Social media was buzzing about a Boston-area high school teacher's blunt commencement speech that told students they "are not special."
Wellesley High English teacher David McCullough Jr. told graduates "You are not special. You are not exceptional," quoting empirical evidence:
"Across the country no fewer than 3.2 million seniors are graduating about now from more than 37,000 high schools. That's 37,000 valedictorians ... 37,000 class presidents ... 92,000 harmonizing altos ... 340,000 swaggering jocks ... 2,185,967 pairs of Uggs," he said in the speech published in the Boston Herald.
He added: "Even if you're one in a million, on a planet of 6.8 billion that means there are nearly 7,000 people just like you."
McCullough makes a statement on parents who overdo it in a modern society focused on collecting achievements. "You've been pampered, cosseted, doted upon, helmeted, bubble wrapped ... feted and fawned over and called sweetie pie." But he adds in a video on Wellesley Channel TV YouTube page, "You see, if everyone is special, then no one is. If everyone gets a trophy, trophies become meaningless. ... We have of late, we Americans, to our detriment, come to love accolades more than genuine achievement."
McCullough's address does push students to recognize real achievement: "The fulfilling life, the distinctive life, the relevant life is an achievement," and he encourages graduates "to do whatever you do for no reason other than you love it and believe in its importance."
Many expressed their approval of the message on Twitter:
This is awesome. I don't remember my HS commencement speech. I think I would remember this one. — S.L. Gray
Fantastic speech which sums up the neglected duty of so many Americans in 1 phrase: "Be worthy of your advantages." — Benjamin Yee
The greatest commencement speech ever. — Neil Raden
My new hero. Tells grads "You're not that Special ... when everyone gets a trophy, the trophy doesn't mean anything." — Jason Dobrolecki
The Boston Herald also reported that McCullough's words were very well received by attendees. The teacher, a father of four, admitted he's guilty of the actions he pokes fun at in his speech.
But near the end of the address he says, "The sweetest joys of life, then, come only with the recognition that you're not special. Because everyone is."
社交网站上正在热议美国波斯顿一所高中的毕业致辞,致辞的老师很直白地告诉学生说他们“并不特别”。
韦尔斯利高中的英语老师小戴维•麦卡洛告诉毕业生说:“你们并不特别。你们并不非凡。”他还引用实例为证:
“现在全美3.7万所高中至少有320万高年级生毕业。其中有3.7万名致告别辞的学生代表……3.7万名级长……9.2万名合唱团的男高音和女低音……34万大步走路的学生运动员……还有218万5967双羊皮靴。”这一演讲发表在《波士顿先驱报》上。
他还说:“就算你是百万里挑一的人才,但是地球上有68亿人,这意味着有近7000人和你一样优秀。”
现代社会中父母们都注重收集孩子的成就,对于那些做得过了头的父母们,麦卡洛还说道:“你们(毕业生)一直被娇惯着、纵容着、溺爱着、呵护着、受到层层保护,总是有人款待、奉承你们,叫你们甜心宝贝。”但是,他在YouTube上韦尔斯利电视台的一段视频中还说:“想一下,如果每个人都是特别的,那么就谁也不特别了。如果每个人都得到奖杯,奖杯将变得毫无意义……近来我们美国人越来越喜欢赞美而不是真正的成就,这对我们是不利的。”
麦卡洛的致辞确实促使学生们意识到什么是真正的成就:“充实的、与众不同、有意义的人生是一项成就”,他还鼓励毕业生们“去做任何你想做的事,不为别的,就因为你热爱而且相信它很重要。”
许多人在微博Twitter上表达了对这一致辞的认同。
S•L•格雷:“这太震撼了。我已记不起我高中时的毕业致辞,但我想我会记住这一个毕业致辞。”
本杰明•叶:“这一精彩的演讲用一个短句就概括了这么多美国人忽略的责任:‘不要辜负你享有的优越条件。”
尼尔•雷登:“这是有史以来最伟大的毕业致辞。”
杰森•多布罗雷基:“他是我心目中的新英雄。他告诉毕业生们‘你们没那么特别……如果每个人都得到奖杯,那么奖杯就没有任何意义’。”
《波士顿先驱报》还报道说,麦卡洛的致辞非常受在场者的欢迎。这位有四个孩子的男教师承认说,他对自己在演讲中开玩笑的行为感到愧疚。
不过在致辞快结束的时候,他说:“人生中最美妙的乐趣,在于意识到你并不特别。因为每个人都是特别的。”
下一篇: 欧洲杯成“欧债杯” 金融家预测夺冠球队
新任白宫通讯主管对特朗普“黑转粉”,连手势都与总统同步
研究:针灸能缓解痛经
全国肥胖率北京居首 北方明显高于南方
国内英语资讯:Chinese scientists make new breakthrough in quantum communication
割腕誓言作废:丹尼尔•克雷格将回归《007》
体坛英语资讯:Olympiacos beats Partizan 3-1 in Champions League qualifiers
国内英语资讯:Chinese Premier meets former Greek PM
国内英语资讯:Chinese FM eyes new prospect for China-Indonesia ties
我的童年记忆 My Childhood Memory
英国计划将于2040年禁售燃油车辆
国内英语资讯:Vice premier urges more flood control efforts
拉加德:IMF总部十年内或将迁至北京
斯里兰卡已有近300人死于登革热
国内英语资讯:China steps up efforts in public hospital reform
老妇眼睛不适就医,竟取出27枚隐形眼镜
中国人眼中的西方的茶
国际英语资讯:West Bank, East Jerusalem clashes continue over Al-Aqsa mosque measures
国内英语资讯:Belt and Road Initiative plays key role in Sino-Philippine ties: FM
体坛英语资讯:China enters knockout stage at Womens Basketball Asian Cup as group leader
Commitment, devotion and dedication 三个和“奉献”有关的单词
国内英语资讯:Philippine President Duterte vows for closer relations with China
男人网购起来比女人更败家
Give us a bell 给我打电话
体坛英语资讯:Chinas Sun Yang wins first World Championships 200m free title
体坛英语资讯:Tears and joy as Chinas Xu achieves breakthrough in mens backstroke at FINA Worlds
主唱贝宁顿离世,林肯公园巡演全数取消!
《金刚狼3:殊死一战》电影精讲(视频)
爱喝黑咖啡的人,更容易得精神病?
美文赏析:我们渴望与人交流,不仅仅是说话
国际英语资讯:President Trump says Yellen, Cohn are contenders for next Fed Chair