Commencement Speaker: What Would You Say?

Home Michael D Commencement Speaker: What Would You Say?

A frequent reader of this blog might remember that I am the oldest end of Generation X. This May marks the 35th year since I walked the stage at my high school graduation. There must have been a shortage of graduation caps that year because we were warned not to throw them into the air at the end of the ceremony. If you didn’t return the cap assigned to you, well, you might not receive your diploma when you exchanged the fake and you cap and gown for the real one after the ceremony. Maybe they were just concerned we would damage our eyes catching the them on the return flight. When I returned the large instead of the small, Mr. Knipper, my chemistry teacher, simply checked the box, “cap returned”, and never checked the number or size assigned to me.

Back then, a Texas public education balanced academics, the arts, extra-curricular activity, and sports. “Friday night lights” was not dramatized for a TV audience. Public education struggled openly with questions of race, economic disadvantage, and competency tests at the end of the year. There were problems, but school was not segregated by AP classes nor grade inflation. Parents believed teachers when they reported the bad behavior of their children. When I began high school, I was responsible for learning how to learn from my teachers. I can remember reporting that I didn’t think a teacher liked me and was giving me bad grades. “Teachers are professionals. Respect her. Welcome to the working world. Learn how to deal with people now and life will be a little easier later.” my parents responded. Back then, a Texas public education distanced itself from creationism as science, white nativism as patriotism, and my Nation “right or wrong” indoctrination. Metal detectors were added to all the entrances at my high school the year after I graduated. Parents protested and they were removed a year later. Shame was effective, and a deterrent, no matter your social class or your age. My high school was consolidated with two others in the city in 1986. I don’t think my social group can be blamed.

Now, in my 27th year of ordained ministry, I’ve had the privilege of speaking for a high school baccalaureate once, but that is the extent of my experience. This time of year I wonder, “What pithy words would I offer those entering full-time adulthood?” Commencement season provides a glimpse into the lives, ideas, culture, and politics of a variety of persons whose sole purpose for fifteen to thirty minutes is to say something that might appear to be wisdom earned or harvested from achievement, hard knocks, philosophical or theological compass resets. Reading and hearing those words, even from people with whom I disagree, is a luxury and a reminder of the importance of being an informed, life long learner kind of citizen. It’s an investment to read or watch these apologists for finding meaning-filled and meaningful life; and yes, some do it better than others. What would you say?

Here are some I’ve watched or in the process of watching or reading.

The eight most popular graduation speech tropes in 2018
Roger Sollenberger, The Loop (May 18, 2018)

New York University: Commencement 2018 Speaker Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

Barnard College at Barnard College: Keynote Speaker Abby Wambach

Oklahoma State University: Commencement Keynote Speaker Jennifer Grigsby

Dillard University: Commencement Speaker Chance the Rapper

University of Oklahoma: Commencement Speaker David L. Boren

Loyola Marymount University: Undergraduate Commencement Speaker Ronan Farrow

USC Annenberg School for Journalism and Communication: Commencement Speaker Oprah Winfrey

Howard University: 2018 Commencement Speaker Chadwick Boseman

Kent State University: Commencement Speaker Michael Keaton

Delaware Valley University: Commencement Speaker Michael Smerconish