WESTMINSTER — Recently, my family and I were sitting down for dinner when the topic of my graduation speech came up. My sister chimed in: “Write it about me!”
I jokingly agreed, and I said I would title it after her and talk about how foolish she acts sometimes and the fact that she thinks she is always right, never wrong.
In the countdown to graduation, I suddenly realized, “Hey, that's not such a bad idea.”
Now, here I stand before the class of 2013, the community of family and friends from Bellows Falls and beyond, and somewhere out there is Kathleen Brigid Hodsden.
You, young lady, have inspired this speech. What I have prepared to share has relevance to you and to the graduating class as a whole and anyone in this audience who finds value from the behavior of a 12-year-old girl.
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If anything has struck me as unacceptable in all of the years leading up to young adulthood, it is witnessing insensitive and unkind acts.
To begin with, Brigid, be kind to everyone you meet in school, because you don't know if four years from now that person will be one of your best friends. I have plenty of friends who I might not have immediately chosen to become friends with when I was your age.
And, most importantly, what do we gain from being cruel? Some youth will often act without empathy for others, but kindness lies at the core of our dignity.
As difficult as it is for many youth to admit, heeding our parents' instructions and foresight might be beyond our comprehension.
Brigid, when Mom and Dad tell you to do something you prefer not to, and when you ask for a reason they offer an insufficient reply, with time, you will come to realize that they had some larger, overarching value to their reasoning.
When I was learning how to drive our truck with a standard transmission, I stalled numerous times and practically gave up. However, our dad informed me that I would eventually master driving standard and that I would love it more than automatic.
But I replied in the manner that you do now. I said, “You have no idea what you are talking about!”
And it pains me to admit, he was right.
As most of us have experienced, our parents might badger and pester us with their genuine concern, yet they foster our development, which is no easy endeavor. My parents still offer words of wisdom, advice that at times is a far stretch from my comprehension.
Although many times I have been right, just as you have been right, whether or not our parents are willing to admit it. No doubt we will be confronted by not only our parents but also our peers, our colleagues, our spouses, and our own children who will challenge our beliefs. We don't have to be right, because that one individual might offer an insight that shifts our perspective.
With respect to my role as your big brother: Whenever I give you a hard time, Brigid, it is meant to teach you, and as you grow older, you will begin to realize why I offer advice, just as all older siblings are inclined to do. It just so happens you have a lot of them, and believe me, I will not be the only one in life to give you a hard time.
I would like to extend this message to the class of 2013 as a whole, but Brigid, listen up: Everything we do has an impact, whether on you, on your family, on your community, or throughout the world; you must be aware.
For when we remain unaware of our actions, we are also unaware of the outcomes that can hurt not only you but everyone around us.
This central idea leads me back to my final point and the overarching value of righteousness.
Listen to the views that might be different from your own, but take caution - because nobody's always right and never wrong.