Commencement Speech For A Home-Schooled Nephew

Preface: My brother and his wife pulled my nephew out of public schools so that he could travel as needed to compete regionally and nationally on the youth tennis circuit. Nephew, P was home-schooled his last three years of high school and recently graduated with honors and a full-ride, athletic scholarship to an excellent university. The family is obviously quite proud. It, nevertheless, dawned us that P, being the first home-schooled child in our family since before the Dust Bowl, would be sent off into the world without having heard a commencement speech to mark the end of this chapter of his life and the beginning of the next. So what does the wordsmith in the family do? She writes him one.

Dear P -

In just a few short weeks, you will be on the launch pad to the rest of your life.  Make no mistake: life can be tough. It will break your heart sometimes. And that’s ok. It happens, but know this: you have everything in your brain and heart to make your life exactly how you want it to be.  It takes work. Nothing will be handed to you. You’re going to have to work harder and more diligently than ever.

There will be times in your life when your choices will be hard. In all things, choose honor and decency and kindness. Defend the goodness in the world and within your own self. You can be confident, successful and determined, firm in your convictions, without being mean and calloused.  Stand up to the bullies, yet learn to choose your battles wisely so you never lose your integrity. You’ve been taught by some great coaches and educators, including your Hall of Fame dad. Remember the lessons learned and stay “coachable” because every day is an opportunity to learn something new, try a new experience, and meet new people, many who won’t look or sound like you. Embrace the differences while being proud of your own uniqueness and upbringing.  

 You have a family and friends who love you infinitely. As you go out into the world, take comfort in knowing that all of us are here for you no matter the state we live in. You know this by now that nobody is perfect, including your fabulous parents whose unconditional and powerful love for you is the bedrock of your character.  Be willing to forgive people’s failings, including those times when you may disappoint yourself.

There’s an old saying that Shakespeare originated in his play The Merry Wives of Windsor that the world is one’s oyster. The symbolism is that within the hard, sometimes crusty shell of the world lies the precious pearl of life and it is yours for the finding. I’ll close with this, from a man who made a dent in the universe: 

Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition

We love you. We believe in you and we are so immensely proud of you. Go forth and conquer! 

Love Always,

Your Auntie A

 P.S. If the opportunity to go overseas for a study abroad, an internship, or the like presents itself to you that would fit in with your tennis schedule, I’ll pay for your roundtrip airfare. My grandfather, your great grandfather, DBF, paid for my airfare so that I could move to Ireland for a college internship when I was 19-years-old. The experience fundamentally changed the course of my life for the better and I have no doubt that such a comparable experience would do the same for you. Ask your uncle, Z, about how his international travels changed his life, too! You’ll never go wrong expanding your horizons.