Graduation Speech: Happiness is Success :: Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

A some months ago I was sitting in the guidance center wait for some transcripts. I was having sensation of those high-stress, low-patience days and I was just in a very bad mood. As I waited, I observe a little book on one of the coffee tables called What bliss is. Cynically curious, I picked up the book and fingered through and through it. all(prenominal) page was different quote about what happiness is, and as I read each one, I started to slowly lift out of my astringent mood. The first one I read was Happiness sneaks in through a door you didnt know you left open. - John Barrymore. I could vitiate that, I was starting to feel a little better. The next one I read was All who would win joy must contend it, happiness was born a twin. - Lord Byron. Now that matt-up full(a) to read my present mood. Eagerly, I read the third one. Happiness is dismission to the 20 year reunion and finding that the boy elected to the highest degree likely to succeed, didnt. Needless to say, I felt a little voteless by this one. Having won that category in the yearbook this year, I felt a sudden added pressure. I was now indentured for 20 eld to try to succeed in order to keep all of you from be happy. It was a lose-lose situation for all of us. For a time after, my thoughts often drifted to that 20-year reunion. How was I going to be masteryful? How was I going to insure I fulfilled my high school yearbooks prophecy? How was I going to be a succeeder? Immediately, my thoughts drifted to money. Success to most Americans immediately means great houses, hot cars, bling-bling. I had no guarantees to myself that I would be a success. at that place was nothing I could do but continue to work hard, vex up late writing papers and hang posters my entire intent for dances. I didnt necessarily want this. So I began to question what success is to me. And its more than the cliche of happiness. What success is to me, could be radically different than what success is to anyo ne else in this room. Its up to me to define it for me. Its up to me to decide what I assume to do in my life to make it a success. We all located our own expectations.