To all our Grads…
There was a New Zealand principal who offered these words in a newsletter to the parents of his charges. But they are good words for you to hear as well.
Always we hear the cry from teenagers, ‘What can we do, where can we go?’
My answer is this: Go home, mow the lawn, wash the windows, learn to cook, build a raft, get a job, visit the sick, study your lessons, and after you’ve finished, read a book. Your town does not owe you recreational facilities and your parents do not owe you fun. The world does not owe you a living.
You owe the world something.
You owe it your time, energy and talent so that no one will be at war, in poverty or sick and lonely again.
In other words, grow up, stop being a cry baby, get out of your dream world and develop a backbone, not a wishbone.
Start behaving like a responsible person.
You are important and you are needed.
It’s too late to sit around and wait for somebody to do something someday. Someday is now and that somebody is you.
Here is the interesting fact about this quote. It was written by Judge Phillip B Gilliam of Denver, Colorado, in a letter published on December 17, 1959. I am pretty sure that Judge Gilliam had no idea what our world would look like 54 ½ years later. But what he knew is that some truths stand the test of time and some challenges are worth issuing and undertaking.
To our recent grads, both from St. Ann School and from other grade school institutions, from our area High Schools and even our college grads – let me echo the sentiment by Judge Gilliam.
Someday is now.
That somebody, is you.
Make us proud!
… … … … … … … … … … … … … … …
This Sunday’s second collection goes to Cardinal Glennon’s Children’s Hospital – to help defray the cost of the care given freely to so many children, regardless of race, color or creed, who need their out-standing services. Thanks in advance for your generosity.