Boston, Massachusetts – By Ewon Adenomon.
National Public Radio (NPR) host, Mr. Scott Simon, recently provided a recipe for personal responsibility, advising graduating students of Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts to always project positive appearances.
Simon who was a guest speaker at the 134th commencement ceremony of the institution drew from his mother’s wisdom and spoke directly to the students: “Dress for the gig you want, not the one you have,” recalling his mother saying, “you never know who you may meet on the way or what you may encounter.”
This piece of advice, he said is important, especially to a generation of “t-shirts.” “It is important to understand that while you may be very intelligent, the first thing a prospective employer will notice is your physical appearance,” adding that it is prudent not to provide a negative appearance before having an opportunity to provide the positive one.
Simon who was awarded an honorary degree of humane letter by Emerson College acknowledged the role of parents in the lives of the graduating students.
“I think this is one of those days in which we all get a glimpse of the singular vision of parents… you students feel grown in your gowns, but I suspect that your parents see something else, they look at you and see the blabbing infants that you were before.”
This relationship, he continued, one between a parent and a child can be likened to the relationship between a school and a student.
Simon seized the opportunity at the event that coincided with mother’s day celebration to pay a glowing tribute to all mothers present adding that after the death of his mother in the summer of 2013, Mother’s Day celebration has brought a new meaning of parenthood to him.
He recalled his relationship with his mother, as well as her witty words of wisdom to communicate his message to the graduating class.
“Just as parents nurture and develop their children until the children are mature enough to go out and fend for themselves, so does a college nurture the graduating students.”
Simon also advised them not to fall prey to people’s labeling of graduates as now “grown up” simply because they have graduate degrees. “You are graduates, you are going to be reminded a lot that you are grown up but I will advise you that it is largely a turn of phrase.”
Accusations of being “grown up” cannot be taken seriously because according to him, “growing up truly is the work of a lifetime. It is everything you do during the long stretch of your life and not by simply obtaining a graduate degree.”
Simon provided five tips to the graduating students, asking them to emulate those tips as they go into the real world: “let me close with what I think my mother would want me to tell you today…tip one, write thank you notes, always remember good manners cost nothing, reach out to someone who is lonely and help people smile.”
