Graduation Day Essay

In 1993, academy award winning actors Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington starred in the movie, Philadelphia, the first major motion picture to address the issue of HIV/AIDS (Howard, 2015). One intent of this movie was to highlight homophobia, the irrational fear of, aversion to, or discrimination against homosexuality or homosexuals ("Homophobia", 2016), in addition to highlighting the Nation's baseless fear of those infected with HIV/AIDS. These fears were fueled by a lack of education regarding…

Introduction Attention Getter: 1. “The U.S., which had some of the highest graduation rates of any developed country, now ranks 22nd out of 27 developed countries.”1 2. “Almost 2,000 high schools across the U.S. graduate less than 60% of their students.”3 Significance: This is significant because high school dropouts are limiting themselves from potential success and opportunities in the future. Credibility: My family has always pushed me in my academic life. My father especially pushed…

In a 2007 article for Educational Leadership, “The Essential Cognitive backpack” Mel Levine argues that high school graduates are missing the necessary “gear that ought to find its way into every graduates cognitive backpack”(17). In his article, Levine explains in four main sections what he calls “The four I’s [of his essential cognitive backpack…] Interpretation, Instrumentation, Interaction, and Inner Direction.”(17). In Levine’s first section of the article “Interpretation”, Levine begins…

Why Defend Senior Prom in High School The first time I heard about senior prom is after I came to study in America, two years ago. It seems that almost everyone in the school looks forward to the senior prom. I found that senior prom is a rite event in America. Something that should not be missed. However, the overall situation in America is not like that in my school. According to YouGov’s research, “Most Americans (59%) think that proms are overrated, and only 41% say that they're important”.…

grades so that I can succeed in high school and graduate feeling that I have succeeded and the process will continue to repeat itself out through my life. Mead also brings the celebration of succeeding and we do continue to do that whether that be graduation like I have said before, or getting a new job, or even something small like getting an A on the test. It may not have to be the most significant thing, but each time you accomplish and succeed at something that builds your confidence and…

It is unsurprising for a seasoned author like J.K. Rowling to write an empowering piece; however, what is astonishing is the poignant way in which she delivered the commencement speech to the Harvard graduating class of 2008. Her speech was meant to enlighten the graduates about life after college by focusing on the benefits of failure and the importance of imagination. The commencement speech followed a topical pattern, thus she centered her speech around life after college and the equal…

In this world today, there are those who greet the day with zeal and zest, but also those who do so with only ever weary and pessimism. In his commencement speech at Maharishi University of Management, dated May 24th, 2014, Jim Carrey strives to inspire the graduates of class 2014 to go out into the world with vigor and ardor. He speaks with the intention and mindset to praise and extol the graduates, as a commencement speaker generally will. We learn a little bit more about the audience by…

The meaningful event that affected my life was when I decided to work overseas and sacrifice college. I was seventeen years old when I made that decision. My father had a decent job at a company, he was the head Chef. He makes decent money at that time and we are pretty much doing well financially. I am the eldest of six children, so I witnessed all the sacrifices of my parents for us. My father saved money for our future, he wanted us to go to school because he always says that education is…

about the black men intelligence since slavery times. Black men were always treated as though they were less than then everyone else and have been given the shorter end of the stick. Coach Carter was released in 2005 and According to the NAACP, the graduation rate for African American male students for the nation as a whole in 2005–06 was 47 percent. In 2005–06, less than half of all African American male students received diplomas with their class. The film was based on a true story in 1999 and…

“Is a College Degree Worth It In The Long Run For Employment?” In high school, we are told to go to college after graduating from high school to get a better paying job and more job opportunities. Back in the 1990’s, a person with a high school degree could get employed easily and a college degree didn’t matter at all if you were to apply mostly anywhere. Today, in order to get a job that pays well you need a college degree because most jobs require you to have a college degree. Also you will…