University of Texas at Austin 2014 Commencement Address - Admiral William H. McRaven

Summary

The commencement speech by a former Navy SEAL emphasizes the power of individual actions to change the world, drawing on lessons from his rigorous SEAL training. He encourages the graduating class of 2014 to start with small tasks, find support, face challenges head-on, and never give up. With perseverance and hope, they can influence millions and create a better world.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The commencement speaker humorously admits that despite the significance of the day, he doesn't remember the speaker from his own graduation, emphasizing the importance of making the speech meaningful and brief.
• 🌏 The speaker introduces the university's slogan 'What starts here changes the world' and challenges the graduates to consider the potential impact they could have on the world through the ripple effect of their actions.
• 🔄 The concept of change is presented as a collective effort, where each graduate could influence 10 people, and those people could influence others, leading to a significant global impact over time.
• 💪 Personal stories from the speaker's military experience illustrate how individual decisions can have far-reaching consequences and save lives, reinforcing the idea that one person can indeed change the world.
• 🛏️ The speaker shares the first of ten lessons from SEAL training: making your bed every morning as a simple act that sets a positive tone for the day and instills discipline.
• 🚣‍♂️ Teamwork is highlighted as essential for achieving goals, using the metaphor of a boat crew paddling through challenging surf, emphasizing that no one can change the world alone.
• 🏊‍♂️ Diversity and inclusion are celebrated through the story of the 'munchkin' boat crew, showing that success is not determined by physical size but by determination and unity.
• 👔 The importance of perseverance is underscored by the story of the uniform inspection, where despite best efforts, things may not always go as planned, and one must continue moving forward.
• 🤸‍♂️ The 'circus' serves as a metaphor for life's challenges, where failure is a part of growth, and resilience is built through overcoming difficulties.
• 🦈 Facing fears is addressed with the story of swimming with sharks, encouraging graduates to confront their fears and not back down from challenges.
• 🌌 The need for calm and focus in the darkest moments is conveyed through the story of underwater ship attacks, where success requires composure and skill even when visibility and conditions are poor.
• 🎵 The power of hope is exemplified by the story of singing in the mud flats during 'Hell Week,' showing that hope can provide strength in the most challenging times.
• 🔔 The 'bell' represents the option to quit at any time, but the speaker urges the graduates to never ring it, symbolizing the importance of perseverance and never giving up on their goals.

Q & A

What is the significance of the commencement speaker's reference to the university slogan 'What starts here changes the world'?

The speaker uses the slogan to emphasize the potential impact each graduate can have on the world, suggesting that even small changes initiated by the graduates can have a ripple effect, ultimately affecting millions of lives.

How does the speaker illustrate the potential impact of the class of 2014 on the world?

The speaker provides a mathematical example, suggesting that if each graduate influences 10 people, and those people each influence 10 more, the class could impact 800 million lives within five generations.

What personal anecdotes does the speaker share from his graduation day at UT?

The speaker shares that he had a throbbing headache from a party the night before, mentions having a serious girlfriend whom he later married, and that he was getting commissioned in the Navy that day.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of making your bed every morning?

Making your bed is presented as a simple daily task that instills a sense of accomplishment and encourages the completion of further tasks, reinforcing the idea that small, consistent actions can lead to significant outcomes.

What is the 'sugar cookie' drill in SEAL training, and what does it symbolize?

The 'sugar cookie' drill involves running into the surf zone fully clothed, rolling in the sand, and staying in the wet, sandy uniform all day. It symbolizes the acceptance of failure and the need to keep moving forward despite setbacks.

What does the 'circus' represent in SEAL training, and what life lesson does it teach?

The 'circus' is an additional two hours of calisthenics for those who fail to meet physical standards. It teaches the lesson that failure is a part of life, and building resilience and inner strength through these challenges is crucial.

How does the speaker describe the importance of teamwork in SEAL training?

The speaker uses the example of paddling through the surf zone in a boat crew, illustrating that everyone must paddle in sync to succeed, emphasizing that no one can change the world alone and teamwork is essential.

What does the 'slide for life' obstacle represent, and what lesson does it teach about taking risks?

The 'slide for life' is a challenging obstacle where a student broke the course record by sliding down head first, a risky move. It teaches that sometimes taking bold, calculated risks can lead to significant achievements.

What is the significance of the 'mud flats' during 'Hell Week' in SEAL training?

The mud flats represent an extreme test of endurance and the will to continue despite the harshest conditions. The experience teaches the power of hope and unity in the face of adversity.

