"A catastrophe is an opportunity," Livingston said. "Your purpose doesn't often reveal itself in a moment of comfort or convenience. Your purpose shows up when the sky is falling down."
"Donovan Livingston knew the stakes were high this year when he was asked to deliver a commencement address at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he teaches.
"Ten years ago, he was the student speaker at his graduation from Harvard's Graduate School of Education. The speech went viral, inspiring millions of people around the world — and changed his life.
"He told the audience a decade ago that he once was the kid who never sat still in class.
"'I was in the seventh grade, when Ms. Parker told me, ‘Donovan, we can put all of your excess energy to good use,'" he said.
"He delivered that speech as an impassioned spoken word poem about the promise of education as an "equalizer" and how it falls short for many students. "Injustice is telling them education is the key while you continue to change the locks," he told his graduating class.
"Livingston said the speech was about finding and embracing individual strengths.
"'I've been the black hole in a classroom for far too long, absorbing everything, without allowing my light escape," he said in his poem. "But those days are done. I belong among the stars. And so do you."
"The success of that speech led to a book, media coverage and international acclaim.
"'I had no idea it would blow up the way it did. But I'm grateful that folks were paying attention," Livingston told The Washington Post this week.
"Like Livingston's speech, every year, graduation speeches circulate on social media, offering wisdom, advice and inspiration.
"We spent a week watching graduation speeches and pulling out some of the best ideas they have to offer. Here are some of our favorite pieces of advice." . . . More...
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