Culture · Education

What message would you give the class of 2011, if you had only six words to say it?

Eric Ringham Jun 2, 2011
164

It’s graduation season. Commencement speakers are doing their best to inspire graduates, but some of their speeches seem a little long. Today’s Question: What message would you give the class of 2011, if you had only six words to say it?

(Inspired by SMITH Magazine’s Six-Word Memoir project and book series .)

  • Hiram

    Plastics.

  • Audrey

    Love it, Hiram.

  • Audrey

    Love it, Hiram.

  • GaryF

    Freedom, liberty, personal responsibility, integrity, volunteer.

    liberty

  • Robert

    Whatever you do, be exceptional!

  • No more Harry Potter for you!

  • Max

    “Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch’entrate.”

  • Zeke

    You only have a limited amount of time. Don’t waste it living someone else’s dream….

    (numbers are not my strong suit) ; )

  • Jackie

    Could be worse, could be 2008.

  • Denise Anderson

    Use your abilities to serve others.

  • Steve the Cynic

    Wealth does not equal well-being.

  • Deanna

    Be kind, bold, make it better.

  • Stephanie

    Don’t lose sight of your dreams!

  • betsy

    Take part in your local community.

  • Neil

    We rented out your bedroom.

  • Jim G

    Lifetime learner, alive. Not learning, dead.

  • Laura Askelin

    don’t screw up your credit rating

  • Brad

    Sex, drugs and Rock and Roll.

  • Sue de Nim

    Cheap. Easy. Worthwhile. Choose any two.

  • Eric

    Think critically; show respect; and be helpful.

  • Daniel J

    Shakespeare still has the best six-word directive for a happy life: “To thine own self be true.”

  • Tracy

    Life is short. Don’t compromise.

  • Philip

    Stop whining and do more pushups!

  • Chris

    Consider things that cannot be purchased.

  • Christian McGuire

    The speech about “Worship of money, beauty, power etc.” is timeless because it was lifted from Book 3 of Boethius “Consolation of Philosophy” – which of course any liberal arts major would be familiar.

  • Jen

    Be true to yourself, experience life.

  • Joel Blanchfield

    To learn is to live – live

  • Chris Oinonen Ehren

    Spend time away from the computer.

  • DJ

    “Life is change..Growth is optional”

  • Jill B

    Your profound ideas are age-old.

    Listen.

  • RQD

    Life rushes by; be there.

  • Nicole Moats

    Respect the world and love yourself.

  • Jon

    Times are tough, but carry on.

  • David G

    “Life’s short. Don’t buy green bananas.”

  • lOU

    Don’t take on too much debt!

  • DJ

    “Life is change..Growth is optional”

  • Brian D

    Let love teach you its lessons.

  • Ron

    Be safe, polite, respectful.

    (This is the *only* rule our daycare center has for the 16-month to six-year-olds in their care; they are instructed to consider this rule before taking any action. By the time they are four and five years old, they are already thinking and acting with more maturity than more than a few adults I know).

  • Moses

    Love your neighbor as yourself.

  • Lawrence

    Prosperity – gone! Save money! Avoid debt!

  • Micah

    Do justice. Love kindness. Be humble.

  • Gabe

    All you need. Honor, Pride, Respect

  • Marcus

    Just face it, kids… you’re screwed.

  • Jim Shapiro

    Love is the most powerful force.

  • Kelly Jean

    don’t expect much. MAKE much.

  • Mary Jane Sieben

    Goodness pays, even if also selfish.

  • Steve the Cynic

    Don’t follow the rules if they don’t make sense.

  • Curt

    Tongue-tied knowledge beats ignorant loquacity.

  • Gordon near Two Harbors

    Be frugal. Batten down the hatches!

  • CF

    Good luck, you will need it

  • Carol

    Love, laughter, acceptance, kindness, joy, forgiveness

  • Jeff

    Always strive to make a difference.

  • DNA

    Nootropics, entheogens, oneirogens, … learning, considering, communicating 🙂

  • you only need 2 great friends.

  • Gee It’s Us

    Soon enough this too shall pass.

  • Pauline

    Sleep, dream, awaken, smile, sing, walk.

  • Carla

    Pale blue Planet, Mr X Knew.

  • Jack

    The Emperor Wears No Clothes, Herer.

  • Paula

    Thoughts creating beliefs manifesting as reality.

  • Stephan

    Live, love, learn, leave a legacy.

  • Anita

    Look ahead. Not back. Keep going.

  • Swamiji

    Jesus, Buddha, Krishna etc … that’s YOU!

  • Clark

    Fairness is the watchword for todays leftist radicals

  • Rev. Pat

    Marriage is religious, civil unions constitutional.

  • Julie

    Eat, pray, love … floss, meditate, tantra 🙂

  • Ross

    Capturing and leading the imagination rules.

  • Georg

    Respect and Do What Thou Wilt.

  • Peter

    Be ready when the doors open.

  • Redefine career. Pave your own way.

  • Russel

    No one ever died from marijuana.

  • Robert

    Human physical life is addictive. Savor.

  • Bob Marley

    “Herb … healing … nation, alcohol  the destruction.”

  • Jesus

    These things … more you shall do.

  • ELLEN S.

    Work hard. Play fair. Be kind.

  • ACIM

    Universal theology … impossible.

    Universal experience … necessary.

