Should Hopatcong’s Class of 2011 Keep Its Commencement Speeches Short and Sweet?

 The most famous class speech was never really read at a graduation commencement.  However, in June of 1997, Mary Schmich published column in the Chicago Tribune called “Advice, like youth, probably just wasted on the young”  Schmich said it was  the commencement speech she would give if asked to do one.  It was a very simple graduation essay with common folk wisdoms.

 Baz Luhrmann an Australian film director thought this piece was real cool that he adapted it.  He gave it a beat and some background music and included it on his 1998 album “Something for Everybody”.  His recreation of Schmich’s essay was called "Everybody's Free (To Wear Sunscreen)". It was such a big hit that it was the single edition chosen to be made into an animated video by Bill Barminski.  It went viral (the old fashioned way) when it aired on all major US TV networks including the major cable music channels - VH1 and MTV.

 Watch the Barminski video version

Can you remember your own Class Commencement speech?  

Would you have preferred a speech like this at your graduation ceremony? 

http://www.barminski.com/frame/sunscreen.html