You Are Nothing Special

I would the world my -- toward graduation a week ago -- Friday in the from Wellesley high school as you as you know you remember was off that week -- took the week off. And there was a there was a speech made their -- David McCullough junior the price he size me was my my all the spotter at the graduate. The graduates. High school English teacher. And he he made a speech and I you know we -- and we didn't think anything -- but I mean most of people in the audience as far as like -- fouls like that -- We and you know he said and he set a lot of but that I asked my daughter about later Caroline and she said that the he that he had said many of the same things that he said the speech. To them over the course of the year you know he say he he just tells them that their parents are always right they turn off the computer. Start re being. You know the usual stuff I mean it's good stuff that he tells -- -- it and no no and -- got a call for Margery -- my colleague at The -- and few days later she -- was where it was or why anger about it I said anger what are you talking about a -- some moon has a blog and she's tech isn't it terrible that it's so mean to be kids these kids have worked so how high it. Please give me break. But you know it's and Marjorie call around and she she wrote the next day that while she couldn't find anybody who didn't blow like the speech. But here's the speech is really it's really gone viral now it's it's all over -- He Rush Limbaugh mentioned -- today on his show what here's here's some of the day. This is some of the -- Dave this is David McCullough junior his father is via famous historian by the way he's an English teacher Wellesley high score -- You've been nudged cajoled we golden implored you've been fetid and fund over and called sweetie pie. Yes you have but do not get the idea year anything special. Because you're not selflessness. Is the best thing you can do for yourself. The sweetest joys of life them then come only with the recognition that you're not special. It wrong with that is -- wrong with that. -- like that I like -- that you know and he was he what one point he said you know you you know you what their people in this school. In this class who was go down and during a winter but winter break to Guatemala. Too -- to to engage in house building but they're not doing it to help help the Guatemalan answer to help on their own character than just doing a total look good. When they applied to a brown or borrowed and or somewhere like that. Mentioned -- and a couple of times a matter of fact but I thought it was a damn good speech myself I I don't -- problems with Padilla to more of a civil war. You gotta. That's at OK so what do what do you think a mission to shoot a high school students be told the truth that they are not special. You know he won one of the things she said was even if your -- one -- a million. -- given the population of the -- Emmys are 7000 people in the world just like you even if you wanted to million. You know NEC he would do another thing that he's all that police have for a long time he's still he says in class all the time is to walk. -- play you know -- idea is Latin for seize the day. And he always says -- pay the heck out of the deal with social seized by -- out today it's great it's good stuff I mean what if that's what that's what they should be told. You know he's he's a pretty hard Doug rader might might embark on an -- minus in his class Scioscia had to yes she she worked out pretty art. And and in the I must say I did I'd you know I tried to help or I could corner over the papers editing for. But he's a he's a real good teacher and in -- You know what -- people. People need to hear that you know at least he was talking about the soccer trophies about hi everybody gets a soccer trophy now on the it was just -- it was just good stop all the way around. 18774694322187746943. 22 and be your next with how we cargo ahead Andy. Yeah probably coming back up from my son's soccer tournament where it is -- -- old Korean won and they all that adult. You know I would agree with that I -- not that -- in Benton. Yelled at Olympic -- but they'd be patient that got settled a -- old tree -- what. Yeah -- I agree in the you know -- I asked my -- I asked my daughter last night you finished up -- her ride she's in the R&A U basketball team. I -- what was your final record. And she says I don't now. I. Don't what do you think you know your final record. -- all of the bad and now I went to my nieces. -- played a few sports in high school and all that the seniors but to the graduating they'll last game. You know plow into the senior is that all that I'm I'm look at -- and that wondered its up start happening. Yeah right. -- no I don't orbit with the we brought flowers for our bottom but you know here's -- Wellesley still has a valedictorian. I don't think a lot of places even have valedictorian. Anymore. Hollywood did you get a while to get an upright shop until right. No idea idea I had I had dubbed -- second daughter of one of her