What is the 'bell' in SEAL training, and what does choosing not to ring it symbolize?

The 'bell' is a symbol of quitting training. Choosing not to ring it symbolizes perseverance, determination, and the refusal to give up, even when faced with extreme challenges.

How does the speaker connect the lessons from SEAL training to the broader goal of changing the world?

The speaker connects the lessons by highlighting the importance of small daily accomplishments, teamwork, resilience in the face of failure, and the courage to take risks. These lessons are applicable to anyone looking to make a positive impact on the world.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Commencement Address: Inspiring the Class of 2014

The speaker begins with a heartfelt thank you to the university and its community, reflecting on his own graduation 37 years prior. He humorously admits to not remembering the commencement speaker from his graduation, and promises to keep his speech short and impactful. The speaker emphasizes the university's slogan 'What starts here changes the world,' and challenges the graduating class to consider the potential ripple effect of their actions, suggesting that their influence could reach 800 million people over generations. Drawing on his military experience, he provides anecdotes from Iraq and Afghanistan to illustrate the profound impact one person can have, and offers ten lessons from his time as a Navy SEAL to guide the graduates in their journey to change the world.

05:00

🛏️ The Discipline of Making Your Bed: A SEAL's Perspective

The speaker shares the first of his ten lessons from SEAL training: the importance of making your bed to perfection every morning. This seemingly trivial task sets the tone for the day, fostering a sense of accomplishment and encouraging a chain of completed tasks. It also underscores the significance of attention to detail in all aspects of life. The speaker highlights the correlation between mastering small tasks and the ability to handle larger challenges, suggesting that a well-made bed can serve as a daily reminder of the power of small victories and the potential for a better tomorrow.

10:02

🚣‍♂️ Teamwork and Perseverance: Paddling Through Challenges

The second lesson focuses on the power of teamwork and perseverance, illustrated through the experience of paddling through surf as part of SEAL training. The speaker explains that individual effort is not enough; synchronization and collective strength are required to overcome the challenging waves. He uses the metaphor of the 'munchkin crew' to demonstrate that success is not determined by size or appearance but by the collective will to succeed. The lesson emphasizes the importance of finding support and collaboration in life's journey to achieve goals that are greater than one's individual capabilities.

15:03

🦈 Facing Adversity and Embracing Change

This section of the speech delves into the lessons of handling adversity, drawing from the rigorous physical challenges of SEAL training, such as the 'circuses' that push trainees to their limits. The speaker discusses the importance of resilience in the face of failure and the value of pushing through difficult circumstances to build inner strength. He also shares the story of a trainee who broke a record by taking a risk, emphasizing the necessity of innovation and courage when faced with obstacles. The narrative includes overcoming fears, such as swimming with sharks, and the importance of standing one's ground in the face of intimidating challenges.

🌌 Overcoming Darkness: Inner Strength and Calmness

The speaker recounts the intense experience of underwater training, where SEALs must navigate in complete darkness, relying on their senses and training to complete their mission. This serves as a metaphor for the darker moments in life where one must draw upon inner strength, calmness, and composure to succeed. The story highlights the importance of being at one's best during the most challenging times and the necessity of maintaining focus and determination to overcome adversity.

❄️ Hell Week and the Power of Hope

Hell Week, a grueling part of SEAL training, is described as a test of physical and mental endurance with minimal sleep and constant stress. The speaker shares a story from his own training where, despite the extreme conditions and the pressure to quit, the trainees found solace and strength in singing together. This act of unity in the face of adversity demonstrates the power of hope and its ability to transform even the most challenging situations. The lesson is clear: hope can be a driving force for change and resilience.

🔔 The Bell of Quitting: Never Give Up

The final lesson is about the choice not to quit, symbolized by a bell in SEAL training that any trainee can ring to end their suffering and leave the program. The speaker encourages the graduating class to embrace the challenges of life and to never ring their own 'bell of quitting.' He concludes with a call to action for the class of 2014 to start their journey with the spirit of resilience, teamwork, and hope, promising that their efforts will create a better world for future generations.

Keywords

💡Commencement Speaker

A commencement speaker is an individual chosen to address the graduating class at a commencement ceremony. In the script, the speaker humorously acknowledges that despite the importance of the occasion, the speaker's words are often forgotten, highlighting the transient nature of such speeches.

💡Change the World

The phrase 'change the world' is a central theme of the video, suggesting that each individual has the potential to make a significant impact. The speaker uses a mathematical analogy to illustrate how the collective actions of the graduating class could influence hundreds of millions of lives over time.

