Memorable Graduation Advice From the Stars23 of 38
Dolly Parton to University of Tennessee's Class of 2009:
"You have to stay true to your heart and to your dreams.
The night I graduated from Sevier County High School, back in 1964, we were all asked to stand up and talk about what we were going to do with the rest of our lives, and everybody had a different story. When it came my time, I stood right up there. I said, 'I'm going to Nashville, and I'm going to be a star.' Well, the whole place laughed out loud, and I was so embarrassed, because I thought, 'How odd. Why is everybody laughing? Because that is what I'm going to do.'
As bad as I felt at that moment and as embarrassed as I was, it did not shake me from my dreams. So, I guess I showed them, huh? You can do the same.
Of course, you have to be careful. Do not confuse dreams with wishes. There is a difference. Dreams are where you visualize yourself being successful at what's important to you to accomplish. Dreams build convictions, because you work hard to pay the price to make sure that they come true. Wishes are hoping good things will happen to you, but there is no fire in your gut that causes you to put everything forth to overcome all the obstacles.
So, you have to dream more. And never, ever, ever blame somebody else if it doesn't happen. That isn't your department. Yeah, it's true. You'll see more of what I mean as you get out there in the big world."
"You have to stay true to your heart and to your dreams.
The night I graduated from Sevier County High School, back in 1964, we were all asked to stand up and talk about what we were going to do with the rest of our lives, and everybody had a different story. When it came my time, I stood right up there. I said, 'I'm going to Nashville, and I'm going to be a star.' Well, the whole place laughed out loud, and I was so embarrassed, because I thought, 'How odd. Why is everybody laughing? Because that is what I'm going to do.'
As bad as I felt at that moment and as embarrassed as I was, it did not shake me from my dreams. So, I guess I showed them, huh? You can do the same.
Of course, you have to be careful. Do not confuse dreams with wishes. There is a difference. Dreams are where you visualize yourself being successful at what's important to you to accomplish. Dreams build convictions, because you work hard to pay the price to make sure that they come true. Wishes are hoping good things will happen to you, but there is no fire in your gut that causes you to put everything forth to overcome all the obstacles.
So, you have to dream more. And never, ever, ever blame somebody else if it doesn't happen. That isn't your department. Yeah, it's true. You'll see more of what I mean as you get out there in the big world."
PeopleDolly Parton
TitlesJoyful Noise
Photo by Jason Merritt - © 2012 Getty Images - Image courtesy gettyimages.com