SENIORS, ADMINISTRATION, FACULTY, PARENTS AND FRIENDS,
THE SENIORS ASKING ME TO SPEAK TONIGHT AT GRADUATION HAS CAUSED A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF
REFLECTION ON MY PART. WHEN I REACHED THE RULE OF 90, QUALIFYING FOR EARLY RETIREMENT–
EXTREMELY EARLY RETIREMENT–I MIGHT ADD, I RETIRED FROM PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHING, BUT I
FOUND RETIREMENT EXTREMELY BORING AND UNFULFILLING, SO I APPLIED FOR A POSITION AT LOYOLA
THINKING I WOULD TEACH HERE FOR 2 OR 3 YEARS AND THEN MAYBE TRY THAT RETIREMENT THING
AGAIN. NOW 14 YEARS LATER, HERE I STAND BEFORE YOU. YOU KNOW THESE 14 YEARS HAVE BEEN A
WONDERFUL AND REWARDING PERIOD IN MY LIFE IN SO MANY WAYS. I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE AND
GOOD FORTUNE TO TEACH ON A FACULTY FILLED WITH THE MOST DEDICATED AND DILIGENT GROUP
OF TEACHERS WITH WHOM I’VE EVER BEEN ASSOCIATED. THERE AREN’T VERY MANY EDUCATORS, I
DARE SAY, ABLE TO ENJOY MY UNIQUE PERKS HERE AT LOYOLA. I’VE BEEN ABLE TO TEACH AND COACH
WITH MY DAUGHTER, AND THE LAST 2 YEARS I’VE ENJOYED THE OPPORTUNITY TO HUG MY LITTLE
GRANDDAUGHTERS IN THE HALLWAYS ON A REGULAR BASIS. IF ALL THIS ISN’T ENOUGH, I HAVE HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY TO WITNESS FIRST HAND THE FULFILLMENT OF THE AMERICAN DREAM-WHEN A
HUMBLE COLLEAGUE OF MINE LEFT THE TEACHING PROFESSION TO BECOME A POPCORN TYCOON.
HOWEVER, THE VERY BEST PART OF ALL THESE YEARS IS THE FACT THAT I’VE HAD THE PRIVILEGE TO
WORK WITH A GROUP OF THE MOST DECENT, CONSCIENTIOUS, AND INTELLECTUALLY CHALLENGING
GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE ANYWHERE. I DON’T KNOW IF ANY OF YOU HAVE EVER GIVEN THIS MUCH
THOUGHT, BUT FOR ME, WHEN I SPEND TIME WITH A GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS FOR AN EXTENDED
PERIOD OF TIME, A CERTAIN RELATIONSHIP DEVELOPS-I GUESS ONE COULD LABEL IT-DISCOVERY AND
REMEMBRANCE. I REMEMBER WHEN WE ALL DISCOVERED HOW SERIOUSLY CHALLENGED KATIE
HOMAN WAS WITH HER COLORS WHEN SHE WALKED INTO THE CLASSROOM WEARING HER FATHER’S
HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL SWEATSHIRT. I’LL NEVER FORGET HOW SHOCKED WE WERE WHEN READING
ROMEO AND JULIET; WE DISCOVERED THAT BENEATH SHANE SELLNER’S GRUFF EXTERIOR BEAT THE
HEART OF A POET. IMAGE OUR SHOCK WHEN WE REALIZED THAT LIZZIE PIEPHO WAS IN REALITY A
CLOSET LIBERAL. HOW ABOUT THAT DAY IN RESEARCH CLASS WHEN WE WERE GIVEN A FIRST HAND
EXAMPLE OF LINDSAY SOLHEID’S MATHEMATICAL GENIUS WHEN SHE EXCITEDLY EXCLAIMED UPON
ENTERING THE CLASSROOM, AND I QUOTE, “MR. CASSIDY, I GOOGLED YOU ON THE INTERNET, FOUND
SOME DATES, AND I NOW KNOW HOW OLD YOU REALLY ARE—85!” NICE JOB MATH DEPARTMENT!