  • Steve

    Become a Public Radio Sustaining Member!

  • Hillary

    Watch:

    “Union: – Business Behind Getting High”

  • Farmer Bob

    Read this list occasionally and consider.

  • Ben

    Don’t fight over Pie, Bake More.

  • McKenna

    You’re a wave of the infinite.

  • Roshi

    Loving Kindness, Compassion, Joy, Equanimity … Peace.

  • JOB – make it Joy Over Boredom!

  • Sam

    Literotica is free whereas LiveLinks costs.

  • Noam

    Take the Belief-O-Matic™ Quiz.

  • Margaret

    Learn just love and be loved.

  • Molly

    Learn to give a great massage.

  • Cupid

    OKCupid confirms, love’s free and smart.

  • ABBA

    Hope, faith and Love. You’re Love.

  • Paul

    Sorry, school was the easy part.

  • bill

    Get a durable, employable, practical skill.

  • Anti-Frack

    Just say “No Fracking way!”

  • Tell

    Keep learning to cook and organize.

  • Timothy

    Question Authority and Think for Yourself.

  • greg

    Wait ten years, “they” will retire.

  • Stratton

    Legalize it – grow it – smoke it

  • Laura

    Turn on, log in, and communicate.

  • greg

    live on cash. eat your veggies.

  • Jamil

    Jesus Christ is the only way

  • Jordan

    Good luck without Social Security, suckers!

  • Richard

    Learn beyond ethnocentricity, Jesus is myth.

  • Richard

    Study monomyth (hero’s journey), love well.

  • Rebecca

    Not all drugs are the same.

  • Rebecca

    Sugar, alcohol, tobacco … deadly.

    Cannabis is safe.

  • Kamil

    The Only Way includes your happiness.

  • John

    Forgiveness is the key to Happiness.

  • Andrew

    Don’t forget to breathe.

  • Josh P

    Your degree guarantees nothing.

  • Mary

    Marijuana’s nature’s way of saying high 🙂

  • Tamara

    Support prohibition … you support organized crime.

  • Meg Seeds

    Define and defy this “new normal.”

  • Jon

    Soft skills matter more than degree

  • Mark

    Wake and bake, end prohibition now.

  • 420

    Have high friends in good places.

  • Live east of where you work.

  • David

    Everything changes, nothing stays the same.

  • Beth

    Life is uncertain; eat dessert first.

  • Benet

    You are driven by your affiliates.

  • Paul

    Love’s the Answer … what’s the Question?

  • Joseph

    Follow your bliss. Suchness, consciousness … bliss.

  • Eric

    Now it is up to you.

  • Carl Sagan

    The illegality of cannabis is outrageous…

    http://marijuana-uses.com/mr-x/

  • Desmond Tutu

    Remember, God Is Not a Christian.

  • Paula

    It’s not always 420 somewhere, proceed.

  • garry gum

    Good luck. You’ll need it. Banana.

  • George Washington

    “Make … most … Hempseed, sow it everywhere.”

  • Thomas Jefferson

    “Hemp … first necessity … to the country”

  • Snoop

    Can’t we all get a bong?

  • Gene

    God saw that it was good.

  • Thomas Jefferson

    Greatest service … add useful plant … culture.

  • Buddha

    Trust nobody, find your own path.

  • Gee It’s Us

    God is Love, so are you.

  • Paul Scheele

    Learn a lot and have fun.

  • Dr. Lester Grinspoon

    Alcohol, countless deaths.

    Cannabis/Marijuana, none.

  • M Hjellming

    Change happens, get used to it.

  • Emmanuel

    ENTHEOGEN: Awakening The Divine Within

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMbHLaY9uwI

  • Your Mom, Dad, Teacher … President

    I smoked weed, no one died.

  • Heather

    Work hard. Debt Free. Play, too.

  • Antero

    Physical, emotional, conceptual, social, sensual, neural.

  • Basic 6

    Spirit Love

    Mind Thought

    Body Experience

  • Thee-Hugger

    Oxytocin-hugs, processes, impermanence, peace-realizing-awareness, Bodhichitta, humor/humility.

  • Kerri

    InLakesh means: “I am another yourself”.

  • Deepak

    TAT TVAM ASI, SAT CHIT ANANDA

  • LaBerge

    Awaken within this dream, Lucidify it!

  • Humphrey

    Don’t bogart that joint my friend!

  • Lora

    Failure is proportional to your sucess.

  • Lora

    Character will always supercede your diploma.

  • Sesta

    End the war on drugs now

  • Zach T

    Just say no to drug testing.

  • Steve the Cynic

    There’s no end to the bullshit.

  • Kevin VC

    Move to Canada.

    I am serious.

  • Allison

    Kindness endures.

  • the dude

    Act always with conscience and compassion.

  • Emily

    Mine your mind. Mind your heart.

  • michael

    compassion, hospitality toward all others…first

  • steve

    Stay curious. Keep learning. Be flexible.

  • Melissa

    Leadership begets inspiration invoking forward thinking.

  • jack Goldman

    Build your estate. Avoid irresponsible behaviors.

  • Alexander

    Who ARE you?

    What’s your purpose?

  • Jason

    Avoid cheap puns and insular platitudes.

  • Drae

    Get workin’ – millions need your taxes.

  • Lisa

    Don’t work for the state

  • I gotta boner, want to see?

  • Birdie

    Live east of where you work.

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