SATURDAY, MAY 19, 2024 - GRADUATION SPEECH

 SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2024 - GRADUATION SPEECHES

Tis the season for graduation - and graduation speeches

I never gave a commencement address, and my doctorate was earned (not an honorary doctorate from Rocky and Bullwinkle’s College—“WhatsAMatter U”). However, I did give two fall “Welcome to Campus—New Freshman addresses” at Quinnipiac.  

It was unusual for a professor to give two of those welcome addresses.  I gave one in 2012.  In 2013, the administration had a speaker picked out - but at the last moment, he was unavailable - so my second welcome-to-campus speech was as a “player off the bench.”

But, thinking about graduation speeches, today’s quotes are motivational quotes and stories.

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In my 2013 talk, I used Michael Phelps as a motivating person. 

Michael Phelps is a former American competitive swimmer. He is the most successful and decorated Olympian, with 28 medals. Phelps also holds the records for Olympic gold medals, Olympic gold medals in individual events, and Olympic medals in individual events. (Wikipedia)

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So, let’s consider Michael Phelps. He is probably a lot like you—except he has 28 Olympic gold medals.

How did he do that?

Phelps swims at least 80,000 meters a week in peak training phases, which is nearly 50 miles. He practices twice a day, sometimes more if training at altitude. Phelps trains five to six hours a day, six days a week.

Now, let’s think about that. He swims five to six hours daily—six or seven days a week. That seems to be a lot. He gets up in the morning, goes to the pool, and swims for maybe three hours. He then gets out, dries, and goes to his “everyday” life. In the afternoon, he goes to the pool for another three hours.  

Five to six hours every day—every day. He still swims on his “days off,” but not at the same intensity. (Between the Athens Olympics (2004) and the Beijing Olympics (2008), the reports are that he swam EVERY DAY.)  

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Hold it - Time Out

  

Five to six hours of swimming every day - for years and years?  Just so he could win a couple (okay, twenty-eight) medals at the Olympics (okay, not just medals - but GOLD medals).

And, the races he swam in were short - 4 or 5 minutes!!  So, he trained six hours daily to swim in a 4-minute race?  

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WOW - such dedication.

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Okay, Karen - get to the point.  (Yes, we can see it coming).

What’s important to you? Your family? Do you spend five or six hours a day, seven days a week, working on improving your family?

Your job? If you are like most people, you spend eight hours a day at your job. Are those eight hours productive? Are you getting better? As a professor, I wanted every class to be my best ever, and I kept trying.  

Your faith? Do you pray and study scripture six hours a day?

Your hobbies?  Do I spend six hours a day practicing or in rehearsals?

Your health?  Do I spend six hours a day exercising?  

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Malcolm Gladwell wrote about a 10,000-hour threshold. If you spend 10,000 hours doing something, you should be good. Michael Phelps spent six hours a day swimming—or about 2,000 hours in a year. In five years, he reached that elusive 10,000-hour barrier.  

Caitlin Clark (the women’s basketball phenomenon) spends about 3 to 4 hours a day shooting baskets and more time lifting weights, doing squats and running.  

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Okay - what’s important to you?  Are you making it a priority?  If not - why not?

I’m visiting my sister in Arizona in two weeks and then going to some National Parks (Grand Canyon, Zion, Bryce, Arches, Capitol Reef).  I want to do some hiking - but guess what?  My meager walking routine of three miles daily doesn’t get me too far.  Yes, I know I’m 76, yes, I know I can’t make it to the bottom of the Grand Canyon and back up - but I want to do some hiking.  And I’m not in shape to do much.  Oh my!!  I guess I’ll enjoy the scenery like a typical tourist - and do what hiking I can do without overdoing it!!!

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LOVE WINS

LOVE TRANSFORMS

Am I spending five to six hours a day on making LOVE WIN?  (Some days - yes).

Karen Anne White, ©, May 18, 2024