I do not remember where I came across this
statement, but I thought it insightful and profound. I like it.
There is a lot of imagery in those six words. It also struck me that if I were in one of
Mrs. Steffens’s writing classes I could have my six-word memoir right
there. There is no question that I am
wordy. My wife is always exasperated
when I share something with her because in her opinion I could get right to the
point and save her a lot of time listening to me! I guess I have an insecurity or need to be
thorough in my explanation. But I read
this statement and it is very clear and concise, and in reality, it needs no
explanation. So why do I have a need to
explain it right now? Maybe because I
see a lot of depth to those six words that I want to share.
Each year at graduation I give a great
deal of thought to what I am going to say to the class with the goal of
focusing on characteristics they have as a group. Each class that I have worked with has
distinguished itself from others, and that in large part is what I want to
point out to them, and the friends and family that join them for the
celebration. What I have found each year
as I am writing my remarks is that I believe it is extremely important to
challenge the graduations to make a difference in the world. I firmly believe that every student that
graduates from our high school can have a positive impact on the world. They need to think beyond making a difference
in their family or the town they work in because they have the potential to do
more. But I realize as that the six-word
title above points out something that I have left out in my words to the
graduates: they could leave a stain.
Graduation is a time for celebration and I
have always tried to say something meaningful when I talk to the seniors,
something that is positive. Who wants to
be the one to put a cloud over graduation?
That said the challenge I issue has been to make a positive mark on the
world by doing things that will benefit others.
When I came across this quote and started thinking about this column, I
realize that I have shared this message with kids that did make a mark, but it
was far from positive. I have had four
students that I know of that have been convicted of felonies and have or still
are serving time in prison, one for life for murder. That’s a stain. There is former student of mine who killed
his wife and children before taking his own life. That’s a stain. There are graduates that I know of that have
abused their wives and children, and some that have abused themselves with
drugs and alcohol. Others have
vandalized property and committed petty crimes.
Those are all stains. So maybe my
message needs to change.
I have thought through the remarks I want
to make to this year’s seniors. There
are some good things to say about them and some positive words of encouragement
that I will make. At the same time I wonder
whether that’s enough. I know that most
of the kids won’t remember what I say on that day. They have far more important things to
concern themselves with, but maybe there will be one or two that will pick
something out and really hone in on it.
Maybe something I say about not leaving a stain will resonate with them
at some point in their life when they are face with a choice, and they will opt
to leave a mark, rather than a stain.
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