My Advice to NHS Students: Question Everything, Fail,
Don’t Get a Job and Have Fun!
NHS Induction Speech October 16, 2013
Good evening.
I could not be more honored to be speaking here tonight. When I was asked to give the speech tonight I was very flattered, but then I panicked because I realized that I would have to give a speech. Then it dawned on me that the students select the speaker every year and then I was flattered again. You see, it is a teacher’s dream to have his students want to listen to him even when they are not required.
Now as some of you know, I am the honors and AP chemistry teacher here at Stagg high school and please rest at ease...I have no plans on Breaking Bad any time soon.
First, I would like to congratulate the Inductees on their special night. I know that this night belongs to you but to reach this point, you owe much to your family, friends and teachers. It is true you have sacrificed your time, studied and passed test after test, wrestled with textbooks, stayed up late to finish that homework assignment, wrote the long term papers, sacrificed weekends to complete that project, spent hours on the bus on the way to a game, band contest, or academic competition, completed your service hours just to name a few. Above all, you lived your life according a standard that reminds us that honor is not an idea that is trotted out at special award ceremonies, but something that has a significance in your everyday life.
Inductees and current National Honors Society members, while I know you have sacrificed much to be here tonight, many of the people in the audience have helped you in one way or another to get here. They helped to instill in you a belief that education has a value beyond what is done in a classroom.
I know this not an easy accomplishment. In most households, both parents have to work full-time and are often home late in the evening. They come home from work tired...too tired to ask “how was school?”. Too exhausted to look over homework. Too busy to have dinner as a family, let alone work on that project together. It is unfortunate that most families are too busy to be a family.
Through the struggles of everyday life, the people in your life have made it a priority to be there for you. Despite these obstacles, they have taken the time to sit down and make connections with you. I know that when they ask you about your homework or how your day was, it is not because they are trying to be nosy and invade your privacy, but it is because they care about you and want the best for you. They have taught you that education and honor mean something and have value. It is the foundation they have poured for you that has helped you to get here tonight.
We all have those people in our lives and one day, you will be an inspirational force in the life of someone else. I hope that every student here tonight goes home and thanks the people who have helped him or her get to this point in his or her life.
The function of the National Honors Society is to encourage in students an enthusiasm for scholarship, to galvanize a spirit for serving, to foster the development of character and to transform students into future leaders.
Tonight, however, instead of speaking about the tenets of the National Honors Society, please indulge me as I pass on some advice.
First, question everything! I do not mean that you should ask questions for the sake of defiance, but as a way of learning. Many students believe that asking questions indicates ignorance or weakness. I am a scientist at heart and I know that questions lead to knowledge. In fact, the right questions can change the world.
When he was 16, Albert Einstein asked himself, “What would it be like to ride on a beam of light?”. He never forgot this question and as adult this question lead him to the development of the Theory of Relativity, which revolutionized the way we look at the universe. I am not saying that all of your questions will be this monumental, but never underestimate the power of asking questions. If you have me in class, you know I truly believe this.
The second thing I would like to talk about is failing. I know most people think of failure as a bad thing and no one enjoys failing. What most people don’t realize is that it is okay to fail if you are challenging yourself. It is not the act of failing that defines us, but how we respond to failure that develops our character.
When we fail, and we all do at some point in our lives, some people let it hold them back and they use it as an excuse. Successful people use failure as a learning experience. If you have not failed at something, then I believe you have not truly challenged yourself. A part of challenging yourself and achieving is to take risks and stand up in the face of failure. Find your limits and then blast through them. John F. Kennedy said, “Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.”
My next piece of wisdom is: after college, don’t find a job. I know how this sounds but let me explain. I don’t have a job. A lot of my friends have jobs and they don’t like them. Think about it. On average, you will spend 8-9 hours a day at work.
That is 40-45 hours a week, not counting extra work you might have to do at home or on the weekends. That is about 2,000 hours a year at work. In the end, you will spend about 30% of your life working. (Sorry, I teach chemistry so I had to work numbers into my speech.)
What I am trying to say is that you will spend much of your adult life working. I encourage you find a career that you love and it will not feel like a job. In the end, don’t let fate or money decide your career; follow your passion. I love teaching. I feel that I have the greatest career in the world. All day long, I get to talk about one of my favorite subjects: chemistry, and I have the opportunity to work with a group of young people who I find enlightening, challenging, entertaining and energizing. I truly don’t mind getting up in the morning and coming here.
One of the best decisions I have ever made in my life was to quit my JOB and get a degree in education. I define success not by the amount of money in your bank account or how famous you are. I define success in the words of Will Rogers: “If you want to be successful, it’s just this simple. Know what you are doing. Love what you are doing. And believe in what you are doing.”
The last piece of advice I will leave you with tonight is to find time to have fun. Life can be very challenging and we can get caught up in the seriousness of life. But please never forget to find time to enjoy your life. Find time to do the things you enjoy most. As Ferris Bueller said, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.”
Thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak to you tonight. As an honors and AP teacher, I have the opportunity to work with many of you on a daily basis. I am in awe of the hard work and determination you put into your classes. On a daily basis, I see your commitment to your studies and the sacrifices you make to achieve your potential. Now is not the time to rest on your laurels. This is only the beginning of a long and exciting journey. I truly enjoy working with you and thank you for making this the greatest career on earth.
Congratulations to the inductees and their families. Enjoy your evening. You have many reasons to be proud.
Thank you.
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