💡Navy SEAL

Navy SEALs are the U.S. Navy's primary special operations force, known for their rigorous training and elite status. The speaker's background as a Navy SEAL is used to lend credibility to the lessons shared, emphasizing the values of perseverance, teamwork, and leadership.

💡Basic SEAL Training

Basic SEAL training is a six-month program designed to test and develop the physical and mental capabilities of SEAL candidates. The script describes the harsh conditions and challenges faced during this training, which serve as metaphors for overcoming life's adversities.

💡Making Your Bed

Making your bed is presented as a simple daily task that symbolizes the importance of starting each day with a sense of accomplishment and order. It is one of the '10 lessons' from SEAL training that the speaker suggests can contribute to a successful and impactful life.

💡Boat Crew

In SEAL training, a boat crew is a team of students who work together to navigate through difficult conditions. The script uses the metaphor of the boat crew to emphasize the necessity of teamwork and collective effort in achieving goals and making a difference in the world.

💡Munchkin Crew

The 'Munchkin Crew' refers to a diverse group of smaller SEAL trainees who, despite their size, outperformed others. This term from the script illustrates the idea that success is not determined by physical attributes but by determination and unity.

💡Sugar Cookie

A 'sugar cookie' is a term used in SEAL training to describe the result of failing a uniform inspection, which involves rolling in the sand while fully clothed. The script uses this term to illustrate the importance of resilience and not being discouraged by setbacks.

💡Circus

In the context of the script, a 'circus' refers to a grueling two-hour session of additional physical training for those who fail to meet standards. It symbolizes the challenges and the need for inner strength and perseverance in the face of failure.

💡Slide for Life

The 'Slide for Life' is an obstacle in SEAL training that involves traversing a rope hand-over-hand. The script recounts a story of a trainee who broke the course record by taking a risk, demonstrating the value of innovation and courage in overcoming obstacles.

💡Sharks

Sharks in the script represent the fears and challenges one might face in life. The speaker advises not to back down from these 'sharks,' using the metaphor to encourage graduates to confront and overcome their fears.

💡Hell Week

Hell Week is a notorious part of SEAL training where candidates endure six days of no sleep and constant physical and mental stress. The script uses this concept to highlight the importance of endurance and the ability to push through extreme adversity.

💡Mud Flats

The mud flats are a challenging environment in SEAL training where candidates must endure harsh conditions. The script describes a moment of unity and resilience among trainees in the mud flats, emphasizing the power of hope and collective spirit.

💡The Bell

The bell in SEAL training is a symbol of quitting; ringing it means giving up. The script uses the image of the bell to convey the message of never giving up, no matter how difficult the circumstances, as a key principle for changing the world.

Highlights

Commencement speech by a former UT graduate and Navy SEAL, emphasizing the potential impact of the graduating class of 2014.

The speaker's recollection of his own graduation day, highlighting the insignificance of the commencement speaker's identity in the long term.

A humorous anecdote about the speaker's personal life, including his serious girlfriend and Navy commissioning, to connect with the audience.

The introduction of the university slogan 'What starts here changes the world' and the speaker's personal endorsement of it.

A mathematical illustration of how the graduating class could influence 800 million people over generations.

The importance of making a bed every morning as a metaphor for accomplishing small tasks that lead to bigger achievements.

The concept of teamwork and the story of the 'munchkin crew' to demonstrate the power of unity and perseverance.

The significance of not judging people by their appearance but by the size of their heart, using the 'munchkin crew' as an example.

The harsh reality of SEAL training and the importance of overcoming failure, symbolized by the 'sugar cookie' drill.

The 'circus' as a metaphor for life's challenges and the growth that comes from enduring them.

The story of breaking the obstacle course record by taking risks and innovating, encouraging graduates to be bold.

The analogy of dealing with 'sharks' in life and the importance of standing your ground.

The importance of calmness and composure during the darkest and most challenging moments, as illustrated by underwater missions.

The story of 'Hell Week' in SEAL training and the power of hope and unity in overcoming adversity.

The significance of the 'bell' in SEAL training as a symbol of quitting and the importance of never ringing it.

A call to action for the graduating class to start their journey of changing the world for the better, with specific advice on how to approach life's challenges.

Closing remarks with a final encouragement to the class of 2014 to embrace their potential to make a significant impact on the world.

