Lou Holtz | 2015 Undergraduate Commencement Address | Franciscan University of Steubenville

Summary

The speaker, humbled by receiving an honorary doctorate, shares life lessons emphasizing faith, personal responsibility, and the importance of doing what's right. He urges the audience to maintain a positive attitude, strive for excellence, and genuinely care for others. With humor and sincerity, he reflects on his own experiences, highlighting the significance of trust, commitment, and love in achieving a fulfilling life.

Takeaways

• 🙇 Gratitude and Humility: The speaker expresses deep gratitude and humility for receiving an honorary doctorate degree from a prestigious university, acknowledging his humble beginnings.
• 🏈 Inspirational Journey: The speaker's interest in the university was sparked by a friend who played basketball there, highlighting the power of personal connections in shaping one's path.
• 📚 Importance of Education: Despite not being a top student in high school, the speaker emphasizes the value of education and the role it plays in personal growth and success.
• 🙏 Faith and Spirituality: The speaker shares the significance of faith in his life, using personal anecdotes to illustrate how spirituality can provide strength and guidance.
• 🤝 The Power of Support: The speaker acknowledges the importance of having a support system, whether it's through family, friends, or community, in overcoming life's challenges.
• 💡 Life's Simple Pleasures: The speaker encourages the audience to find joy in simple things, using humor to convey the message that happiness can be found in everyday moments.
• 💪 Commitment to Excellence: The speaker stresses the importance of giving one's best in all endeavors, whether professional or personal, as a path to success and fulfillment.
• 👫 Caring for Others: The speaker shares the belief that showing genuine care and concern for others is a fundamental aspect of living a meaningful and impactful life.
• 🏆 Legacy and Significance: The speaker reflects on the concept of legacy, suggesting that true significance comes from helping others succeed and from the positive impact one leaves on others' lives.
• 🌟 Importance of Trust: The speaker concludes by emphasizing trust, commitment, and love as the core values that guide his life and relationships, advocating for their importance in building a strong foundation for personal and professional success.

Q & A

What is the speaker's sentiment towards receiving an honorary doctor's degree from the University?

The speaker expresses deep humility and honor in receiving the degree, acknowledging the significance of the award from such an outstanding institution.

What personal anecdote does the speaker share about his early life and connection to the University?

The speaker mentions being born in Fenby, West Virginia, and raised in East Liverpool, Ohio, and how a friend named Gino Cimoli, who played basketball for the University, sparked his initial interest in following the institution.

What does the speaker imply about his high school academic performance?

The speaker humorously admits that he was in the lower third of his high school class, suggesting that without students like him, there wouldn't be an upper half of the class.

What is the speaker's advice on maintaining faith and why is it important?

The speaker advises the audience not to lose their faith in God, emphasizing that faith provides a sense of security and purpose, and that it has personally helped him through challenging times.

How does the speaker feel about the term 'Catholics versus convicts' used to describe a game?

The speaker expresses disapproval of the term, considering it unfair because not all players on his team were Catholic, and he believes it oversimplifies and potentially misrepresents the team's identity.

What are the speaker's five assumptions about the audience, and how do they relate to his speech?

The speaker assumes the audience wants to be successful professionally, have a good personal life, feel needed, feel secure about their future, and go to heaven. These assumptions guide his advice on how to achieve these goals without sacrificing one's religious or personal life.

What are the four essential things the speaker believes everyone needs in life?

According to the speaker, everyone needs something to do, someone to love, someone to believe in, and something to hope for, such as dreams, ambitions, and aspirations.

What is the speaker's view on the importance of growth and the mistake he regrets?

The speaker believes that growth is critical, emphasizing that one is either growing or dying. His biggest regret is not continuing to grow and take risks after achieving success, suggesting that maintaining the status quo is a form of stagnation.

What are the three rules the speaker suggests for living a fulfilling life?

The three rules are: 1) Do what's right and avoid what's wrong, 2) Do everything to the best of your ability, and 3) Show people you care by being genuinely helpful and supportive.

How does the speaker define success and significance in life?

The speaker defines success as not only personal achievement but also as making a significant impact by helping others be successful. He emphasizes that significance endures beyond one's lifetime and is measured by the positive influence one has on others.

What is the speaker's final advice on achieving happiness?

The speaker humorously lists short-term happiness strategies, such as eating a steak or playing golf, before concluding that the key to lifelong happiness is putting one's faith in Jesus Christ.