Commencement Advice: Wear Sunscreen
The commencement speaker at Virginia Tech’s graduation this morning was Jean Case, Chairman of National Geographic Society and CEO of the Case Foundation. It was a nice speech delivered by “a digital pioneer.” Case started her career at AOL. (I was in town to congratulate friend and former Madison+Main intern Ryan Thurston on his big day).
In 1997, AOL was a giant and more than half of American homes were connected to their brand of Internet. It was also the year I came across an email of a commencement speech reportedly delivered by author Kurt Vonnegut to a graduating class at M.I.T. I learned later that my literary hero had NOT written that speech, but in fact, it was penned by Chicago Sun-Times columnist Mary Schmich. (If I was going to deliver another commencement speech, I would also advise grads to not believe everything they read on the Internet.)
As a writer and junior Ad Man, I was struck by the picture-perfect prose. I read it over and over. Writer, director, and producer Baz Luhrmann was also enamored with the piece and recorded the graduation speech in 1998. It topped charts around the globe.
In 2023, the message is still as timeless and witty and humorous as it was to me more than 25 years ago. If you know a recent grad, please forward this email. I’m serious. All 22 year olds NEED to hear this message:
Advice, Like Youth, Probably Just Wasted On The Young
– Mary Schmich
“Inside every adult lurks a graduation speaker dying to get out, some world-weary pundit eager to pontificate on life to young people who’d rather be Rollerblading. Most of us, alas, will never be invited to sow our words of wisdom among an audience of caps and gowns, but there’s no reason we can’t entertain ourselves by composing a Guide to Life for Graduates.
I encourage anyone over 26 to try this and thank you for indulging my attempt. Ladies and gentlemen of the class of ’97:
Wear sunscreen.
If I could offer you only one tip for the future, sunscreen would be it. The long-term benefits of sunscreen have been proved by scientists, whereas the rest of my advice has no basis more reliable than my own meandering experience. I will dispense this advice now.
Enjoy the power and beauty of your youth. Oh, never mind. You will not understand the power and beauty of your youth until they’ve faded. But trust me, in 20 years, you’ll look back at photos of yourself and recall in a way you can’t grasp now how much possibility lay before you and how fabulous you really looked. You are not as fat as you imagine.
Don’t worry about the future. Or worry, but know that worrying is as effective as trying to solve an algebra equation by chewing bubble gum. The real troubles in your life are apt to be things that never crossed your worried mind, the kind that blindside you at 4 p.m. on some idle Tuesday.
Do one thing every day that scares you.
Sing.
Don’t be reckless with other people’s hearts. Don’t put up with people who are reckless with yours.
Floss.
Don’t waste your time on jealousy. Sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes you’re behind. The race is long and, in the end, it’s only with yourself.
Remember compliments you receive. Forget the insults. If you succeed in doing this, tell me how.
Keep your old love letters. Throw away your old bank statements.
Stretch.
Don’t feel guilty if you don’t know what you want to do with your life. The most interesting people I know didn’t know at 22 what they wanted to do with their lives. Some of the most interesting 40-year-olds I know still don’t.
Get plenty of calcium. Be kind to your knees. You’ll miss them when they’re gone.
Maybe you’ll marry, maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll have children, maybe you won’t. Maybe you’ll divorce at 40, maybe you’ll dance the funky chicken on your 75th wedding anniversary. Whatever you do, don’t congratulate yourself too much, or berate yourself either. Your choices are half chance. So are everybody else’s.
Enjoy your body. Use it every way you can. Don’t be afraid of it or of what other people think of it. It’s the greatest instrument you’ll ever own.
Dance, even if you have nowhere to do it but your living room.
Read the directions, even if you don’t follow them.
Do not read beauty magazines. They will only make you feel ugly.
Get to know your parents. You never know when they’ll be gone for good. Be nice to your siblings. They’re your best link to your past and the people most likely to stick with you in the future.
Understand that friends come and go, but with a precious few you should hold on. Work hard to bridge the gaps in geography and lifestyle, because the older you get, the more you need the people who knew you when you were young.
Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft. Travel.
Accept certain inalienable truths: Prices will rise. Politicians will philander. You, too, will get old. And when you do, you’ll fantasize that when you were young, prices were reasonable, politicians were noble and children respected their elders.
Respect your elders.
Don’t expect anyone else to support you. Maybe you have a trust fund. Maybe you’ll have a wealthy spouse. But you never know when either one might run out.
Don’t mess too much with your hair or by the time you’re 40 it will look 85.
Be careful whose advice you buy, but be patient with those who supply it. Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off, painting over the ugly parts and recycling it for more than it’s worth.
But trust me on the sunscreen.”
MONDAY:
CRUISIN’ AROUND
On Monday, the Madison+Main-iacs returned from a brief, but fun company retreat. We had a lot of fun bonding the old-fashioned way – in person and not on Zoom. I always knew I had a talented group of people here at Madison+Main, but I was surprised to also learn this is a company of Karaoke Superstars. I wore 30 SPF sunscreen all weekend and I have no physical evidence that I spent four days in the Caribbean.
TUESDAY:
NEW TO THE CREW
On Tuesday, we cruised back into work mode and welcomed a fresh new face at Madison+Main. Lauren McKinney joined our merry band of Main-iacs and will be working closely with the Comms Team on all things related to copy. Happy to have you working with us, Lauren!
WEDNESDAY:
PRESENTATIONS AND CELEBRATIONS
On Wednesday, several team members met with our client Two Rivers Country Club, and delivered their Social Media Playbook. Recently, they brought on a new General Manager Josh DeBottis, who is working with us to reimagine how we showcase Governor’s Land at Two Rivers through upcoming projects; one being their social media presence.
Some of the Madison+Main-iacs also met with our client Compass Entertainment Complex to discuss a new campaign we’ve been working on together. We pitched three new campaigns and the client said, “We love them all. Can we do all three?”
Also on Wednesday, we celebrated Graphic Designer and Singing Sensation AJ Stuit’s anniversary at Madison+Main. We’ve had the pleasure of having her on the Design team for two years, but her talents haven’t stopped there. She’s also our in-house DJ for our morning meetings, sharing songs that help us get started on the right foot. Happy two-year anniversary, AJ!
THURSDAY:
THERE’S ALWAYS TIME FOR THE T-ROOM
On Thursday, the world celebrated #NationalEatWhatYouWantDay. Yes, people, it’s a real holiday. In honor of this stupendous day, the Texas Inn encouraged patrons to chow down Cheesy Westerns and our Lynchburg’s BEST hot dogs. I stopped by on the way to Blacksburg and got two #AllTheWay.
FRIDAY:
LAURA’S ANNIVERSARY
On Friday, we celebrated Digital Marketing Manager Laura Hunt’s second anniversary of working with Madison+Main. As the owner of Girl Friday, LLC and professional in all things digital marketing, her help is greatly appreciated. Thank you, Laura, for all that you do, and happy anniversary!
A FEW OF OUR FAVORITE EVENTS
Rampart Readers — “Rolling Thunder”
Fort Monroe
Virtual Event
May 27, 2023 | 11 – 1 p.m.
Get ready for a special reading activity from Fort Monroe Authority! Author Kate Messner will be sharing her story “Rolling Thunder” to honor the sacrifices of American veterans and their families in a poetic tribute done by a little boy and his grandfather’s motorcycle club. Join them for this free event!
Bizz & Buzz
Front Porch Coffeehouse
139 S. Main Street
Kilmarnock, VA 22482
June 6, 2023 | 3 – 5 p.m.
Looking to mix and mingle as a local small business owner? Visit Front Porch Coffeehouse for their monthly Bizz & Buzz event. Meet with business professionals for advice, networking, and much more. Mark your calendar for this free event!
“New knowledge is the most valuable commodity on earth. The more truth we have to work with, the richer we become.“ — Kurt Vonnegut, American Writer