Words of wisdom for the graduates

Published 8:24 am Wednesday, May 25, 2011

It’s that time of year again.

It’s the time of year when newly-crowned graduates toss their pointed caps in the air and then dodge them as they fall to the ground as a celebration of years of hard work coming to an end.

In honor of those graduates, I thought I would share with you some words of wisdom that I’ve heard over the years at various graduation ceremonies. A few of these may even turn up in some of the valedictorian and salutatorian speeches this week – attributed to the original author of course.

• “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who’ll decide where to go.” – Dr. Seuss

• “Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

• “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

• “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” – Winston Churchill

• “All our dreams can come true … if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

• “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

• “Keep in mind that neither success nor failure is ever final.” – Roger Babson

• “Some men see things as they are and ask why. Others dream things that never were and ask why not.” – George Bernard Shaw

• “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”– Jeremiah 29:11

And a personal favorite of mine … “Congratulations on graduating. Now get a job.”