5 Minute Commencement Speech

Hello graduates.  Since you are all holding your phones I wish to make 5 abbreviated statements and then let you get back to sharing media. You may record my statements and post them to all your followers and friends afterward. 

Number One: From now on all of your social media profiles, activities and connections will be observed by eyes you never would expect to be interested. Guard your words.

Number Two: Speaking in public or professionally speaking means you will be vocalizing feelings and human exasperations, empathy, distain and hope alike – remember that someone - and sometimes the whole world -  is listening. Guard your presence.

Number Three: You know the digital world is one of tracking and profiling by business, marketers, financial and government sources. Avoid radicalization online but don’t be afraid to start a movement in the public square. Guard your courage.

Number Four: Don’t overshare personal information about friends and family, especially about their health issues, as many do on Facebook. This can hurt others when potential employers or businesses feed private data through algorithms. Guard your loved ones.

Number Five: Since you were very young the internet has been the best connection to your world 24x7. You will enter the business world where many kinds of personal data will be extracted from you. Not just by unseen tracking mechanisms behind your web activities but explicitly requested by employers, financial firms,retailers, vacation clubs, rewards programs, wellness programs and more. Profiles from your youth cannot be left like old photographs on a dorm room wall. Start fresh and delete the old. Guard your memories.

Your passions and gifting’s really do matter and the world needs the hope inside each one of you. Finally, your digital world will change as do all things.  Show us your life and in that way we will disregard all the big data on you - when we see your real purpose and passions expressed in endless opportunities throughout life.

Thank you, Class of 2017

Robert Waters