Commencement speech
Jess
Commencement Speech
April 15, 2004
Stop. Don’t think about your first day of Kindergarten, or the first day of any succeeding grades. Don’t think about tomorrow or the day after. Don’t think about where or if you’re going to college. Don’t think about what career you are or will be entering eventually. Instead, I want you to think about this morning.
What is the first thought that entered your mind when you awoke?
Perhaps, ?I’m terrified?. Or maybe, ?Wow! It’s finally here!? Or even, ?Will I really be able to get my hair and make-up ready by four o’clock this afternoon?? Only you know what you’re exact thoughts were when you rolled out of bed this morning, but one thing is for sure: until right now, you were waiting for this moment. And, you will probably remember this for a long time to come as well.
One of the memories that I have carried with me and will continue to use in my day-to-day life surrounds the final round at the State Debate championship. I was standing outside of the round waiting for a pep-talk from our coach, Mr. McKeithan. Finally, he appeared at the end of the hallway and approached Joe Eisenbarth and I with the same determined look we always got before a high-stakes round.
I expected to hear a repeat of the speech we?d heard before Quarters and Sims, but instead, McKeithan said something I didn?t expect. He looked at me as I twirled my hair, bit my nails, and engaged in any of a number of nervous habits and said, ?Jess, you?ve made it to finals at the state debate tournament. You?ve earned this. Just debate well and have fun. Enjoy the day.?
McKeithan had told me to ?enjoy the day? many times before, mostly when I was worrying about something I had no control over, but it wasn?t until we were outside the final debate round of 2003-2004 school year in the state of Kansas that I truly understood what he meant. There are some moments or times in our lives that are just our goals as people: To make it to finals in a State tournament, to make it to the post-season in any sport, to get all A?s on your last grade card, to pass Chemistry, to graduate. We?ve worked for this.
And now, we truly understand what it means to ?live for the moment? or ?enjoy the day.?
Too often, we get caught up on what went wrong in the past or what will be better in the future and we forget to spend time just paying attention to how lucky we are to have made it to this moment. I challenge you, right now, to stop thinking about the past and the future and just enjoy this moment. When you realize what enjoying the day feels like, do it more often. Don?t spend tomorrow thinking about today or spend tomorrow wondering about the day after that. Sit back, relax, and enjoy what?s happening around you.
Class of 2004, I leave you with the best advice I?ve received and the most important lesson I?ve learned in all of high school. ?Enjoy the Day. You?ve earned it.?