The graduating seniors at the University of Alabama heard a remarkable 10-point plan to commence their careers or further their studies after graduation.
Does it surprise you that the news media mostly missed the points and their importance? This was the President of the United States addressing the graduating seniors in Tuscaloosa. This was the leader of the free world speaking to the leaders of tomorrow.
Most of the media covering the unusual commencement address were so preoccupied with other things that Trump said that they missed the meat of the matter. The red meat. Unfortunately, that red meat has not been read. Not much.
Naturally, the mainstream media was more interested, in fact totally focused, on things other than the 10 points for the Alabama seniors to take with them into their working lives. Instead, most media reported:
Trump’s ad libs.
His local and colorful references about the state of Alabama.
His points about Coach Nick Saban and the Crimson Tide football team.
His humorous remarks, and there were many.
Any “facts” that he stated that the media could later fact-check.
President Woodrow Wilson made famous his “Fourteen Points” right after World War I. President Trump’s 10 points at the University of Alabama commencement address will not become famous. They were not reported much. They had been interspersed within the things Trump said that were more interesting – to the media.
That is a disappointment, because Trump’s 10 points were good – not only for the 10,000-plus graduates there but for others who could use them.
A glowing exception to the media’s lack of interest in Trump’s 10 points can be found here.
President Trump’s 10 points were a universal graduation speech.
Just listing Trump’s 10 points and his main statement about each does not do justice to the speech and its value. His stories and ad libs, woven among the points, lent the Trump flavor to the points. Nevertheless, here goes. Here are the Donald Trump 10 Points to the Alabama graduates – and to all yutes finishing their basic education and entering the post-graduate world:
1. You’re Not Too Young to Succeed
“First, if you think you’re too young to do something great, let me tell you that you are wrong. You’re not too young to have great success.”
Trump cited making his first big deal by developing a hotel at only age 28.
“Young people can do anything.”
2. Love What You Do
The president encouraged young people to find something they love to dedicate their careers to.
“You have to find something that you love, and you have to follow your own instincts and listen to your parents, they’re very wise, but you have to follow your instincts and your heart, your soul and you want to be the very, very best you can be.”
Trump says he rarely sees somebody that’s successful that doesn’t love what he does.
“Treat every day like a home game against Auburn,” he said to raucous cheers, referring to Alabama’s archrival university. “Fight like hell.”
Trump said love for his career is what made him successful.
“I had a lot of different careers, but I loved real estate so much, and I was very successful in real estate because I loved it.”
3. Think Big
Trump told graduates to think big about their futures.
“America doesn’t aim small. Alabama doesn’t aim small, and neither do you. So when possible, think big.”
Trump warned graduates against thinking small.
“You will have all the same headaches and challenges, all the same delays and setbacks. You might as well do something that’s just amazing.”
4. Work Hard
Hard work is key to success, Trump said, adding that because he loves what he does, it’s not so hard.
“You really have to work hard and you’re going to be successful because you have the talent to get into this school. It’s not easy to get into. It is even more difficult to get through.”
5. Don’t Lose Your Momentum
“You have to know if you are losing, and you have to know when you’re losing. And so maybe you stop, and maybe it’s time to stop, listen to the feedback, think through your plan very carefully, and keep moving fast.”
6. Be an Outsider
“Successful people can’t be afraid to take risks and be an outsider. If you want to change the world, you have to have the courage to be an outsider. In other words, you have to take certain risks, to do things a little bit differently. Otherwise, if that weren’t the case, everybody would be successful. Doesn’t work that way.”
“Progress never comes from those satisfied with the failures of a broken system.” It comes from those who want to fix the broken system.”
“Those who make it to the top have to break the system.”
Trump told Alabama graduation attendees to “trust their instincts” and use “common sense.”
“You can go far in life with common sense, and I apply that to politics, because some of these things, like they had open borders that everybody in the whole world will flow into our country. That’s not common sense. We ended that.”
Trump said allowing biological males to play women’s sports is not common sense.
“As long as I am president, we will always protect women’s sports. Men will not play in women’s sports.” This line drew perhaps the most applause of the night at this sports-conscious campus.
8. Believe in the American Dream
A banner on the stage read, “The American dream is back” with the University of Alabama logo.
The president spoke about the power of positive thinking, quoting his former pastor, Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, the author of the best-selling book, “The Power of Positive Thinking.”
“Don’t consider yourself a victim. Consider yourself a winner. In recent years, too many of our young people have been taught to think of themselves as victims, blame people, and be angry. But in America, we reject that idea that anyone is a victim.”
“Our heroes are the ones who take charge of their own destinies, make their own luck and determine their own fate, despite the odds.”
10. Never Give Up
Trump said “never give up” is his most important advice, adding, “Victory is right around the corner.”
“Perseverance is everything, so no matter where you are in life, be optimistic.”
On May 24, Trump will again give a graduation speech. It will be at the United States Military Academy at West Point. It will be his second graduation speech at the academy. Five years ago, he addressed the graduating cadets of 2020.
Will Trump again use his 10 points? He could very well do so because they are universal pearls of wisdom for collegiate graduating seniors. The main difference would need to be in the other things besides the 10 points, the ad libs and Trumpisms. Instead of quips about the state of Alabama and the Crimson Tide football team, he could make comments about the U.S. military and changes to the Army which his administration is making. Maybe this would not be as colorful and humorous as Nick Saban comments and saying the future will be the Crimson Tide and not the Harvard Crimson. But Trump will come up with local color. He always does.
Jim ‘Zig’ Zeigler’s beat is the colorful and positive about Alabama -- Alabama’s people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at [email protected].
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