By Kay Dee Johansen'

As the year draws to a close and USU seniors start to prepare for the long-awaited moment of graduation, many are filled with anxiety, and wonder what the world holds for them. Fortunately, throughout the years, there have been a plethora of successful individuals willing to offer words of wisdom to graduates.

Here are just a few of the best.

Bill Cosby, entertainer, said in a commencement address at Wesleyan University in 1987, "This your moment and this is your parents' moment. Don't skip past them to go to that party. Run to 'em and hug 'em and tell 'em how much you love 'em, and tell 'em that you're confused and you don't know what the hell you're going to do now. Tell 'em the truth. Tell 'em you want them to tell you what you should do -- and then surprise 'em again and ask for some money."

Bill Watterson, creater of the cartoon strip Calvin and Hobbes, told graduates at Kenyon College in 1990, "There is no such thing as an overnight success. You will do well to cultivate the resources in yourself that bring happiness outside of success or failure. The truth is, most of us discover where we are headed when we arrive."

Winston Churchill, who nearly flunked out of school three times, was asked to give a commencement address after he became Prime Minister of England. When the time for his speech came Churchill walked up to the podium and said three words: "Never give up." Then he paused and said: "Never give up." He paused even longer and said: "Never give up," and then Churchill sat down.

Finally one of the shortest -- only 40 seconds -- but most profound commencement addresses, was given by Dr. Seuss at Lake Forest College in 1977. He simply walked up to the podium and deliverd this poem:

My Uncle Terwillinger on the Art of Eating Popovers

My uncle ordered popovers
from the restaurant's bill of fare.
And, when they were served, he regarded them
with a penetrating stare . . .
Then he spoke great Words of Wisdom
as he sat there on that chair:

"To eat these things," said my uncle,
"you must exercise great care.
You may swallow down what's solid . . .
BUT...
you must spit out the air!"

And . . . as you partake of the world's bill of fare,
that's darned good advice to follow.
Do a lot of spitting out the hot air.
And be careful what you swallow.

MS
MS

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