Inspiring Commencement Speech

Admiral McRaven's Commencement Speech

• The speech was delivered to the University of Texas at Austin's graduating class of 2014.
• The slogan of the university is "What starts here changes the world."

Changing the World

• If every graduate changes the lives of 10 people, and each of those people changes the lives of another 10, the class of 2014 will have changed the lives of 800 million people in five generations.
• This is more than twice the population of the United States, and in another generation, the entire population of the world could be changed.

Lessons from Basic SEAL Training

• Make Your Bed: Making your bed every morning helps create a sense of pride and encourages you to do other tasks.
• Find Someone to Help You Paddle: You can't change the world alone; find someone to help you.
• Measure a Person by the Size of Their Heart: Judge people by their heart, not their background or physical abilities.
• Get Over Being a Sugar Cookie: Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, things won't go as planned. Move forward and keep going.
• Don't Be Afraid of the Circuses: Life is full of challenges, but they can make you stronger and more resilient.
• Slide Down the Obstacles Head First: Sometimes you have to take risks and face challenges head-on.
• Don't Back Down from the Sharks: Deal with the challenges in your life, and don't let them stop you.
• Be Your Best in the Darkest Moments: Stay calm, composed, and bring your best self even in the toughest times.

Hell Week and Hope

• The ninth week of SEAL training is called Hell Week, which includes six days of no sleep, physical and mental harassment, and a special day at the mudflats.
• In the darkest moments, hope and positivity can make a difference.
• Singing together in the mudflats during Hell Week showed the power of hope and community.

Final Advice

• Start each day with a task completed.
• Find someone to help you through life.
• Respect everyone.
• Know that life is not fair and that you will fail often.
• Take risks, stand up to bullies, lift up the downtrodden, and never give up.