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Thread: [IAC] Fw: Kurt Vonnegut's MIT Graduation Speech
Message: [IAC] Fw: Kurt Vonnegut's MIT Graduation Speech
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From: "Drew Hurley" <attydhurley at email.msn.com>
Date: Sun, 07 Mar 1999 14:02:47 UTC
And now a change of pace.... > >This is the Commencement address that Kurt Vonnegut recently gave at MIT, >which is worth reading. Enjoy! > >Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '98: Wear sunscreen. If I could >offer >you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term >benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists. I will dispense >this >advice now. Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You >will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've >faded. >But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and >recall >in a way you can't grasp now how you really looked. You are not as fat as >you imagine. Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that >worrying >is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble >gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never >crossed >your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 pm on some idle >Tuesday. >Do one thing every day that scares you. Sing. Don't be reckless with >other >people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours. >Floss. Don't waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you're ahead, >sometimes >you're behind. The race is long and, in the end, it's only with yourself. >Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in >doing this, tell me how. Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old >bank statements. Stretch. Don't feel guilty if you don't know what you >want >to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn't know at >22 >what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting >40-year-olds I know still don't. Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your >knees. You'll miss them when they're gone. Maybe you'll marry, maybe you >won't. Maybe you'll have children, maybe you won't. Maybe you'll divorce >at >40, maybe you'll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding >anniversary. >Whatever you do, don't congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself >either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else's. Enjoy your >body. Use it every way you can. Don't be afraid of it or of what other >people think of it. It's the greatest instrument you'll ever own. Dance, >even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room. Read the >directions, >even if you don't follow them. Do not read beauty magazines. They will >only >make you feel ugly. Get to know your parents. You never know when they'll >be >gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They're your best link to your >past >and the people most likely to stick with you in the future. Understand >that >friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work >hard >to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, >the more you need the people who knew you when you were young. Live in >New >York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern >California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel. Accept >certain >inalienable truths. Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, >too, >will get old. And when you do, you'll fantasize that when you were young, >prices were reasonable, politicians were noble, and children respected >their >elders. Respect your elders. Don't expect anyone else to support you. >Maybe >you have a trust fund. Maybe you'll have a wealthy spouse. But you never >know when either one might run out. Don't mess too much with your hair or >by >the time you're 40 it will look 85. Be careful whose advice you buy, but >be >patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. >Dispensing >it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, >painting >over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it's worth. >But trust me on the sunscreen. > > >----- Forwarded Message Ends Here ----- > > > > >----- Forwarded Message Ends Here ----- > > > > > >----------------- End Forwarded Message ----------------- > > > >Koa Entertainment, Inc. >3785 Anuhea St. >Honolulu, HI 96816-3849 >Phone: 808-735-8991 >Fax: 808-734-2291 > >
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