friends was webos and we part we got a parking space. Purely nearest supermarket nearby near the high school so I just I handed -- forty bucks to get some nice flowers and come back and cius. And that's out that's like up the flowers candy. Well and I don't blame yet but now you're right I mean it -- sooner or later they gonna understand that not everybody finishes are. In that show up to work four days -- -- I've been a week did you not gonna get promoted by the -- Exactly and you know that I I looked at that I was surprised that the next day there was little story about the high school graduation in the in the globe committed even mentioned this a speech. And -- but the first the first message on the the first massive the first person to comment on the message ports that. All sway those lead and did they have their anatomy is pick up the diplomas fault. And I thought that was a pretty good line even reportedly -- kids. 18774694322. League your next what power cargo heavily. How in the third -- the greatest speeches of our current. Is it right up there with the checkers speech. No seriously I'm that there is how -- you know the concept of true illegal freedom. And that you are as sorry as you'll grant to liberty to your other. Is box on -- generation. You know I am I'm in my early forties and I used to teach. In a very very affluent. System what you -- and -- short. And the children have absolutely. No idea. And that. People be on them actually happen intelligent. -- I you know what I'm inclined to I'm inclined to agree with you about that -- it's. It is true I you know McCullough said that things have changed a lot in the 26 years he's been teaching. But new -- he's always seem the same way to me I mean it's I don't think it's I don't think it's changed that much I think it's always been along the lines that he was pointing out that. You however but it was a very privileged and everybody you you know was Greece and the kids work. Prematurely cynical trying to was -- memories -- this you know skiing and things like you know building in Guatemala or as he put it giving in to these AP classes that are really AP they're just regular normal classes but they call me because it looks better public colleges. Brenda your next with how we cargo ahead Brenda. I found that that this is confident that bed that you I appreciate what you -- listening audience to be extremely refreshing. Kids today don't need to be coddled which is what we. Which actually done -- -- we've -- -- all the coddling baloney but you know everyone gets the trophy and might not telling you how they act. You know and it now why didn't they act and tap. -- out here. You know -- the commerce secretary -- -- they say you had a seizure. Well yeah I guess how it. -- you don't get those. Chances lieutenant Matt and I tell my sixteen year old once you get out of the back that light is that they. Then you'll be okay. You know you'll be okay but it had the mindset that you know white. Only use something about it that way we're supposed to contribute and add value to life. The other -- My junior English teacher I used to -- life isn't fair but the alternative is worse. He's. Yeah -- hit right. He's now why he's now having the worst alternative he passed on a few years ago nobody was a good man -- Lambert. Thanks for the call Brenda 1877469432218774694322. 617 don't worry Brookline hasn't changed the graduation no one took off their hats for the implement the speaker wasn't narcissistic dreamer. I couldn't believe we have a you know -- the -- some schools superintendent had been let go for just being pretty much you know just not not very good at what she did. She showed up on me and I I I was each and -- what she talked about. The rain for -- well. The rain -- I was so glad I you know that was souls so. So appropriate for the occasion especially since she's just been -- You know. I I would that was I bout that was what -- when Marjorie called and asked me about the speeches like about what you ask him about I was rated teed off on the rating for speech. Beverly your next with how we cargo ahead Beverly. Hi there I'm I agree with everyone was calling him it's what you have been saying and I think we need to start younger are not wait till -- -- seniors in high school. As Obama recently elementary age students. Every little thing Matt sergeant dale is monumental. Patent Smart guy to my -- sixth grade graduation and. And the -- of the dot -- and Sharon. That's dynamite. Yeah. I know well it's two or so years Beverly they'll be graduating from the way it exactly it's ridiculous because. And it. Everything that actual. Yeah all I could only but the first somebody they said we're going to the graduation is who's graduating I mean there there in the eighth grade you know whether they told me there was an eighth grade graduation I couldn't believe it. Get it. In and a soccer everything. -- -- Can they at a banquet they had a problem they have a bank what's they have a graduation I had I had an eighth grade graduation and William Colby -- of the CIA at the time