Friday was a special day. I attended the convocation ceremony at Trent University in Peterborough for my daughter Grace who graduated with a BHSC in Environmental Resource Science.

It was a lovely ceremony and like every parent who sat in that gymnasium, we were so very, very proud of our daughter.

It made me think of a blog post I wrote five years ago when both my girls were graduating (elementary school and high school) during the height of COVID.

So much has changed in the past five years. The world is a scarier place. And in some ways, our children seem less equipped to solve its problems.

It made me wonder, what would be my message to this year’s graduating class if I was a big celebrity like Oprah Winfrey? I think my speech would go something like this.

Don’t be afraid
of who you are and who you aren’t
or not knowing who you will become
nobody has it figured out
even the people who look like they have it all figured out
(especially the people who look like they have it all figured out)
be happy with who you are today

Don’t be afraid
to laugh or cry
protest or mourn
to shout wantonly from the rooftops
or dance wildly in the streets
never stand idly on the sidelines
when you can be exulting in the moment

Don’t be afraid
to put away your phone
and look directly in someone’s eyes
to connect on a deeper level
and seek love, trust, compassion
it is, after all, the essence of being human
and the future of humanity

Don’t be afraid
to take chances and risks
to accept or ignore people’s advice
only you know what’s best for you
everyone else is just a spectator in your life
cheering you on from the stands
forge your own path in life

Don’t be afraid
of that niggling voice in your head
planting seeds of doubt
convince that voice
you are capable, prepared
and even if you fail, you will be okay
climb that peak

Don’t be afraid
to talk to your parents from time to time
we’ve watched you grow and falter
succeed and stumble
and reach heights we never imagined
you may not need us any more
but we need you

Don’t be afraid
of the world and its problems
in all its vastness and complexity
love and hatred
beauty and darkness
there is still good in this world
you may just need to work a little harder to find it

Don’t be afraid.

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If I were Oprah Winfrey: my commencement speech to the graduating class of 2020—The Next Act