A Great Commencement Address

by Brian Reich | 19 Jun 2009, 2:15pm

I haven’t heard much from this year’s crop of graduation speakers that impressed me.  But the commencement address that Jonathan Zittrain, a law professor and super genius on issues relating to the internet, delivered at Shady Side Academy is terrific. Its funny. Its smart. And it has lessons that we should all consider for ourselves, no matter our age or current position in life.

Here’s one of the big lessons, from the ending:

We are at a time of great uncertainty. The economy is in the tank, after most talking heads told us things were fine. We’re told that global warming will wreak havoc on our planet, and we are the cause. Things went right from “too early to tell” to “too late to do anything about it.” The best among us are afraid of being found out for the frauds we suspect we are, because part of leadership is to exude a confidence and stability that isn’t always truly felt. (The worst among us are Bernie Madoff, who’s just a fraud.)

But you are at a time of great promise. In your immediate future you’ll literally be handed a catalog of humankind’s knowledge and asked to select four or five subjects to study for months at a time. And you’ll have an amazing amount of free time; Shady Side is far more rigorous than college. You can use it to find and pursue your passions, and to greet with joy and mischief new friends and relationships...

As you forge and savor the interpersonal connections that make all the difference between simulating a successful life and living one, you’ll be ready to improve the world in the only way that it really ever happens: to answer a Bat Signal that calls to you. I hope without needing spandex.

You should read the whole address, or watch the video.  Its worth it.

TAGS : Commencement Address Jonathan Zittrain
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