Saturday, December 20, 2008

A Graduation Speech for The Rebellion

After two days of being told what your responsibilities are in a world gone haywire with money and job problems, here is my graduation speech to you, The Rebellion:

What is it that you owe?  This incredible debt you've incurred to the world and to your professor?  Here is what you owe: nothing.

All in The Rebellion have pushed aside the "grade" to give value to the story, the audience, and the team.  You have given your time, your heart, and your own money to tell stories and build friendships that no one else can understand aside from those who will push aside ego and hubris for the story and the experience.

What is your responsibility now?  Love yourself, love the world, and love others as you have loved those in this rebellion.  Time will give you the experience you need, so embrace it.  Fall down...fall hard, and come up swinging and ready for more...like I've seen you do everyday.  You know what is right, and what is wrong: you know what to do.  Money, jobs, the world economy, etc. always seem bleak: you'll know when to sacrifice and when to rejoice.  You already know what comes from hard work, and what comes from hard play.

What can I tell you that you already haven't figured out?  Go forth and screw-up, play, work, and love: whatever demands more of you than that needs a bit of rebellion.

I've studied the classics in Latin, Greek, etc. ...and this is the only quote I truly feel comfortable leaving you with...

"Living here day by day, you think it's the center of the world.  You believe nothing will ever change.  Then you leave: a year, two years.  When you come back, everything's changed.  The thread's broken.  What you come to find isn't there.  What was yours is gone. You have to go away for a long time...many years...before you can come back and find your people."

Let the world change you as you change the world.  Long Live The Rebellion!!!