It isn't about you
I had the privilege of being present at the graduation ceremony for the 2024 class from the university where I work.
Parents whistled.
Children cheered.
Everyone was full of joy.
Yet, the "executive board" and the "guest speaker" took up over half of the proceedings talking about themselves instead of the students. At one point, I thought I slipped into another universe and was at a corporate retreat.
Hey. Fucko. It isn't about you. We see you with your robe and your hat and your hoods (yeah, higher ed, organized religion, hate groups, and cults share a lot of the same lingo. Its a problem) up on stage. That is enough. You get to be in every single fucking picture. Isn't that enough?
It isn't about you. It is about the students, parents, and support team who helped get them there. Even we, the teachers, who sat with those students in class, for weeks, or years, got to know them and helped them achieve their goals know, it isn't about us. Not anymore.
Not ever. Really. The university has been around for way longer than I've been around and will be around for centuries. I am just one part of the overall picture. I can sit and clap and be happy for the graduates because I didn't go into this job to be a star. I do the work so that once a year, I can sweat my balls off, dressed in a robe, wearing a hood, and a funny hat, because I ultimately get to witness the fruits of our collective labor blossom. Yeah. Fruit blossoms. I know it seems like a mixed metaphor but it isn't.
So, if you famous enough or important enough or an alumni of some school and you are ever asked to do a commencement address make sure you make the speech short, less than five minutes and make sure it mentions the students over and over and make sure you remind them how fucking awesome they are. OR better yet, turn it down by saying, "It isn't about me."
#educationisaright
