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Published: June 10, 2009
Jim Ridolphi

When I graduated from high school decades ago, my head was filled with advice, most of it timely and pertinent, but, admittedly, long forgotten. As I walked through a room of family members and friends shortly after the ceremony, an old friend of the family tapped me on the shoulder and whispered his version of graduation words to live by.

“Hey, kid, don’t take no wooden nickels,” he said with a gritty smile on his face.

It’s odd that I remember those words of wisdom today, and most of the important life advice I received seems to elude me. Looking back, I’m sure the misplaced words of encouragement were well focused, and, if followed, would have made life easier at some points.

But advice is a double-edged sword, and if you decide not to take it, you usually find out the same lesson for yourself. Some of us take the advice and find a need to challenge its validity. That’s all part of the process.

Even at this late stage in my life, now the father of four children, I am reluctant to offer any advice to this year’s Class of 2009, but I am resourceful enough to call on the wisdom of others to provide some sound, and sometimes humorous, graduation thoughts.

Here are just a few I came up with:
A graduation ceremony is an event where the commencement speaker tells thousands of students dressed in identical caps and gowns that “individuality” is the key to success.  ~Robert Orben


Your families are extremely proud of you.  You can’t imagine the sense of relief they are experiencing.  This would be a most opportune time to ask for money.  ~Gary Bolding


At commencement you wear your square-shaped mortarboards.  My hope is that from time to time you will let your minds be bold, and wear sombreros. ~Paul Freund


The roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet.  ~Aristotle
 

The future lies before you like a field of driven snow, Be careful how you tread it, for every step will show. ~Author Unknown


Do not follow where the path may lead.  Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson


Shoot for the moon.  Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.  ~Les Brown


If at first you don’t succeed, do it like your mother told you.  ~Author Unknown


Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.  ~Judy Garland


Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.  ~Dr. Seuss


A professor is someone who talks in someone else’s sleep.  ~W.H. Auden


A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business.  ~Henry Ford


Success isn’t a result of spontaneous combustion.  You must set yourself on fire.  ~Arnold H. Glasow


My father always told me, “Find a job you love and you’ll never have to work a day in your life.”  ~Jim Fox


Congratulations to the graduates of the Class of 2009 and may your futures be full of opportunity, happiness and excitement. And remember the words of Southern humorist Lewis Grizzard who offered these poignant words.

“Life is a like a dogsled team. If you ain’t the lead dog, the scenery never changes.”

Oh yea, and don’t take any wooden nickels.

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