Graduation Speech from the Future

We're all graduating from something.

Hello friends,

Graduation season is upon us. I love it: the pomp, the circumstance, the throwing of the mortar board hats. I love it all.

I’m especially fond of commencement speeches. Usually delivered from a podium in front of an unsuspecting group of young adults, these brief talks are meant to inspire students about to be blasted out into the “real” world. These speeches occupy an interesting space in content culture. Not really a TED Talk. Not necessarily a sermon. It’s one of the few spaces in public life where we invite someone to just share a bit of wisdom. (In the comments, please share with me links to some of your favorite commencement addresses!)

Last night, I was the commencement speaker at a graduation ceremony in my community. This was an absolute honor, of course. And it was one of those moments where I knew *exactly* what I wanted to share with these students, until I actually had to write it out.

I went totally blank.

What do graduating seniors need to know? What is graduation? How me make words good?

A similar creative block hit a few years back when I sat down to write a speech for the graduates of Keuka College in Keuka Park, New York. As I looked at the school’s website, an avalanche of imposter syndrome washed over me. Previous speakers had been prestigious politicians, humanitarians, theologians— and now … me.

I wish I could tell you that I overcame this insecurity about the speech thanks to wise counsel from an older, seasoned mentor. It’d be super convenient if there were something inspiring that happened to me just before going onstage for the ceremony. If this were a movie, I would’ve gone back to my old high school and sought inspiration through former teachers and classmates, rekindled an old romance, and maybe even saved the town library while I was there.

But none of this happened.

Instead, I thought back to my own graduation. I remember none of it - at least none of the speeches. I don’t remember what the speakers said and am equally cloudy on basic details like names. Maybe they said something that planted a seed in my imagination, but I have no recollection of anything like this.

Studies have shown that an audience generally can only recall, at most, 50% of what is said. This is immediately after hearing a speaker! By the next day, they say a typical audience member can recall only around 25% of the presenation. One week later? Maybe 10%. A decade or two decades later? Not a chance.

This presented me with a sense of freedom. Whatever I said in the speech had an extremely low likelihood of being remembered — unless, of cousre, it was noticeably terrible or wildly offensive. Still, the pressure I’d been feeling to GIVE THE STUDENTS ALL THE WISDOM OF THE UNIVERSE IN TEN MINUTES went away. I realized my task was smaller and simpler: be honest, be helpful, and have fun.

The talk I gave was presented as if I were a time traveler and had advice to them on the future I’d witnessed:

I tried not to give too many spoilers or upset the time-space continuum. Still, it seemed worth the risk to encourage the graduates to think about the way they speak and live.

Spoiler: all this applies to your future, too.

Full transparency: I don’t actually know what the future holds. I do have a whole lot of hope for it, though. When creating art of any type, I’ve learned to let go of the future outcome. This isn’t so easy to do when you really, really care. But I have been learning that whether it’s public speaking, a book, a web series, an email, or a life — all any of us can do is show up.

Show up with honesty. Be of help. Have some fun.

Now you may throw your caps in the air.

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A few things:

1. How can I help you?

For a limited time, I’ve opened up my calendar for office hours. Use this for creative consulting, problem solving, giving a pep talk to your co-workers, creative block, business questions, story time, —whatever! Cost is $99 per block. Schedule yours now.

2. STORYTIME at Parnassus Books in Nashville, Tennessee

Excited to be doing a special book event at one of my all-time favorite bookshops. Join us Saturday, May 27, 2023 - 10:30 am for a special visit to the Fantastic Bureau of Imagination, book signing, and fun surprises. More info here.

3. Merch is now shipping all over!

We just got more signed books in stock. From prints to pins to shirts, every item is hand-shipped directly from my studio in Tennessee. Kristi helps navigate the store. Let us know if there’s anything you’d like in bulk or something you can’t find. Get your gear here.

Here’s video of the time travel graduation talk if you’d like to see it: