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1. 

   Nic

   November 12, 2012
   11:33 am

   There’s far more to this speech than the “You’re not special” soundbite. Based on that, you could be forgiven for thinking that this is yet another bitter middle-aged rant about how kids don’t know they’re born and the rest of it. And had it been such, I would not have given it the time of day. I despise the culture of entitlement but not half as much as I despise anyone who tars every student with the same brush.

   But David McCullough is clearly one of those rare teachers who actually care about what happens to his students after they leave school for the last time. I simple don’t see how lines such as these:

   “The point is the same: get busy, have at it. Don’t wait for inspiration or passion to find you. Get up, get out, explore, find it yourself, and grab hold with both hands.”

   and:

   “Climb the mountain not to plant your flag, but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air and behold the view. Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you.”

   …could be interpreted as anything other than him encouraging students to make the best possible life for themselves that they can. He also offers advice on how that can be achieved; by not aspiring to be special. In other words, all you do in life should be done for the right reasons. Charity work should be done because you believe in that charity, believe in the work they’re doing. If you apsire to becoming a doctor or an engineer, do it because that’s what you want to do with your life, not because those are the graduate jobs most respected by those around you. Don’t let others decide what constitutes “worthwhile”.

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