SPEAKING OF THINGS I’LL REMEMBER ALWAYS-HOW CALM AND RELAXED CHRIS LIU WAS WITH EVERY
ASSIGNMENT EVER GIVEN–I’LL REMEMBER ALWAYS ANDREW MURRAY’S EAGERNESS TO VOLUNTEER
ANSWERS IN MY CLASSROOM–I THINK ALL OF US WILL REMEMBER THE AMAZING SELF DISCIPLINE
ALWAYS EXHIBITED BY NICK COURRIER—SERIOUSLY—I’LL REMEMBER ALWAYS THE SINCERITY OF ELLIE
ORCUTT’S SMILE, THE GRACE AND FEARLESSNESS WITH WHICH AUNIKAH BASTIAN PLAYED 3RD BASE,
THE SILKY SMOOTHNESS OF CARSON SEIFERT’S JUMP SHOT, THE ABSOLUTE BEAUTY OF THE WRITTEN
WORD AS EVIDENCED IN THE WRITING ASSIGNMENTS PRESENTED CONSISTENTLY BY KELLY
HEADINGTON AND RACHEL SCHAUB, WHICH ON OCCASION, NEARLY BROUGHT TEARS TO THE EYES OF
THEIR TIRED OLD ENGLISH TEACHER.
AT THIS POINT IN MANY GRADUATION ADDRESSES, SENIORS ARE OFTEN REMINDED THAT THEY ARE
ABOUT TO EMBARK ON A SOMEWHAT FRIGHTENING AND CHALLENGING JOURNEY INTO A CHANGING
AND CONTROVERSIAL WORLD-AND THAT’S TRUE ENOUGH–I KNOW THE WORLD IS A DIFFERENT PLACE
THAN WHEN MANY OF US GRADUATED. THEN, FOR EXAMPLE, WE ALL PRETTY MUCH AGREED UPON
WHAT CONSTITUTED A LEGAL MARRIAGE–WE DIDN’T WAGE WAR USING DRONES, AND OUR PHONES
WEREN’T PARTICULARLY INTELLIGENT OR STUPID. TONIGHT, HOWEVER, ALL I’LL MENTION ON THAT
SUBJECT IS, YES, INDEED, THE WORLD IS FILLED WITH CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES, AND SEEMINGLY, AS A
RESULT THERE IS MUCH MORE SCREAMING WITH FAR TOO MANY INDIVIDUALS LOUDLY INSISTING THAT
THEIR OPINION–BELIEF IS THE ONLY POSSIBLE CORRECT ONE. I BELIEVE WE AS WORLD CITIZENS NEED
TO DO LESS SCREAMING AND MORE POLITE LISTENING. THERE ARE A FEW OTHER AREAS ON WHICH I’D
LIKE TO SPEAK FOR JUST A FEW MINUTES TONIGHT. FIRST I’D LIKE TO COMMENT ON THE WORD,
HAPPY OR HAPPINESS. SO OFTEN I HEAR THE COMMENT, I JUST WANT TO BE HAPPY—WELL, OF
COURSE, THAT’S A NO BRAINER! WHO IN ONE’S RIGHT MIND WOULDN’T WANT TO BE HAPPY?
HOWEVER, FAR TOO OFTEN AND FOR FAR TOO MANY INDIDIVUALS, I’M AFRAID HAPPY SIMPLY MEANS
TAKING THE EASY WAY OUT – NOT WORKING TO ONE’S FULL CAPACITY. I KNOW, GUYS, THAT STAYING
UP UNTIL THE WEE HOURS OF THE MORNING, STUDYING FOR A COLLEGE EXAM, FOR EXAMPLE,
DOESN’T SOUND LIKE A HAPPY THING, BUT REALLY KNOWING THE MATERIAL AND ACING THE TEST
NEXT MORNING IS TRUE HAPPINESS. TO ME HAPPINESS SHOULD COME WITH FULFILLMENT AND
REACHING OF ONE’S GOD GIVEN POTENTIAL.
