High School Teacher Gives Tough Love Graduation Speech: Are You Exceptional or Just Like Everyone Else?
SodaHead News
2012/06/11 13:00:00
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Usually, graduation speeches encourage grads to charge into the world with their chins held high, that diploma proudly tucked under their arm. You've graduated college; you're exceptional; it's time to make something of yourself. But that's not exactly how David McCullough Jr.'s speech went when the English teacher spoke at Wellesley High's commencement this year. On the contrary. He told graduates they're just like everyone else, and the controversial message immediately went viral.
McCullough said, "You are not special. You are not exceptional ... 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 ... You've been pampered, cosseted, doted upon, helmeted, bubble wrapped ... We have of late, we Americans, to our detriment, come to love accolades more than genuine achievement ... The sweetest joys of life, then, come only with the recognition that you're not special. Because everyone is." What do you think of the tough love speech?
McCullough said, "You are not special. You are not exceptional ... 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 ... You've been pampered, cosseted, doted upon, helmeted, bubble wrapped ... We have of late, we Americans, to our detriment, come to love accolades more than genuine achievement ... The sweetest joys of life, then, come only with the recognition that you're not special. Because everyone is." What do you think of the tough love speech?
Top Opinion
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El Prez 2012/06/11 17:21:45I'm exceptional!
+10Because I have spent the better part of my life making sure that I am exceptional. However, by the standards set by Mr. McCullough, I am not unique. Unique is rare, exceptional is more easily attained. The later day inclination to give trophys for participation, praise all miltary personel as heros and in general dilute real achievment and heroism, has created something of a feeling of special priviledge among some of our youth. The "tough love" speech might be useful so long as the message of carrying on to find your exceptional character is contained within. He was trying to wake them to the truth and that is always good.
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iGW...
O, the irony! The hypocrisy!
Please! Make up your tiny MINDS on this issue!
Except when it comes to American Exceptionalism.
Stockholm syndrome.
They don't.
They also seem to have the same low self esteem issues- if they only work harder- they'd deserve to be rich too.
Rich people, in their world, are inherently better.
It's just incredibly sad.
So they hold out some distant hope of riches in the future- and in the present- hate and resent and envy and have a shameful joy in the poverty of those they imagine are in competition with them for their pennies.
And so hate and want to destroy people on the same uneven plain.
Crabs in a freaking bucket.
http://www.sodahead.com/unite...
it's sad.
And all the more precious for it's rarity.
I learned so very long ago- that it's a waste of time and energy to appeal to consciences that just aren't there- to compassion that is alien and unfamiliar to the recipient.
The person I really feel sorry for- is the mother of that kid-
so what if her motives aren't "purely" selfless? (In his warped views).
They probably were for years- if he appreciated her love- she wouldn't have to ever remind him.
A shame.
I happen to be having a conversation here right now- with a person who insists that selflessness does not exit.
It is sad.
http://www.sodahead.com/unite...
(Their posts precede these)
Harassing?
Please tell me what you think I said was abusive.
Please tell me where I showed sympathy for a rapist
Please tell me where I showed antipathy for a rape victim.