Transcripts

thank you very

much thank

you well thank you president

Powers Provost fenves Deans members of

The Faculty family and friends and most

importantly the class of 2014 it

is it is indeed an honor for me to be

here tonight it's been almost 37 years

to the day that I graduated from UT I

remember a lot of things about that day

I remember I had a throbbing headache

from a party the night

before I remember I had a serious

girlfriend who I later

married that's important to Remember by

the way and I remember I was getting

commissioned in the Navy that day but of

all the things I

remember I don't have a clue who the

commencement speaker was and I certainly

don't remember anything they said so so

acknowledging that fact if I can't make

this commencement speech memorable I

will at least try to make it

short so the university slogan is what

starts here changes the world well I've

got to admit I kind of like it what

starts here changes the world tonight

there are almost

8,000 students or there are more than

8,000 students graduated from UT so that

great Paragon of analytical rigor

ask.com says that the average American

will meet 10,000 people in their

lifetime 10,000 people that's a lot of

folks but if every one of you Chang the

lives of just 10 people and each one of

those people changed the lives of

another 10 people and another 10 then in

five generations 125 years the class of

2014 will have changed the lives of

800 million people 800 million

people think about

it over twice the population of the

United States go one more generation and

you can change the entire population of

the world 8 billion people if you think

it's hard to change the lives of 10

people change their lives forever you're

wrong I saw it happen every day in Iraq

and Afghanistan a young army officer

makes a decision to go left instead of

right down a road in

Baghdad and the 10 Soldiers with him are

saved from a close in ambush in kahar

province Afghanistan a non-commission

officer from the female engagement team

senses that something isn't right and

directs the Infantry platoon away from a

500 lb IED saving the lives of a dozen

soldiers but if you think about it not

only were those soldiers saved by the

decisions of one person but their

children were saved and their children's

children Generations were saved by one

decision one person but changing the

world can happen anywhere and anyone can

do it so what starts here can indeed

change the world but the question

is what will the world look like after

you change it well I'm confident that it

will look much much better but if you'll

humor this old sailor for just a moment

I have a few suggestions that might help

you on your way to a better world and

while these lessons were learned during

my time in the military I can assure you

that it matters not whether you ever

served a day in uniform it matters not

your gender your ethnic or religious

background your orientation or your

social status our struggles in this

world are similar and the lessons to

overcome those struggles and to move

forward changing ourselves and changing

the world around us will apply equally

to

all I've been a Navy SEAL for 36 years

but it all began when I left UT for

basic SEAL training in Coronado

California basic Seal training is 6

months of long torturous runs in the

soft sand midnight swims in the cold

water off San Diego obstacle courses

unending calisthenics days without sleep

and always being cold wet and miserable

it is 6 months of being constantly

harassed by professionally trained

Warriors who seek to find the weak of

mind and body and and eliminate them

from ever becoming a Navy SEAL but the

training also seeks to find those

students who can lead in an environment

of constant stress chaos failure in

hardships to me basic SEAL training was

a lifetime of challenges crammed into 6

months so here are the 10 lessons I

learned from basic SEAL training that

hopefully will be of value to you as you

move forward in

life every morning in Seal training my

instructors who at the time were all

Vietnam veterans would show up in my

Barracks room and the first thing they

do is inspect my bed if you did it right

the corners would be square the covers

would be pulled tight the pillow

centered just under the headboard and

the extra blanket folded neatly at the

foot of the rack it was a simple task

mundane at best but every morning we

were required to make our bed to

Perfection it seemed a little ridiculous

at the time particularly in light of the

fact that we were aspiring to be real

Warriors tough battle hardened

seals but the wisdom of this simple act

has been proven to me many times over if

you make your bed every morning you will

have accomplished the first task of the

day it will give you a small sense of

Pride and it will encourage you to do

another task and another and another and

by the end of the day that one task

completed will have turned into many

tasks completed making your bed will

also reinforce the fact that the little

things in life matter if you can't do

the little things right you'll never be

able to do the big things right and if

by chance you have a miserable day you

will come home to to a bed that is

made that you

made and a made bed gives you

encouragement that tomorrow will be

better so if you want to change the

world start off by making your

bed during SEAL training the

students during training the students

are all broken down in a boat cruise

each crew is seven students three on

each side of a small rubber boat and one

Coxs in to help guide the dinghy every

day your boat crew forms up on the beach

and is instructed to get through the

surf zone and paddle several miles down