ANOTHER AREA I’D LIKE TO ADDRESS TONIGHT IS THE ISSUE OF WALKING THE WALK AS OPPOSED TO
JUST TALKING THE TALK. REMEMBER SENIORS, ANYONE CAN TALK A GOOD GAME. I WOULD LIKE TO
ILLUSTRATE MY POINT WITH THE FOLLOWING STORY INVOLVING THE TWO FAMOUS AUTHORS, RALPH
WALDO EMERSON AND HENRY DAVID THOREAU. IT SEEMS THEY BOTH SPOKE OUT PUBLICLY AGAINST A
POLL TAX THAT WAS BEING COLLECTED TO FUND WHAT THEY CONSIDERED AN IMMORAL WAR.
THOREAU WAS EVENTUALLY IMPRISIONED FOR HIS ACTIONS. ANYWAY, AS THE STORY GOES, EMERSON
WAS WALKING PAST THE JAIL ONE DAY, AND SAW THOREAU LOOKING OUT THE BARS OF A PRISON
WINDOW. SHOCKED HE EXCLAIMED, “HENRY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE?” TO WHICH, THOREAU
CALMLY REPLIED, “THE REAL QUESTION, RALPH, IS WHY AREN’T YOU IN HERE WITH ME?”–IF YOU MAKE
A COMMITMENT, SENIORS, KEEP IT. HAVE THE COURAGE TO BE MEN AND WOMEN OF YOUR WORD. TO
LOOSLEY PARAPHRASE SHAKEPEARE, TO YOURSELF BE TRUE AND THEN YOU CAN’T BE FALSE TO
ANYONE.
ANOTHER POINT, SENIORS, TRY NOT TO BE OVERLY CONCERNED ABOUT BEING PART OF THE POPULAR
MAJORITY. REMEMBER, BEING EVEN A MINORITY OF ONE DOESN’T NECESSARILY MAKE ONE WRONG–
DIFFERENT PERHAPS, BUT NOT AUTOMATICALLY WRONG–NEWTON, GALILEO, DA VINCI,
MICHELANGELO, MARTIN LUTHER KING, AND FOR THAT MATTER, JESUS–AT VARIOUS TIMES IN THEIR
LIVES WERE NOT FULLY UNDERSTOOD OR APPRECIATED.
THERE’S ANOTHER WORD I’D LIKE TO DISCUSS TONIGHT AND THAT WORD IS SUCCESS. IN MY OPINION,
THIS WORD RANKS RIGHT UP THERE WITH HAPPY. I WANT TO BE HAPPY—I WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL! I
GUESS MY CONCERN IS WITH ONE’S DEFINITION OF SUCCESS. I’M CONCERNED THAT FAR TOO OFTEN,
SOCIETY JUDGES SUCCESS ON THE THICKNESS OF AN INDIVIDUAL’S WALLET, HOW MANY EXPENSIVE
CARS ARE PARKED IN ONE’S GARAGE OR THE LENGTH OF THE TITLE ON THE OFFICE DOOR. I’M NOT
SUGGESTING WE NEED TO, OR EVEN SHOULD, APOLOGIZE OR FEEL GUILTY ABOUT OUR PERSONAL
ACHIEVEMENTS AND MATERIAL ACCUMULATIONS; I’M SIMPLY SUGGESTING THERE’S MANY DIFFERENT
YARDSTICKS BY WHICH TO MEASURE SUCCESS.
IN CLOSING TONIGHT, I’D LIKE TO OFFER YOU ONE OF MY FAVORITE DEFINITIONS–
SUCCESS BY THE POET-PHILOSOPHER RALPH WALDO EMERSON….
TO LAUGH OFTEN AND MUCH, TO WIN THE RESPECT OF INTELLIGENT PEOPLE AND AFFECTION OF
CHILDREN; TO EARN THE APPRECIATION OF HONEST CRITICS AND ENDURE THE BETRAYAL OF FALSE
FRIENDS; TO APPRECIATE BEAUTY, TO FIND THE BEST IN OTHERS; TO LEAVE THE WORLD A BIT BETTER,
WHETHER BY A HEALTHY CHILD, A GARDEN PATCH OR REDEEMED SOCIAL CONDITION; TO KNOW EVEN
ONE LIFE HAS BREATHED EASIER BECAUSE YOU HAVE LIVED. THIS IS TO HAVE SUCCEEDED.