I’ve been watching commencement addresses on C-Span.
It’s not as boring as you might think.
They cut out the introductions and tell you in advance “this lasts 15 minutes” or whatever.
It’s highly educational, particularly for those of us who (ahem) make our living speaking in public.
I’ve heard governors, congressmen and congresswomen, CEOs of big companies, and entrepreneurs, all donning those medieval costumes, some with rather ridiculous soft mortarboards of strange colors, and all trying to say something life-changing to an audience that just wants to get this over with and get in out of the hot sun.
A challenging situation for any speaker, I’d say. .
Some have been entertaining and all have had a certain uplifting quality to them.
The speakers take these invitations seriously, I’m glad to say. Either that, or C-Span refuses to air the ones that bombed.
Anyway, based on my television-watching of the past few days, I’ve decided on the principles of a great commencement address and would like to share them with you.