the coast in the winter the surf off San

Diego can get to be 8 to 10t high and it

is exceedingly difficult to paddle

through the plunging surf unless

everyone digs in every paddle must be

synchronized to the stroke count of the

coxen everyone must exert equal effort

or the boat will turn against the wave

and be unceremoniously dumped back on

the beach for the boat to make it to its

destination

everyone must

paddle you can't change the world alone

you will need some help and to truly get

from your starting point to your

destination takes friends colleagues the

goodwi of strangers and a strong coxen

to guide you if you want to change the

world find someone to help you

paddle over a few weeks of difficult

training my seal class would started

with 150 men was down to just 42 there

were now six boat Crews of seven men

each I was in the boat with the tall

guys but the best boat crew we had was

made up of the little guys the munchkin

crew we called them no one was over 5

foot5 the munchkin boat crew had one

American Indian one African-American one

Polish American one Greek American one

Italian ameran and two tough kids from

the Midwest they out paddled outran and

out swam all the other boat Crews the

big men in the other boat Crews would

always make good-natured fun of the tiny

little flippers the munchkins put on

their tiny little feet prior to every

swim but somehow these little guys from

every corner of the nation in the world

always had the last laugh sowing faster

than everyone and reaching the shore

long before the rest of us SEAL training

was a great equalizer nothing mattered

but your will to succeed not your color

not your ethnic background not your

education not your social status

if you want to change the world measure

a person by the size of their heart not

by the size of their

flippers several times a

week the instructors would line up the

class and do a uniform inspection it was

exceptionally thorough your hat had to

be perfectly starched your uniform

immaculately pressed your belt buckle

shiny and void of any

smudges but it seemed that no matter how

much effort you put into starching your

hat or pressing your uniform or

polishing your belt buckle

it just wasn't good enough the

instructors would find something wrong

for failing uniform inspection the

student had to run fully clothed into

the surf zone then wet from head to toe

roll around on the beach until every

part of your body was covered with sand

the effect was known as sugar

cookie you stayed in the uniform the

rest of the day cold wet and Sandy there

were many of student who just couldn't

accept the fact that all their efforts

were in vain that no matter how hard

they tried to get the uniform right it

went

unappreciated those students didn't make

it through training those students

didn't understand the purpose of the

drill you were never going to succeed

you were never going to have a perfect

uniform the instructors weren't going to

allow

it sometimes no matter how well you

prepare or how well you perform you

still end up as a sugar cookie it's just

the way life is sometimes if you want to

change the world get over being a sugar

cookie and keep moving

forward every day during training you

were challenged with multiple physical

events long runs long swims obstacle

courses hours of calisthenics something

designed to test your metal every event

had standards times you had to meet if

you failed to meet those times those

standards your name was posted on a list

and at the end of the day those on the

list were invited to a circus a circus

circus was 2 hours of additional

calisthenics designed to wear you down

to break your spirit to force you to

quit no one wanted a circus a circus

meant that for that day you didn't

measure up a circus meant more fatigue

and more fatigue meant that the

following day would be more difficult

and more circuses were likely but at

some time during SEAL training

everyone everyone made the circus

list but an interesting an interesting

thing happened to those who were

constantly on the list

over time those students who did two

hours of extra calisthenics got stronger

and stronger the pain of the circuses

built inner strength and physical

resiliency life is filled with

circuses you will fail you will likely

fail often it will be painful it will be

discouraging at times it will test you

to your very core but if you don't if

you want to change the world don't be

afraid of the circuses

at least twice a week the trainees were

required to run the obstacle

course the obstacle course contained 25

obstacles including a 10-ft wall a 30-ft

cargo net a barb wire crawl to name a

few but the most challenging obstacle

was the slide for life it had a

three-level 30ft tower at one end and a

onlevel tower at the other in between

was a 200t long rope you had to climb

the three- tiered Tower and once at the

top you grabbed the Rope swung

underneath the rope and pulled yourself

hand over hand until you got to the

other end the record for the obstacle

course had stood for years when my class

began in 1977 the record seemed

unbeatable until one day a student

decided to go down the slide for Life

head first instead of swinging his body

underneath the rope and inching his way

down he bravely mounted the top of the

rope and thrust himself forward it was a

dangerous move seemingly foolish and

Frau with risk failure could mean injury

and being dropped from the course

without hesitation the student slid down

the Rope perilously fast instead of

several minutes it only took him half

that time and by the end of the course

he had broken the

record if you want to change the world

sometimes you have to slide down the

obstacles head

