You are not special

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**Lordhat**

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/high-school-graduation-speaker-tells-students-not-special-145709954.html
(video in link)

Social media was buzzing about a Boston-area high school teacher's blunt commencement speech that told students they "are not special."
Wellesley High English teacher David McCullough Jr. told graduates "You are not special. You are not exceptional," quoting empirical evidence:
"Across the country no fewer than 3.2 million seniors are graduating about now from more than 37,000 high schools. That's 37,000 valedictorians ... 37,000 class presidents ... 92,000 harmonizing altos ... 340,000 swaggering jocks ... 2,185,967 pairs of Uggs," he said in the speech published in the Boston Herald.
He added: "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."
McCullough makes a statement on parents who overdo it in a modern society focused on collecting achievements. "You've been pampered, cosseted, doted upon, helmeted, bubble wrapped ... feted and fawned over and called sweetie pie." But he adds in a video on Wellesley Channel TV YouTube page. "You see, if everyone is special, then no one is. If everyone gets a trophy, trophies become meaningless. ... We have of late, we Americans, to our detriment, come to love accolades more than genuine achievement."
McCullough's address does push students to recognize real achievement: "The fulfilling life, the distinctive life, the relevant life is an achievement," and he encourages graduates "to do whatever you do for no reason other than you love it and believe in its importance."
Many flocked to Twitter to express their approval of the message:
This is awesome. I don't remember my HS commencement speech. I think I would remember this one. — S.L. Gray
Fantastic speech which sums up the neglected duty of so many Americans in 1 phrase: "Be worthy of your advantages." — Benjamin Yee
the greatest commencement speech ever. — Neil Raden
My new hero. Tells grads "You're not that Special ... when everyone gets a trophy, the trophy doesn't mean anything." — Jason Dobrolecki
The Boston Herald also reported that McCullough's words were very well received by attendees. The teacher, a father of four, admitted he's guilty of the actions he pokes fun at in his speech.
But near the end of the address he says, "The sweetest joys of life, then, come only with the recognition that you're not special. Because everyone is."

**LoneLictor**

Just another generic, "You suck, stop sucking" style speech. Not particularly unique.

**hotsauceman1**

That teacher is my hero.
Im going to a graduation tonight and im going to see how lame the commencement speech is.
Quite frankly HS graduations ARENT SPECIAL. You cant get a good job with that diploma and you did what you are supposed to do.

**Ahtman**

I approve this. I would like to subscribe to his mailing list for more information.

**Hordini**

Sounds like it was a nice speech. I particularly like the "do whatever you do for no reason other than you love it and believe in its importance" part.

**pretre**

LoneLictor wrote:Just another generic, "You suck, stop sucking" style speech. Not particularly unique.

I think you're missing the point.

**LoneLictor**

pretre wrote:
LoneLictor wrote:Just another generic, "You suck, stop sucking" style speech. Not particularly unique.

I think you're missing the point.

Which is?

**pretre**

LoneLictor wrote:
pretre wrote:
LoneLictor wrote:Just another generic, "You suck, stop sucking" style speech. Not particularly unique.

I think you're missing the point.

Which is?

That the culture he is speaking of encourages mediocrity by rewarding even the tiniest accomplishments. He's not telling them to stop sucking. He is telling them to expect more from themselves and their peers and be realistic about their place in the world.

**Ahtman**

LoneLictor wrote:
pretre wrote:
LoneLictor wrote:Just another generic, "You suck, stop sucking" style speech. Not particularly unique.

I think you're missing the point.

Which is?

That the speech isn't saying "you suck", but "do not get so caught up in thinking you are awesome that you don't actually do anything awesome". Probably also to avoid becoming a cynical contrarian, which is something even more common than the speech.

**LoneLictor**

pretre wrote:
LoneLictor wrote:
pretre wrote:
LoneLictor wrote:Just another generic, "You suck, stop sucking" style speech. Not particularly unique.

I think you're missing the point.

Which is?

That the culture he is speaking of encourages mediocrity by rewarding even the tiniest accomplishments. He's not telling them to stop sucking. He is telling them to expect more from themselves and their peers and be realistic about their place in the world.

The part that I summarized as "you suck" was his part about how my generation is spoiled, and then the part I summarized as "stop sucking" was his part about doing important stuff and such.

