Sean Carter 2m 565
The views of this article are the perspective of the author and may not be reflective of Confessions of the Professions.
Now is the time many high school seniors are getting anxious and excited about moving on to a four year school. High school graduation is a milestone in one’s life. Trust me, you’ll hear about it a lot during the commencement speech; the speaker will speak of growing up and how to live life with passion and compassion as well. Some of the best speeches will also include something about prudence too. A commencement speech is something that will stay in the hearts and minds of the students forever. A powerful speaker is usually chosen for such a task. What makes someone be able to give such a powerful speech? Well a variety of things which you will soon learn! With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the things you might hear during a commencement speech with the help of Ben Franklin and how you or your high school graduate can utilize these life lessons as they move on to a four year school. He’s been noted to get quoted every now and then.
Passion: If you’re going to do something, you might as well do it right. Mr. Franklin once said, “Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” College is the time to find yourself and discover what you want to do with the rest of your life. It is the time to say, I don’t know. You have four years to take a range of classes and participate in activities that will shape who you are. It doesn’t matter what you discover – it matters how you discover it. Do everything with energy and passion, so you can find your true path.
Compassion: Ben Franklin, always one for philanthropy, wrote that “it takes many good deeds to build a good reputation, and only one bad one to lose it.” Think about that when you make your decisions during your four years in college and the rest of your life. If you do bad things, this will negatively affect how people view you. At the same time, if you make good decisions and consider others in your actions, you’re sure to have a favorable reputation. Compassion is one of the most important virtues but can easily be forgotten when times are their toughest. Instilling this virtue in people is no small feat.
Prudence: One of the biggest problems many college freshman face is the temptation to spend money. Now is not the time to spend beyond your means; now is the time to learn and discover your passions. Like the Founding Father once said, “An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” Take this to heart. Unfortunately, many college freshmen don’t have the knowledge or savvy necessary to balance their checkbooks. If your school is affiliated with HigherOne.com, you might want to take a look at it. HigherOne.com is no scam when it comes to financial education for college students. Just as you’re gaining knowledge in your field of passion, you should also gain knowledge in things like spending, which will carry you throughout the rest of your life.
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Sean Carter is an experienced writer who has contributed to a wide variety of blogs over the years. His main areas of expertise include travel, the automotive work and history.
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