All over the country, colleges and universities are holding their graduation exercises. It brings to mind one of the most quoted commencement speeches that was delivered by Steve Jobs of Apple at Stanford University a few years before he died from pancreatic cancer.
I never imagined myself delivering a commencement speech. But if I were invited to be a commencement speaker what would I tell today’s graduates? What “words of practical wisdom” would I impart to young idealistic graduates?
Maybe I do have something to tell these young graduates who would soon be mugged by reality in the world out there. So kindly indulge me as I share a pocketful of caveats for members of today’s clueless graduating class:
The ancient Romans have a peculiar way of greeting. So let me greet you the old Roman way: Ave Atque Vale! I salute you and I bid you goodbye (as in “go forth”).
After going through the gates of your school for the last time, you will all be compelled to perform and outdo each other on a big wide stage called “Real World.”
Since I have always been partial to literature, which is a treasury of valuable life lessons, I have come to look at life as theater. In one of his plays, William Shakespeare wrote:
All the world’s a stage
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts.
Using the metaphor of life as theater, I hope to trigger something in you to help you find your destined role as well as become an outstanding performer.
First of all, you have to own your life. Iyo iyan. Ikaw ang may-ari ng sarili mo at ng buhay mo. As they say, ikaw na. Eksena mo yan! As the controversial writer Oscar Wilde once said: Don’t strive to be someone else. It’s already taken.
Don’t get ahead of yourself. Huwag masyadong bilib sa sarili. You haven’t proven anything yet.
Make an honest list of your God-given talent and ability. What are your unique qualities, experiences and values? All these will prove valuable later on. They are the personal assets that you bring to your role that enables you to make a successful performance. Use them judiciously, like money in the bank.
If you have limitations and weaknesses, then moderate your ambitions. Refrain from taking on roles that exceed your grasp or ability. But having said that, don’t stop there. Improve yourself, and keep strengthening your weak areas.
Start with smaller roles first. Huwag agaw-eksena (don’t be a scene stealer). Then as your ability grows, you get to perform the major roles.
Then there is timing. Wait for your turn behind the wings of the stage. Know when to enter a scene, when to say your lines and when to make an exit.
Learn to cooperate, interact and work with fellow performers and even subordinates and those in the lower ranks. Interacting with others in the workplace is like putting on a play or a dance piece together where performers cooperate towards a common purpose. Strive to enhance your cooperative social skills. Connect with people who can help you do the task better.
Understand and learn from people you perform with. Listen to other people’s life stories, even those who embody different identities, experiences, and beliefs.
This helps build your sense of empathy, the ability to put oneself in the shoes of another person. A good performer has the ability to imagine sympathetically the situation or predicament of another person. Don’t rush to judgment. Instead, find a way to help.
Don’t be obsessed with titles. Fancy titles such as President, CEO, COO, SVP, CFO and so on do not necessarily make you a leader. It’s the other way around: a leader makes the title he deserves.
The new model of leadership is all about every single employee or worker showing initiative, resourcefulness, motivation, and drive in the work he does. This means, even the lowly messenger, utility man, fast-food server can be a leader. Unsung heroes do not need a fancy title to be agents of change and make a difference.
Do Everything With Passion. The deeper meaning of passion is what you are willing to sacrifice because you love it very much. Mother Teresa of Calcutta said: “Not everybody can do great things but you can do small things with great passion and dedication.”
Fill your life with humor energy. As someone said: never take life seriously; nobody gets out alive. Humor gives you mental balance, and having a healthy sense of humor can increase your confidence in your own inner ability to adapt and embrace challenges and difficulties with feelings of hope and optimism.
Never stop learning. Graduation does not mean you’re through with learning. Learn something new every day! As inspirational writer Melody Joy puts it: “Life is like theatre. Each new day is a new scene with new acts and roles to portray. The sets always change…But the beauty in it is that every day, you are constantly learning who you are and how others around you are.”
Remember: “Life’s just too short to play small with your talents. And our world needs you rising to your best like never before” in the words of Robin Sharma, best-selling author of books from Canada.
Many years into the future, as the curtains start to close after your performance, how will people review your performance on the theater of life?
The answer lies in you. Beginning with the here and now.
Congratulations. Vale atque vale!