A Significant Contribution
Sometimes I find it difficult to listen to people boast about their children. I hope that doesn’t come into play for you because I’m about to do it myself. My oldest daughter will soon be participating at the state level of the Optimist International Oratorical Contest. She won the local and zone level contests over the past few weeks. I attended the contest and was truly surprised (maybe I shouldn’t have been) at the ability of these young people to not only compose, but deliver such quality material. The question they had to answer was “My future is bright because …”.
Several years ago, Kylie and I watched “The Emperors Club”, a fine movie starring Kevin kline. Kylie and I were both moved by the film and the main quote has stuck with both of us. Kylie’s speech uses that quote but other than that, is 100% original material. All I provided her with was the movie rental.
What a treat and a blessing it is to have such a bright child who cares to learn. I’ve copied the text of her speech here if you’d like to read it. It explains this better than I can and you might find it rekindles hope for our future when you see the drive in this young lady. Her and the young people she hangs out with just might be changing the world someday.
Kylie, there’s not a dad in the world who thinks more of his daughter than I …well done.
Here’s the speech, you might be suprised to know that she delivers this from memory with no notes at all - way cool.
Kylie
White Station High School
“Great ambition and conquest without contribution is without significance.” In the opening scenes of the movie The Emperor’s Club, Mr. Hundert, played by Kevin Kline, shares this small bit of wisdom with his class. He has just told his students the story of Shutruk Nahunte, a King of Elam. But he is a king whose name is found in no history book. Why? Because in his role as king, he did nothing of profound contribution for his country or his world. Mr. Hundert then asks why we remember those as Plato, Aristotle, and Julius Caesar. Why are they so important? Because they still challenge us to question what we are told and force us to learn more about the world around us. They force us to think. Mr. Hundert challenged his students to learn from these men’s triumphs and defeats. He challenged them to make a difference. He challenged them to be remembered.
In our society today, the standard has been lowered. Through the media and peer pressure, students today have been told that high school is a social experience, and academics are no longer top priority. Being voted Homecoming Queen or scoring the final points in the championship basketball game seem more important than making the honor roll or receiving a scholarship to college. Then there is the polar opposite: those who decide that school and grades are so unimportant that they are not even going to try. They would like to say that their grades reflect a lack of intelligence and that they do not do well because they do not understand. But that is only because it is not in vogue to understand. Many are truly full of bright ideas and opinions, but think that they would be tormented and teased for their desire to be heard. So by keeping their hearts silent, they do not have to worry and are pushed in higher esteem amongst their groups of friends.
Some would disagree with this. They would say they I am exaggerating, and things really aren’t that awful. But I challenge anyone to spend a day in the average American high school. During class periods, it is not uncommon to find large groups of students standing in the hallway who have decided that they do not feel like attending class that particular day. Or you may discover those who find class to be boring and dull and spend the entire period conversing with their friend or taking a “well-deserved” nap. During the transition between classes, the hallways are chaos, full of vulgar language and bullying. There is blatant disrespect for teachers and administration and no fear of consequences.
But there is still a handful of students who care. We are the minority, full of desire and willingness to work. Our insatiable need to learn is intimidating and unacceptable to those around us, because they see our eagerness to stand out from our peers to be foreign and confusing. But there is little fear in being taunted by others for this thirst for knowledge. The reward of being able to pass through school with no regrets and fully believing that I did my best is more rewarding than any crown, trophy, or popularity contest that I could ever win.
My future is bright because I choose to learn. I refuse to put my thoughts and ideas on hold just for the sake of being accepted. I have drive and ambition, and do more than just wish that the world were different. I strive to make the difference. I do more than just choose to be remembered; I demand it. I have set my heart on changing the world, and I see nothing stopping me from doing just that.
In many countries, citizens are not given the option of being educated. Children must spend their whole lives working in order to support themselves and their families. But here in America, we are provided with amazing opportunities and most of us take for granted the privileges that we are offered. But with those privileges comes a choice. One can choose to be accepted, or once can choose to rise above the crowd. In the end, we should all ask ourselves the same questions Mr. Hundert demanded of his students. “What will your contribution be? How will history remember you?”
My future is bright because I have answered these questions, and I know that for me to be able to make this earth a better place, I must spend as much time learning as possible, regardless of what those around me think.