first during the land Warfare phase of

training the students are flown out to

San Clemen Island which lies off the

coast of San Diego the waters sanini are

a breeding ground for the great white

sharks to pass SEAL training there are a

series of long swims that must be

completed one is the night swim before

the swim the instructors joyfully

briefed the students on all the species

of

sharks that inhabit the waters off S

Clen they assure you however that no

student has ever been eaten by a shark

at least not that they can

remember but you were also taught that

if a shark begins to Circle your

position stand your ground do not swim

away do not act

afraid and if the shark hungry for a

midnight snack darts towards you then

summons up all your strength and punch

him in the snout and he will turn and

swim

away there are a lot of sharks in the

world if you hope to complete the swim

you will have to deal with them so if

you want to change the world

don't back down from the

Sharks as Navy Seals one of our jobs is

to conduct underwater attacks against

enemy shipping we practice this

technique extensively during training

the Ship Attack mission is where a pair

of sealed divers is dropped off outside

an enemy Harbor and then swims well over

two miles underwater using nothing but a

depth gauge and a compass to get to the

Target during the entire swim even well

below the surface there is some light

that comes through it is comforting to

know that there is Open Water above

you but as you approach the ship which

is tied to appear the light begins to

fade the steel structure of the ship

blocks the Moonlight it blocks the

surrounding Street lamps it blocks all

ambient light to be successful in your

mission you have to swim under the ship

and find the Keel the center line and

the deepest part of the ship this is

your objective but the KE is also the

darkest part of the ship where you

cannot see your hand in front of your

face where the noise from the ship's

Machinery is deafening and where it gets

to be easily disoriented and you can

fail every seal knows that under the KE

at that darkest moment of the mission is

a time when you need to be calm when you

must be calm when you must be composed

when all your Tactical skills your

physical power and your inner strength

must be brought to

bear if you want to change the world you

must be your very best in the darkest

moments the ninth week of training is

referred to as hell week it is six days

of no sleep constant physical and mental

harassment and one special day at the

mud flats the mud flats are an area

between San Diego and Tijana where the r

water runs off and creates the Tiana SLO

a swampy patch of terrain where the mud

will engulf you

it is on Wednesday of hell week that you

paddle down in the mud flats and spend

the next 15 hours trying to survive this

freezing cold the howling wind and the

incessant pressure to quit from the

instructors as the sun began to set that

Wednesday evening my training class

having committed some egregious

infraction of the rules was ordered into

the mud the mud consumed each man Till

There Was Nothing visible but our heads

the instructors told us we could leave

the mud if only five men would quit only

five men just five men and we could get

out of the oppressive

cold looking around the mud flat it was

apparent that some students were about

to give

up it was still over8 hours till the sun

came up eight more hours of bone

chilling cold the chattering teeth and

the Shivering moans of the trainees were

so loud it was hard to hear

anything and then one voice began to

echo through the night

one voice raised in

song the song was terribly Out Of

Tune but sung with great

enthusiasm One Voice became two and two

became three and before long everyone in

the class was singing the instructors

threatened us with more time in the mud

if we kept up the singing But the

singing persisted and somehow the mud

seemed a little warmer and the wind a

little Tamer and the dawn not so far

away if I have learned anything in my

time traveling the world it is the power

of Hope the power of one person a

Washington a Lincoln King Mandela and

even a young girl from Pakistan Malala

one person can change the world by

giving people hope so if you want to

change the world start singing when

you're up your neck in

mud finally in Seal training there's a

bell a brass bell that hangs in the

center of the compound for all the

students to see all you have to do quit

all you have to do to quit is ring the

bell ring the bell and you no longer

have to wake up at 5:00 ring the bell

and you no longer have to be in the

freezing cold swims ring the bell and

you no longer have to do the runs the

obstacle course the PT and you no longer

have to endure the hardships of

training all you have to do is ring the

bell to get

out if you want to change the world

don't ever

ever ring the

bell to the class of 2014 you are

moments away from graduating moments

away from beginning your journey through

life moments away from starting to

change the world for the better it will

not be easy but you are the class of

2014 the class that can affect the lives

of 800 million people in The Next

Century start each day with a task

completed find someone to help you

through life respect everyone know that

life is not fair in you will fail often

but if you take some risks step up when

the times are the toughest face down the

bullies lift up the downtrodden and

never ever give up if you do these

things the Next Generation and the

generations that follow will live in a

world far better than the one we have

today and what started here will indeed

have changed the world for the better

thank you very much hook horns