Today was a day of mixed feelings. Our lovely seniors graduated, and there was, of course, happiness at finishing and at having accomplished so much. There was also sadness at leaving behind a chapter that has meant so many wonderful things to so many. And of course, apprehension about what on earth one was supposed to do now.
Our graduation speaker, miracle of miracles, was Katie Couric. I know, I know. Katie Couric. We'd heard about it all year, how she was going to come and be our speaker. As she walked by the bleachers, she was just as fabulous as she looks on television. And she was something that I never thought she would be, though I don't know why I wouldn't: she was gosh darn funny.
http://www.rmc.edu/current-students/commencement/Commencement%20Address/video.aspx
I've embedded the link of the speech, her portion begins at 7.30, though her introduction is pretty good, too.
Of course, she was awesome. She crowd-sourced the speech, taking questions online from the graduates to outline her talk. Along with a well-placed dig at Hampden-Sydney, she made us laugh, she made us (or at least me) cry a little, and she gave us hope.
But for a moment there, she scared the pants off of me.
She began with a graduation speech standard, talking about the Class of 2013 and their impact on the world. And, as often does, it veered towards the idea that the generation before us might think a little bit negatively of us.
This I was expecting. At about 14.47, she explains how she used to be a baby boomer who looked down on our generation. That's fine.
She then detailed the ways in which our generation could be criticized.
"You're pampered. You're entitled. Your parents have done too much for you."
Hehehe, okay Katie Couric, that's funny. Lol.
"You're pathetically incompetent."
Whoa now. That was when I began to hide behind my program.
"You're narcissists. Because you grew up thinking everyone gets a trophy, you don't understand the value of hard work, sacrifice, or delayed gratification. You have self-esteem all right, but it's self-esteem without portfolio, self-esteem on steroids. And technology has made you both self-centered and craving for approval from people you don't even know, with likes on Instagram, friends on Facebook, and followers on Twitter."
Hear that nervous laughter in the background? I was literally cringing.
She then, ever so wonderfully, tells us that we should tell them to shove it. And I don't think Katie Couric was inappropriate in saying these things. Katie Couric can do no wrong. However, it was stinging in the same way that someone would say "I don't care what they say, you don't look fat in that dress." While defending the millennial generation was great, it reminded us all of the expectations, some rather low, that others have of us all.
So, along with the expectations of our parents, professors, and peers, we have the country to contend with, many of whom seem to have written us off already. Not to mention that we're supposed to make ourselves happy somewhere along the line.
But as Katie Couric goes on to say, many of these "weaknesses" turn out to be our strengths. Our sense of connectedness to each other and the world through technology. Our acceptance of others. Our readiness to expect results from ourselves and others. Her speech highlights the really great things about our generation.
But I think we need to keep the negative in mind. Believe in ourselves, but know that we may have to prove ourselves to people that we don't believe have earned our extra effort, or deserve our extra time. It may mean remembering that when you post something or do something, that you are representing your generation, as well as yourself. It may mean being the one person to change someone's already made up mind about the up and coming youth of America.
But I think that it's doable, and I think we need to be reminded every once and a while that, though we may feel accomplished and proud of ourselves, there are many miles to go before we sleep, and we cannot coast there on our own good vibes. Generational cooperation is necessary for cultural change, and for any society to function. And we ought to be the bigger people and show our best selves to anyone we can. That is, after all, what the grownups are supposed to do. And that is the Class of 2013 now. That will be all of us soon.
Congrats Class of 2013. Make us all proud.
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