This is Jason Hennington’s annual message to graduates. Consider this a commencement speech.
“It’s your world, I’m just a squirrel . . .”
If you know the phrase, then you probably finished it. For graduates, it is about to be your world. So, it’s up to you what you make of it.
You have the option of being great, if you want to. It doesn’t matter if you want to be a teacher, garbage man, lawyer, welder, cab driver or anything else. Whatever profession you choose, aim to make the world yours. Not in the terms of world domination, but instead providing opportunities for yourself to continue to grow in your profession.
One thing my mom always told was to “be indispensable.” My former colleague and current friend Steve Lang told me to “be a one-man band.”
They were not implying to be cocky or arrogant, but to rather have a skill set that is useful in any position. In other words, make yourself adaptable so that anything you are asked to do, you can do it with no problem.
I may have taken that advice a little too literal because at the Press I have played the role of plumber, electrician, interior decorator, tournament director, painter and carpenter, just to name a few. I have no issue with it though. It’s all a part of the job.
I heard a college assistant football coach ask a player what position they played. The student said he was a wide receiver. The coach said, “could you play running back? What about free safety? What about slot? What about tight end? What about DB? You can play any of those position. When a coach asks you what position you play, you tell them you are an athlete, and you can play wherever they need you.”
When you do that, you’re not looking for a nut, you’re planting seeds to grow your own tree and provide for others.
Along the way you’re going to encounter evil squirrels, snakes in the grass, snakes in your tree and other “animals” that don’t want you to succeed. They only want you to find a nut but based on what they believe is available for you.
Don’t get discouraged by that. Adversary and unexpected hurdles make being successful special. When you know the snakes in the grass are trying to keep you from succeeding, its only because they know your worth. If you give in to their strikes, they win. If they win, then your nut supply becomes based on others’ standards.
You have the power to gather everything you need to be successful, but you have to accept the responsibility and be discipline enough to never give up.
In others, it’s about to be your world, don’t be a squirrel.
I’m going to get off my soapbox now and continue promoting the Taylor Press 3-on-3 basketball tournament set for July 9-10 at Taylor Middle School. Contact me at [email protected] to sign up, volunteer or if you want to make a donation.
“The world is not dangerous because of those who do harm but because of those who look at it without doing anything.”
— Albert Einstein