Honestly, I've heard these kinds of speeches before. It's not groundbreaking that just one guy talking to one High School said he considers my generation spoiled and that we should do more stuff.

**pretre**

LoneLictor wrote:The part that I summarized as "you suck" was his part about how my generation is spoiled, and then the part I summarized as "stop sucking" was his part about doing important stuff and such.

Honestly, I've heard these kinds of speeches before. It's not groundbreaking that just one guy talking to one High School said he considers my generation spoiled and that we should do more stuff.

Oh well then, I guess we'll just all close up shop and head home since you seem to have things under control.

Automatically Appended Next Post:
BTW, things don't have to be 'groundbreaking' to be newsworthy or worth saying. If the statement is true and the audience needs to hear it, it should still be said.

**gorgon**

LoneLictor wrote: The part that I summarized as "you suck" was his part about how my generation is spoiled, and then the part I summarized as "stop sucking" was his part about doing important stuff and such.

Honestly, I've heard these kinds of speeches before. It's not groundbreaking that just one guy talking to one High School said he considers my generation spoiled and that we should do more stuff.

It's really not about being spoiled. Every generation is perceived to be spoiled by the generations that came before. It's about how our society got overly focused on children's self-esteem, which created a generation of children with more inflated senses of worth than usual. We Gen Xers and our "helicopter parenting" methods have helped contribute to this, unfortunately.

I don't think there's any reason for doomsaying, however. The real world isn't an easy place, and young adults will adjust to those realities as they always have.

**Ahtman**

gorgon wrote:The real world isn't an easy place, and young adults will adjust to those realities as they always have.

I'm not sure masturbation is going to save us this time.

**Bakerofish**

Actual conversation between my cousin and aunt

Cousin: "I' graduating with honors!"

Aunt: "Your cousin graduated college at 16! What are you so proud about?"

Everytime my cousin sees a "son I am disappoint" meme he never laughs because all of that has happened to him one way or another

Maybe you yanks need a bit of the stereotypical asian upbringing?

**Chowderhead**

Of course the man's from Boston. Of course.

**angel of ecstasy**

I never graduated, so I'm more special than them.

**Scott**

I approve of this message.

Also, get off of my lawn.

**Frazzled**

Lordhat wrote:http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/lookout/high-school-graduation-speaker-tells-students-not-special-145709954.html
(video in link)

Social media was buzzing about a Boston-area high school teacher's blunt commencement speech that told students they "are not special."
Wellesley High English teacher David McCullough Jr. told graduates "You are not special. You are not exceptional," quoting empirical evidence:
"Across the country no fewer than 3.2 million seniors are graduating about now from more than 37,000 high schools. That's 37,000 valedictorians ... 37,000 class presidents ... 92,000 harmonizing altos ... 340,000 swaggering jocks ... 2,185,967 pairs of Uggs," he said in the speech published in the Boston Herald.
He added: "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."
McCullough makes a statement on parents who overdo it in a modern society focused on collecting achievements. "You've been pampered, cosseted, doted upon, helmeted, bubble wrapped ... feted and fawned over and called sweetie pie." But he adds in a video on Wellesley Channel TV YouTube page. "You see, if everyone is special, then no one is. If everyone gets a trophy, trophies become meaningless. ... We have of late, we Americans, to our detriment, come to love accolades more than genuine achievement."
McCullough's address does push students to recognize real achievement: "The fulfilling life, the distinctive life, the relevant life is an achievement," and he encourages graduates "to do whatever you do for no reason other than you love it and believe in its importance."
Many flocked to Twitter to express their approval of the message:
This is awesome. I don't remember my HS commencement speech. I think I would remember this one. — S.L. Gray
Fantastic speech which sums up the neglected duty of so many Americans in 1 phrase: "Be worthy of your advantages." — Benjamin Yee
the greatest commencement speech ever. — Neil Raden
My new hero. Tells grads "You're not that Special ... when everyone gets a trophy, the trophy doesn't mean anything." — Jason Dobrolecki
The Boston Herald also reported that McCullough's words were very well received by attendees. The teacher, a father of four, admitted he's guilty of the actions he pokes fun at in his speech.
But near the end of the address he says, "The sweetest joys of life, then, come only with the recognition that you're not special. Because everyone is."

True words.
I'd also have said "Plus you're a bunch of fat babies. Sweet Baby PastaGod, have you ever worked out in your pathetic Doritoes laced lives?"

