The commencement speech

My friend and co-worker Sid Salter will be giving the commencement speech at Mississippi State University today. It’s a huge honor for him and for the graduates. Sid will give them a funny speech full of excellent wisdom (I know — I’ve read part of it). Starkvegas is in for a treat.

So I started to thinking, “what would I tell a bunch of college graduates?” And then I thought, “What would I tell college-graduate me?!?” Heck, I’d love to give 22-year-old Marshall Ramsey a commencement speech. Here are ten points I’d tell him (if he’d listen):

1. When you become a janitor in a few months, you won’t be failing. Use your talents every way you can as you walk through that journey and when the lady you work with says, “my daughter is single,” jump all over it. You’ll have three of the most beautiful children before you know it. The “worst” times of your life will turn out to be your best. Even when you’re cleaning #$%# out of toilets.

2. Don’t be afraid of risk. Every risk you take will pay off handsomely — and sometimes in ways you don’t expect it. Make moves. Experiment. The only time you’ll fail is when you play it safe. And don’t buy the Isuzu Trooper you’re looking at. The engine will blow twice.

3. Fear is the devil walking the earth. Don’t fall for it. It will just slow you down and plow salt into your dreams’ fields. You’ll learn that one when you have cancer. Oops, I wasn’t supposed to tell you that.

4. Always be building a lifeboat. Change happens and when it does, you need to be ready for it. When the waves of change come crashing down on you, don’t be building sandcastles. Be ready to surf. And buy Google and Apple stock. Lots of it.

5. Get your moles checked. Trust me on that one. See, “Cancer” above.

6. Laugh more. Not much else to add to that one.

7. Give to your community until it hurts. It’s the wisest investment you’ll ever make.

8. Think of others more and of yourself less. Let things go — particularly people. Live in the moment and love those around you, not memories that are long gone. P.S. Be nicer to that girl you’ll marry.

9. Go immediately and go hug your grandparents and tell them how much they mean to you. They won’t be around much longer and you’ll miss them in twenty years. Trust me.

10. Don’t be afraid to dream big dreams. You’ll achieve them. Trust me again.