Pike Co. DAR 2012

Congrats. I assume you’ve had a pretty good education or you wouldn’t be here. The State of Illinois has tested you hundreds of times on what the politicians think is important….and we know that the State of Illinois never makes a mistake. Your parents are really proud of you for being chosen. They’ve already glanced around the room to see how you compare to the others. Most of your parents are happy with what they see. A few wonder what you’re doing here.

If you want to know how DAR winners end up, take a look at me. You lose hair and gain weight.

We have a Congress filled with smart men and women. …It’s not intelligence that’s holding them back. It’s not their “grades.” It’s their ability to be human. ..to get along.

We have nations led by smart, capable leaders…..It’s not their poor grades in school that causes war…It’s their inability to be human.

We have some people who have cheated others on Wall Street…they all had a great deal of education…But someone forgot to teach them how to be human.

Psychologists call it Emotional Intelligence…the ability to read people, the ability to react to others with love and understanding.

Since you’ve done well in school and your faculty has decided that you’re a very good person by winning this award, here’s a short course in being human: 4 Tips:

James Dobson Marie…Salt and Pepper shakers

Nothing in your life is more important than the people in your life.

Brian….clowns Becky …(lives now in Pittsfield) 2) Nothing makes people feel loved than for you take a genuine interest in their lives.

Matt Baritone… 3) One of the things we like best in each other is a sense of humor…especially if we’re able to laugh at ourselves.

Piano..(right here!)..Mildred Trumpet…Jimmy Zimmerman 4) People are watching you… Your parents have told you many things, but the things that you’ll remember most about them is what you’ve seen them do…How you’ve seen them act.

3 things in life are real...WHEN YOU’RE BORN, WHEN YOU DIE WHEN YOU MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN ANOTHER PERSON’S LIFE

Peter and the Wolf concert…1000 5th and 6th-graders….Pittsfield was there…I slapped hands 350 live in one-parent homes 300 of them won’t graduate 80 of them will drop out because they have learning disabilities & they will just get discouraged If half are girls, then 122 of them will be pregnant before they graduate 110 will have been bullied this week… 80 will have been bullied in P.E. class alone 130 will have bullied others… 90 will have been bullied in P.E. class 200 will suffer depression before they’re 20 2 will kill themselves

If you can make a difference in some of those lives, you’ll done more than any senator, any congress-person or any ruler….Do it…Congratulations on your award…Now…just be human.