**Nicorex**

I am a Wonderful, Individual, Sparkling, Gloryious Snowflake! My mommy told me so! Plus I dont need to get a job. The Government will pay me to eat cheetos and play Halo forever!

**Frazzled**

Nicorex wrote:I am a Wonderful, Individual, Sparkling, Gloryious Snowflake! My mommy told me so! Plus I dont need to get a job. The Government will pay me to eat cheetos and play Halo forever!

Team Frazzled was raised on the mantra: "win or you're out of the family!" They are make raspberries or roll their eyes.

**hotsauceman1**

At my Sisters graduation, Every speech boiled down to this
and i mean EVERY
You are the best class ever.
We have the best teachers ever
Thank your family.
You will all rise up to the challenge.
MY dad said this before
"I hate these things, You sit though an hour and a half of speeches just for your one kid"
ITs all a LIE. HS graduation means nothing. Ill put away my book when your son actually accomplished something.

**Testify**

angel of ecstasy wrote:I never graduated, so I'm more special than them.

Ditto.
It's worth noting that making it so easy to "succeed" is a serious motivation sucker for genuinely able people.

**Ahtman**

It should be noted that the truncated version of the speech leaves quite a bit of it out, such as pointing out that they are worthy of the love and attention that has been given to them, and that their friends and family are not wrong to care about them.

**Frazzled**

hotsauceman1 wrote:At my Sisters graduation, Every speech boiled down to this
and i mean EVERY
You are the best class ever.
We have the best teachers ever
Thank your family.
You will all rise up to the challenge.
MY dad said this before
"I hate these things, You sit though an hour and a half of speeches just for your one kid"
ITs all a LIE. HS graduation means nothing. Ill put away my book when your son actually accomplished something.

Hotsauce wins the thread. Just say. "Congrats class of XXX. Now we're going to bore everyone to tears while we call out each and every person. So without delay, Abigail Adams..."

**Gram**

Bakerofish wrote:Actual conversation between my cousin and aunt

Cousin: "I' graduating with honors!"

Aunt: "Your cousin graduated college at 16! What are you so proud about?"

Everytime my cousin sees a "son I am disappoint" meme he never laughs because all of that has happened to him one way or another

Maybe you yanks need a bit of the stereotypical asian upbringing?

If stereotypical asian upbringing means not congratulating someone for their accomplishments because someone else did it better, then no thanks.

Of all the things that one can complain about, being annoyed about expressing pride in one's children for working towards admirable goals has to be the most twisted. Okay, yeah, I understand. Recent generations have been given more, and many younger folks have become more expectant of reward; I certainly don't think they invalidate the idea of giving others the encouragement you think they deserve.

Do you honestly believe someone shouldn't get a pat on the back for graduating with honors?

**Howard A Treesong**

In the UK you only 'graduate' from university, you don't graduate from school at 16, you just leave. They might hold a special assembly where a few awards get given out, and in more recent years there might be a school prom that's pretty much a glorified disco.

The whole thing about getting parents and kids all together and having huge speeches for a 'graduation ceremony' is an American thing as far as I can see. In the UK you just do your exams at 16 and finish school.

What does 'with honours' mean in high school? At university it means you have an honours degree. This overblown graduation at 16 stuff sounds like BS to me, the lot of it.

**dogma**

Howard A Treesong wrote:
What does 'with honours' mean in high school?

Scholarships. Our higher education is pricey, my alma mater is something like 55k a year now.

**Hordini**

Howard A Treesong wrote:
What does 'with honours' mean in high school? At university it means you have an honours degree. This overblown graduation at 16 stuff sounds like BS to me, the lot of it.

In the US you normally don't graduate high school until you're 18, and then you go to university (college is also often used as a synonym for uni in the US) after that if you choose.

And yeah, what dogma said. Getting high grades and any "honors" type credentials that you can can get you into better universities and get you access to more scholarships. Doing as well as possible is definitely worth it, especially if you're planning on going to university.

**hotsauceman1**

We americans celebrate everything.
We even have kindergarden graduations, Y'know, where getting an A is just showing

up

**remilia_scarlet**

I've noticed this trend, and thank this man for what he's done. The mindset of everyone wins leads to feelings of entitlement, as though everyone is able to do what they want and evade the reality that they, aren't special because they exist. This is what's wrong with our society, there's no more telling your kids try better next time, instead, they get ribbons for attending.