Advice: wear sunscreen

Photo used under a Creative Commons license

Do you remember (it was first published in 1997) that graduation speech advice column that started like this?

Inside every adult lurks a graduation speaker dying to get out, some world-weary pundit eager to pontificate on life to young people who'd rather be Rollerblading. Most of us, alas, will never be invited to sow our words of wisdom among an audience of caps and gowns, but there's no reason we can't entertain ourselves by composing a Guide to Life for Graduates.

I encourage anyone over 26 to try this and thank you for indulging my attempt.Ladies and gentlemen of the class of '97:

Wear sunscreen.

If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.

Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they've faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you'll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can't grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.

Don't worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.

Do one thing every day that scares you.

Sing.

Don't be reckless with other people's hearts. Don't put up with people who are reckless with yours.

(it goes on further, so follow the link below to read it in its entirety).

It was written by Mary Schmich, and you can find it on the Chicago Tribune site here:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-schmich-sunscreen-column,0,5909206,full.column

Our year group are a long way from graduation (from high school; they're still at primary school!).  But hey, next time I want to find this column, I know just where it is.  And maybe your year group is graduating sooner, and you're on the hunt for ideas?

When my last year group finished, I had a heartfelt speech I had written myself, and one to read from B1, the year adviser who had worked with me for five of the six years.  His was better, I think; braver than mine.  Both were thoroughly applauded, which was nice, and we got (me present, him absent) a standing ovation.  Appreciated that.

Cheers

Ruth