rb's favorite graduation speech

Commencement addresses are often quite forgettable. I must listen to several each year. In the past 25+ years, I can remember only two bits from any of the the speeches I had to sit through:

• (1) The first paragraph of an essay can usually be deleted.
• (2) Always leave a tip for the maid in a hotel or motel.

This year at the 2010 St. Lawrence University Commencement, Harvard School of Divinity's Rev. Peter Gomes give the best graduation speech I've ever heard. It was just the right mixture of light humor and just a little serious content. Ideal for an occasion where people are not especially paying attention as they await the handing out of diplomas.

Listen to Dr. Gomes speech.