Havin' oncet again not been axed this year to deliver the commencement address at Pickens High, I've worked up my sermon notes for that occasion into one hellfire editorial instead.
Let me begin by sayin' there ain't much to say to those who will soon happily heave toward the hallowed halls of higher learnin'. Not that they'd be a-listenin' to the likes of me anyway, the self-satisfied little book blisterers. I got no truck with them no-how. I figure college'll slack their sails and crease their drawers plenty soon enough.
It's them not headed to college I wanna speak to, havin' oncet been there my own self.
Ain't figured your next stop? Can't seem to focus? Well get a job, you'ns. The harder the better. Best be one that makes you sweat––what's called "a back job". Downright amazin' how quickly that'll goose your inclinations toward improvin' yourself so's to up your situation and paycheck.
You'll learn right off you ain't done schoolin' yet. Yeah, you got twelve years down, but you'll be wantin' a tad more 'fore long to put yourself ahead with the skills to make a good start. Lucky you got a technical college so close, I'd say.
Mind you don't stay in that first dead-end job too long. Next to sleepin', time spent a-workin' will be the biggest portion of your life overall. That big a chunk oughter be somethin' you at least halfway enjoy. I didn't say it oughter be easy. But it oughter be somethin that fits your tendencies.
That's what ya call "a callin'"––what the Good Lord designed you to be a-doin’. Better get right to bizness figurin' what He's fixed you for, on account of this life is sure-nuff way short. Can't afford to waste none of the time you been given. You'll believe me about the time you hit 30. Trouble is, by then your life'll be durn near half over.
Besides a job, another thing to have is a goal, somethin' you're aimin' at and workin' toward in a disciplined kinda way. That'll give you a purpose, a focus and direction. Pick a challenge but somethin' gettable: buyin' a car, addin' to your education, improvin' your job, purchasin' a home. Land ain't gettin' no cheaper round here, y'know. Gettin' there will hafta mean havin' a plan and workin' it.
A goal can make even piddly things more worthwhile. Flippin' burgers ain't half so bad when you're greasin' your way to a new Mustang.
Oh, and if your goal is gettin' married, try thinkin' of somethin' else. It ain't time for that, unless you're already a parent. Even then, I wouldn't rush to anything. But for sure don't wait 'til your kids is old enough to give the bride away.
In normal times, I might advise joinin' the military for those what ain't college bound. But seein' there's a war on just now (and them at the top a-runnin' it can't seem to find their butt with a mine detector) I'd say think twice afore you sign anythin'.
I know they got cash incentives, but rub two brain cells together and figure out why. Up in Cherokee, North Carolina they call that a "high-stakes gamble". 'Cept with the military, they'd be payin' the money, and you'd be takin' the chance.
One other important thing: belong to somethin'. Throw in on somethin' bigger than your little ole self. Join a lodge, a volunteer fire department, a huntin' club, a Sunday school class––the Friends of the dad-gum Library––somethin'. Go listen to some oldsters down at the senior center, coach for the rec league or hammer on a Habitat house.
Get out and do somethin' with and for somebody. This community needs you––yes, you, young person. You don't have to go to college to make a whale of a difference round here.
And don't you rule out college altogether, neither. You might just decide you wanta up and go after all. Harder heads than yours have come round to that. Lotsa times, gettin' somethin' can come down to just wantin' it bad enough.
Good luck to you grads, you class of 2008 (all of you'ns)!
Sincerely,
Jasper Pickens |
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