Though I have heard a multitude of commencement speeches over the past few years, only two have gained permanent lodging in my mind. The first was in high school, when I was a junior watching the seniors graduate. The second was yesterday at my own college commencement.

I was sitting with the band, recovering from playing a gazillion choruses of “Pomp and Circumstance,” barely retaining consciousness while the endless parade of speakers droned on.

The only speech I remember from that high school commencement was given by a student. He was not the valedictorian or salutatorian (those people do not necessarily give speeches at my high school), but his wisdom needed no pedigree. As I was sitting, aware of my surroundings on only a subconscious level, I suddenly perked up. And I’m glad I did.

The speaker slowed his cadence and spoke closer to the microphone to hammer his point. “Shake the hand of your neighbor on your right,” he commanded the graduates. “Now shake your other neighbor’s hand.” He continued, “Take a good look at your classmates. This will probably be the last time many of you will ever see each other. It is appropriate that we have parted ways with a gesture of friendship.” So true.

I have not seen many of my high school friends since graduation. Likewise, I do not expect to see all of my college friends again. I’m not sure who I will see and who I will not; fate will decide that. However, I am making it a point to leave as friends with everybody I know. I am making certain to shake their hands and wish them luck in their endeavors. I know how way leads on to way, and I am not sure that we shall ever all be back at the same time. I made the best of the time I knew my friends, and they will always be such because of my investment.



Yesterday at my college commencement, I was sitting with my fellow graduates listening to our president, Dr. Samuel Hulbert, give the commencement address. I’ve heard Dr. Hulbert give numerous addresses over the years. They’ve all been memorable, but this one especially so. Sammy was obviously fraught with emotion as he gave his speech. It was his final one, of course: after 28 years as president of Rose-Hulman, he was retiring. The student body, the faculty, and the community deeply love Dr. Hulbert; and he, them. All of this made his speech more poignant. During several passages of the speech, Dr. Hulbert welled up and his voice quivered — out of character for a man of his stature, empathic though he is. It was wrenching and difficult not to be moved by his sentiment.



One such occasion occurred while he was talking about his childhood. He was reminiscing about how his family was quite poor but that his parents made it a point to get Christmas presents for the children of even poorer families. In his story, he talked about asking his mother why, with how little their own family had, they should be giving gifts to other children. Her response: “If we don’t, who else will?”

There, in those half-dozen words, was a summary heretofore unwritten of one of my central life tenets. It is the drive behind many of the things I do. I simply had never thought of putting it into words. That philosophy parallels a saying that I like to parlay: “Never be the last man to be the better man.” My big brother Kyle Allen used to say that phrase (origin unknown; maybe he first said it). I’ve always admired that maxim, much as I now do Sammy’s mother’s statement.

Make the world better. Don’t wait for somebody else to do it. Even if it’s somebody else’s responsibility, if it’s not getting done, step up to the challenge.

Do something. Force this to be the best of all possible worlds.