is our with our speaker. Paid my eighth grade graduation they put us on the bus and we went home I was that. Are not a rumor too much about graduate and and this I I was kind of shocked. The banquet so. What's up with -- I mean the bank what in the course after the graduation and then they do what they always do now which is. They go out for dinner and then they come back at ten and they all get locked inside the they'll get locked inside the gym until 4 o'clock and their parents come and pick a mop. Actually can't go out and get drunk and kill themselves which I -- I'm OK with that. Thanks for the call Beverly jog your next with how we cargo ahead John. Hours I thought my kids aren't what you -- It's cool. And that's where you got to. The other one. -- -- -- -- You know what it is cool. Got to be ready for. -- in the -- with. I know I I gotta say I wish Mike and I wish I didn't spoil my kids as much as I did join the other day I'm going to war. Gordon that is speeches. 9 at 9 o'clock I make a speech at 9 in the morning and a car I spoke and my second daughter the night before it's what time yet to be at school and she sent eleven. Right. Yeah well that's what did not that's number 11 for starters should be it's cool little haven't. And and that's all that's okay that's fine so I don't have to worry about I'll I'll do a speech get back home and then I'll take her to class. And a quarter of mind she calls and she screaming everywhere you what words mom I guess I'd get the school as you told me the school starts eleven. I wanna get earlier you come -- home. All man. A lot of that everything. No I didn't drop every -- the thing assure her sister her sister was right there you know across a hall former sleeping at -- pastor has. Why did she wake up persist or better to call up and scream and may. I'm substance that you wanna have to wake up the on seriously. Well I'm not coming back I mean I've I've may be I've made a commitment to make this speech on up for on Friday morning and I -- I am I. Pasta -- -- I said before he said I I asked you last night what time you had to be at school. You tell me eleven. You gonna call -- nine I what do taking it to school before I went a Lexington. But you didn't tell me. Where Shaq -- some of these kids. He knows how bad they are your mother knows some of these kids your mother knows some of these kids excuse me. One -- I'm getting confused here or -- mothers that they choose to pursue my kids. Tim -- but this is that a hacker -- thing I just want to understand Tim you're next with how we cargo -- them. How on -- correction on the commerce secretary. Well the lights. I think over real kernel or. I. Like I'm back Q did the original plate yet this too self entitlement for the kids. And it's evolved over. The court should time I would say over the course at 1520 years in terms of nobody can be winners nobody can be losers have -- -- all. Away feeling good about everything I mean -- and Abby Elliott western -- he hammered the -- and then. Area and it's amazing now. And what's happening is you get kids that don't. Know how to cope with failure so they lash out at society -- -- Mongolia -- it. Drive his car to the front door of the high school because of bad grade our teacher disciplining them. Image in it just. Oil over to the point that out how they're not special tell them he let apparently they're unique and special. Like you know it's a bite out there and the worst of the. It's terrible when I was in high school we always knew how special or on special we worked as we got rankings with a high school rankings you know. Mean that tells you know basically if you wanna do better you just work harder and you move up a little bet. What -- say if you get hurt feelings are you offended my child like there was a story. Recently and and and it kept the parents are doing that and because he got an award for being the least. It was a great girl -- her homework argue that and and other over the latter never do our homework in and that teacher and gave an award for her in front Blacksburg. Why are doing all part until now all the big deal but like you can't call how normal stuff and discipline kids what now. Now it an offense without a lawyer without this that the other things like I believe -- -- -- BM and a great. Scene out of that whole society that Robin Williams does the -- GameStop. And he brings all these young aspiring geared up for the award chase the ball. Football players and their year and he was just saying there are all brought bases and out so are paid BM now you know not at all that yeah you know but. It's a lot of Latin expressions to -- more people don't learn Latin expressions you know like another good good when his caveat emptor let the buyer beware to read the voters were paying attention the caviar emptor in 2008. And it's 617 says how we ten acres that's where I live to work too well Wellesley high is not that four come on. You're telling me I mentioned that to work -- of course and she began screaming up on me once suggested that she walked to school. I'm now car.