The Best Commencement Speech

This timeless classic reminds us of what truly matters

Watercolor of Harvard University, 1906 (public domain - Good Free Photos)

“Your guidepost stands out like a tenfold beacon in the night”
— General Douglas MacArthur, 1962

It’s commencement season — when high schools, colleges, and universities celebrate grads (and undergrads) and bestow upon them the gift of wise words, courtesy of a commencement speaker.

I recall the spring days on the campus of Boston University buzzing with excitement. I was there for my master’s and bachelor’s degree work and was part of the administration, so I saw my fair share of those days leading up to commencement.

Before the commencement speaker was announced, the student body would be alight with rumors, suspicions, and educated guesses.

The university always had its reasons for making a selection (wooing a wealthy alumnus, the star power of a…