THE DAILY POST
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/alma-mater/

Feb 12, 2016
DAILY PROMPT
Alma Mater
You’ve been asked to speak at your high school alma mater — about the path of life. (Whoa.) Draft the speech.

I must start by telling you it makes me feel both humbled and honored to speak at your Commencement Ceremony.
You have chosen me to speak on your preparation for your life walk. The paths that you tread will surprise all of you, the world is anxiously waiting for you to come and start your life walk. Be always mindful and thankful for your parents, this school and the dedicated teachers who have prepared you for this day.

I feel very blessed to be here today. As many of your grandparents and great-grandparents who went to school with me will tell you. I had a tough time finding my way to school on a regular schedule. If the fish were biting or it was hunting season my priorities got out of focus. Always keep your priorities in the proper perspective. Not finding my way here to school made it rather hard to get a proper education. This was the starting point for my education and it served me well ever since I left Castlewood High School. Most of you will learn the real education starts when you leave these hallowed halls and venture into the real world. It can be a school of hard knocks and disappointments. It also can be a planned adventure in daily learning and advancement.

To all of you jubilant graduates, I have one suggestion for each one of you. Buy yourself a very good pair of sneakers because the path of life will take you through all kinds of terrain. You will have rocky roads, bumpy roads, slippery roads, several dead ends, many roads with detours, some completely washed out. You need to plan ahead but there is no way to plan for that many hazards. Every life’s road circumstance that you encounter will shape you and mold you into the Citizen you will become. Do not burn bridges behind you, some paths in life will find you retracing your steps.

Your education has just started here at Castlewood High School. Plan your life, set goals as you start on your life path and meet those goals. Your life walk needs a plan, or you will be lost, even out in the open, with no place to go. Make lofty goals but achievable goals. Instant fame and fortune is something that is handed down to you. Your fame and fortune will no doubt come by diligent striving and plans about your future achievements.

I have become a recipient of the Nobel Prize in Literature. I was the wanna be author, who couldn’t find his way to school. There is a simple story to share here, anything is possible if you have determination. Your mind can steer your body in any direction. You must decide the direction it is to go for your final destination. One day at a time, you will find the strength for each new day. Continue to advance yourself every day that you spend in this world. When you reach the Golden Years and you look back, smile, share the memories of your achievements. Share with the world and with your family, share with everyone you encounter. Help them to realize, there are absolutely no limits in this world to what a human being can do. “No matter how you feel, get up, get dressed, chase your memories.” Press on, press on to reach your goals.

https://lghoelson.wordpress.com/