not the center of our solar system. Our solar system is not the center of its galaxy. Our galaxy is not the center of our universe. You're one of the many thousands of deaf and hard of hearing people who have graduated at a deaf-run school, a mainstreamed one or a regular school. Some graduated as valedictorians or class presidents, often with honors of some sort with glittering trophies and shiny medals and the many accolades that came with it. Each of you at graduation day all dressed alike. Same diploma or same degree that everybody expect to have in their hands with the only difference being it has your name on it.
Instead of thinking you're special, which is a dangerous thing to do, look for challenges in life. Embrace them. Think of it as if you're on a quest to climb one of the highest mountains because it's there. It beckons you and smirks at you saying, "Try and climb me! I bet you can't!" You climb because it is there. You see it as a challenge. You climb so you can see the world below you and not about whether the world can see you because you're an insignificant speck on that mountain top. No one sees but yourself. You're not special.
There are 6.8 billion people on this planet. Once you understand that then that's when you may finally understand that you're not that special. You are preparing and bracing yourself on what life will ultimately give you. But to be sure, please do whatever you do for no other reason than you love it and believe in its importance. And in the process change our culture so that it rewards genuine passion, genuine hard work and genuine achievement instead of accolades as an appeasement.
Happy belated graduation!
Sunday, June 24, 2012
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4 comments:
um... Mike, should I assume you've given or will give this same speech to your daughters as they graduate? ;)
Anonymous the First
Anony, you might want to reread what I wrote unless you actually believe those who graduated require special attention in the real world just because they think they're special and they don't need to do any hard work?
ha, no. of course not. everyone needs to make effort and work hard to the best of their ability. no one is entitled to be given the world on a silver platter just because their mom and dad made them feel like they were the center of the universe. I read every word of your blog, just like I always do, and read this one again to make sure I didn't miss something important.
I read this through a parent's eyes. Every parent believes their child is special, unique, and destined for great things. Most parents I know invest a lot of love, time, money, and resources in making sure their child has every advantage so that s/he can have a good start in life. Dare I say, most parents think their children are very special.
I realize you intended this blog to be encouraging and motivating, which it is - if the reader can get all the way through it. but opening by saying "you're not special, just one of 6.8 billion people," was ... uncongenial. Do you think of your own children as not particularly special? that's all I'm asking.
it may be truth and hard reality that no one on earth is special and just one of 6.8 billion. it just contradicts the overarching point of the blog: to dream, to strive, to conquer obstacles, live the good life, actually BE special, and stand apart.
just my two cents.
Anonymous First
to say "you're not special" depending on the context has nothing to do with from a parents' perspective but rather as I put it in my blog from the perspective of 6.8 billion people on this planet. Just because you have a degree makes you special and require special attention and that you're to be given things on a platter? No. The whole context of my blog was that you will have to work hard to achieve where you want to go. Nothing is a given in life. It's about stepping out of that protective bubble you were in for a 1/3 to 1/4 of your life. The rest of your life will depend on your own merits to achieve that success and recognition by working hard and not something to be handed to you on a platter just because you think you're a special person? Nah.
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