Do You Agree With The Message? High School Teacher Tells Graduating Class “You’re Nothing Special”

June 11th, 2012 - By Marissa Ellis

One thing is true, Americans have a bad rap internationally for being self-absorbed individuals. Maybe that’s why English teacher David McCullough Jr . decided to take a different approach to a commencement speech he delivered to the graduating high school class of an affluent Massachusetts town.

“Yes, you’ve been pampered, cosseted, doted upon, helmeted, bubble-wrapped,” McCullough said in his speech. “Yes, capable adults with other things to do have held you, kissed you, fed you, wiped your mouth, wiped your bottom, trained you, taught you, tutored you, coached you, listened to you, counseled you, encouraged you, consoled you and encouraged you again. You’ve been nudged, cajoled, wheedled and implored. You’ve been feted and fawned over and called sweetie pie. … But do not get the idea you’re anything special. Because you’re not.”

This may come off as harsh and uninspiring but McCullough’s speech reflected on his observations that students were motivated by awards and prizes, rather than pure enrichment. “As a consequence, we cheapen worthy endeavors, and building a Guatemalan medical clinic becomes more about the application to Bowdoin than the well-being of the Guatemalans,” he said.

His last words emphasized his point that students should enjoy the pure journey of life and invest in social service free of selfish ambitions.

Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view.  Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you.  Go to Paris to be in Paris, not to cross it off your list and congratulate yourself for being worldly.  Exercise free will and creative, independent thought not for the satisfactions they will bring you, but for the good they will do others, the rest of the 6.8 billion–and those who will follow them.  And then you too will discover the great and curious truth of the human experience is that selflessness is the best thing you can do for yourself.  The sweetest joys of life, then, come only with the recognition that you’re not special.

What do you think of the teacher’s speech? Are we pampering our children and inflating their egos a little too much these days?

You can read the full speech here. 

 

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  • Evie

    @Guest, how exactly do i sound “really bitter”? care to explain..

  • GUEST

    I wholeheartedly agree and I recently finished high school myself (last year)…I wish he spoke at our graduation. The truth is necessary folks, sugar-coating wont help a darn thing.

  • Guest

    I think this message should apply to everyone in the entire world. Young and old, black or white. I work with the public, and everyone thinks their problems are immediately your problems. The world does not stop for you. You are not special. We’ve all got our own issues, daily struggles. The grass is not always greener on any side. You’ve just got to live life for what it is and keep it moving. That’s how I’m getting through.

  • Shay

    I agree with him. Our children today believe that everything should be handed to them. They don’t want to work hard and they believe that they are entitled. He told students to do things in life, not for what they will do for them, but what it’ll do for others. Very powerful. My son just graduated from high school and I wish he heard this speech. He thinks his parents will take care of him forever.

  • RedButterfly81

    I have to agree, I wish someone spoke that truth at my high school graduation 12 years ago and future president Barack Obama almost said the same when he spoke at our high school graduation. You’re not special unless you do something special with your life.

  • Pivyque

    I love this. He is right.

  • JLHsays

    His message was on point! This generation expects accolades just for the sake of being born. You have to work damn hard for what you want, period.

    • NadineP.

      amennn!!!! to that ” By the sweat of your brow will you have food to eat until you return to the ground from which you were made. For you were made from dust, and to dust you will return.”~Genesis 3:19….nothing comes easy after high school you realize how the real world is.

  • http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=ntt_athr_dp_sr_1?_encoding=UTF8&search-alias=digital-text&field-author=Peaches%20The%20Writer PeachesTheWriter

    He’s right. A lot of people graduate high school. Now, go out and do something special.

  • jason vorhees

    Get out and enjoy life people. For those who have never seen the outside of the 4 walls that is your city, break through those walls and see the state, see the country then go on to see the world.

  • http://www.facebook.com/bryantcl1 Candice Bryant

    I completely agree with him. These days we’re having graduation for kindergartners. Kindergartners! I mean really, how hard is it to eat paste and take naps? Society works so hard at making everyone feel “special” and rewards people for the tiniest thing that people become spoiled and feel entitled.

    • JLHsays

      Lol @ “eat paste and take naps”! I couldn’t have said it better myself.

    • Miss D

      Lol agreed. I think that any graduation prior to high school doesn’t require a ceremony.

  • Gimmeabreak78

    I love the message. It’s time that someone tell our young people the cold, truth. Everyone will die, life will go on, and everyone is replaceable. Because you live only once, you should spend that precious time making your existence matter to others, not to make it one big pleasure trip for yourself. It’s tough love, to be sure, but it’s love nonetheless. My parents spent my childhood telling me the same thing. I’m not mad at him.

  • Miss D

    I agree wholeheartedly. We live in a society where its ‘All About Me’. It seems people do things just to be recognized and not because they want to better themselves. Children are spoiled and their parents just reinforce the behavior. I’m young (25) but my old school mama and grandma taught me to work hard not expect rewards. Allowance for what? Why should I be paid to clean a house that I live in? Lol. I applaud MrMcCullough and his much-needed advice for the students.

  • Thisis me

    it wasn’t like he told them they’re worthless. he’s just saying no one is better than anybody and some of the greatest joys in life are doing things for others and not being selfish

  • TRUTH IS

    Strongly agreed. Unless you have the cure for cancer and other disease and/or making a big positive impact on humanity. Ain’t nothing special. Spoil brats!!

  • kenedy

    I was thinking more on the lines of…. a high school diploma means nothing anymore. Heck even a bachelors degree means nothing….if only they knew all those years of hard work cant get you a decent job in this country

    • Evie

      Thumbs up for Kenedy. Stick it to the education snobs who think they are better than people who choose/chose not to go to college-uni/think college isn’t for them. The same snobs who get their degree and look and feel stupid when they can’t find a job/no one is offering them one. Then have to walk back with their tails in between their legs to the people they offended when they thought no degree/no college= loser. There are other paths in life you can take besides going to uni. Let people take their time and don’t turn your nose up at them when they choose not to go to college/uni. Because sometimes that nose that you turn up would eventually be turned down in shame when you apologize for acting like a education snob.

      • GUEST

        You sound really bitter.

        • Evie

          I guess you’re one of those education snobs that i talked about, right? lol ;)

          • GUEST

            I have an education , but I’m by no means a snob. I actually see value in people who learn skills and trades and I know that college isn’t for everyone. You just sound really bitter.

            • Evie

              How exactly do i sound “really bitter”? Care to explain..