A Different Kind of Commencement Address

The practice of Commencement Address in colleges across the U.S. is well established. Check out this unusual address titled 'The Commencement Address That Won’t Be Given', by Robert B. Reich.

Prof. Reich is the Chancellor’s Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley; he was Secretary of Labor in the Bill Clinton administration. He is the author of bestsellers, 'Aftershock' and 'The Work of Nations'.

Read this excerpt from Prof. Reich's Commencement Address; the link to his Web site is given after the excerpt. 

I am sharing this interesting Commencement Address in this space as I believe it will lend you a different perspective on the dynamics of education, learning, economic conditions, and most importantly, how small things can come together to screw the future. 

The Commencement Address That Won’t Be Given

Members of the Class of 2012,

As a former secretary of labor and current professor, I feel I owe it to you to tell you the truth about the pieces of parchment you’re picking up today.

You’re f*cked.

Well, not exactly. But you won’t have it easy.

First, you’re going to have a hell of a hard time finding a job. The job market you’re heading into is still bad. Fewer than half of the graduates from last year’s class have as yet found full-time jobs. Most are still looking.

That’s been the pattern over the last three graduating classes: It’s been taking them more than a year to land the first job. And those who still haven’t found a job will be competing with you, making your job search even harder. (End of excerpt)

Read the complete Commencement Address here.