"You are not special": Commencement speech sparks new advice for students

[@catlover34fl]

Wish we had more teachers like David McCullough Jr. We need them more than ever.

[@levaillant1]

Brilliant! More teachers should be so HONEST with their students.

[@marishkaaable]

I never understood why people are so afraid of being "average". Average is by definition being like most people. You must really dislike people (or feel like you are special lol) if you don't want to be like most people. And chances are, you already are average in more ways than not. He seems like a wonderful teacher, found his message very helpful as a high school senior

[@alaws2005]

Everyone is special because what makes you special only applies to you

[@lillymarie4750]

The best English teacher I’ve ever had. Amazing man

[@artemisprime4648]

For some weird reason this video made me feel better about myself

[@thefox7427]

This man is playing intergalactic chess, while others are playing 2nd grade checkers.

[@paulathompson679]

I watch this every so often Thabk you, again.

[@Barbara-ty8dj]

He has his mother’s smile.

[@DonCorleone0]

This dude looks like Dennis Hopper in his younger years

[@Barbara-ty8dj]

His father’s hairline and his mum’s smile.

[@shawnaweesner3759]

I think America forgot this message.

[@JOHN----DOE]

It's pure Alexis de Tocqueville, who pointed out that one of the big dangers in a democracy is that no one respects authority or elite competence and everyone thinks he's just as good as the next person. Trust me, they ain't. This culture is coming apart at the seams from anti-science, under-educated Dunning-Kruger specimens.

[@shannonsperber6006]

This book is amazing and so true!! parents need to stop teaching kids they are some special gem, they are not!

[@markgrunzweig6377]

He was right, everybody is special and unique! Today we don't educate in colleges, we inculcate. Colleges etc., are businesses. A true education requires a "hermetic pedagogy", with a spiritual basis! It's almost a monastic setting. Research Joseph Campbell comparative mythology. Even Shelby Foote, who pioneered historical narrative, author, who had not much college (due to his maverick ways), knew that the purpose of an undergraduate college education is enable the students, that is learning to learn. One is really learning to learn and now the traditional "liberal arts" degree is pooh poohed and not valued, which was one way to become "educated". Even the famous Howard University dropped their classics program a few years ago. I'm overwhelming self taught, barely graduating High School, with a few college classes after the Army years ago. Yet I "know" these deep, important facts. These days, if one wants a true education, one will have to "educate oneself"; sad!

[@jungersrules]

Not many people are special, but everyone is important.

[@JoseMorales-lw5nt]

Didn't George Carlin preach this message 30 years before this guy?! Nothing new, now excuse me while I rosin my bow and play my fiddle as Rome burns....🇵🇷🇺🇸😎

[@yeildo1492]

If everyone is special, then no one is..... They need to accept the possibility that failure can be real. He's just telling the truth. And look how much attention this got. Says a lot about our country. And how right he is.

[@alaws2005]

Everyone is special. Achieving one's dream, making the basketball team, winning the lottery, etc does not make you special. It makes you entitled and arrogant. Everyone is special because we are all each individually hand-created by the God of the bible. Those details that make us who we only apply to each individual person that has ever existed, exists and will exist. You are one of a kind. You could search the entire world and you never find someone exactly like you in every detail that makes you well you. And this applies to everyone because we are all equal but different.

[@yeildo1492]

@@alaws2005 Making the team makes you arrogant and entitled..... hmmm... You better start taking those meds again....

[@JOHN----DOE]

"Special" in psychology jargon ain't a good word--especially because current psychologists teach "exceptionalism" as a compendium of oddball geniuses and intellectually-deficient people. Most people should be glad they're not "special." As Langston Hughes (who knew what he was talking about) says, "Nobody loves a genius child."

[@harrisonrutledge5]

Donald Trump was part of his target audience too.

[@sneakers501]

we are all special

[@logsupermulti3921]

selene If we're all special that means none of us are special, it becomes meaningless.

[@1c1pal]

You're "special" alright.

[@alaws2005]

@@logsupermulti3921 actually no. We are all special. You are the only you that ever be. No one can ever be you.

[@user-is9nm4vw8j]

Let me fix this You’re only special when you prove you are Stop with this we’re special nonsense, it has poisoned many people thoughts and make them lazy

[@alaws2005]

Actually, it does. We are all created by God Almighty, that alone is enough make everyone special. What,s more, every detail that makes you well makes you one of a kind. Now arrogance is when someone thinks they're special because they have a trophy, landed their dream job, etc.

[@lonajgamer5353]

Be honest not nice