Assignment (as I understand it): Your alma mater has invited you to speak to them. What would you say?

Answer: No, thank you. The following, however, is the essence of what I might tell them.

Thank you for inviting me here to make a few remarks for the benefit of the new graduates of Podunk College. I must admit that I feel completely inadequate in advising you of what may be to your benefit. Things today are not as they were when I was in your position. I graduated into a world at war. Many industries had open positions in the face of a shortage of workers to fill those jobs. Choice of a job was pretty much up to the job seeker. Not so these days.

Unfortunately many young folks have been led to believe that a high paying job is waiting to be filled by a brand new graduate with a big student loan. The loan can be paid off in a couple of years with the high salaries. I say don’t be deceived by such nonsense. You have arrived at only the beginning of a life with much left to learn about yourself and those around you.

The biggest problem today as I see it is declining morality. Fraud and corruption are abundant. It’s hard to get far from it. Once, a man’s word was his bond. Trust is becoming a rare thing, and that’s a shame. Franklin or Jefferson, or another of the founding fathers said that for a republic to survive, it must have a strong moral fiber.

I challenge you to do all you can to improve the morality of the nation, starting with your own family of friends and associates. Love God and your neighbor.

Choose freedom. Beware of levying a tax on something simply because you personally don’t like it. Next time it may be one of your favorite things that’s taxed.

I imagine that few of you would be here today if you didn’t believe that a college diploma would help you to get a job, one that you want. Let me throw in my two cents. Think of what you love to do. Look for a job doing the thing you love. Don’t be afraid of a menial task. You may have to work at such a job while you are in pursuit of the job you really want.

The job you really love will likely bring you more self esteem and satisfaction than could be bought with thousands of dollars you might earn in your high paying job that seems like hard work. Let the pay be of secondary importance. In the words of Mark Twain, “Let your avocation be your vocation.”