An Inspiring Graduation Speech
On Memorial Day, I had the pleasure of spending the day with the CT Willimantic Fire Chief - and a good friend of mine - Marc Scrivener. He told me that he recently spoke at a graduation ceremony for new firemen recruits and shared his speech with me… which made me go, “I have to post this on my blog!” Even without any fire training, I got inspired. So read below and see what you think… (postcards coming back tomorrow)
“Allow me to start with a quote: ‘Everything can be taken from a man or a woman but one thing: the last of human freedoms … to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.’
Good Afternoon Recruits, family members, instructors and distinguished guests. You have made it to graduation day. Congratulations. I’m sure it has been an exhausting journey for all of you; but, you are here—ready to embark on what I pray will be a long and prosperous career.
Now, before your eyes roll back in your head and you start wishing you could check your smart phone—and maybe some of you in the audience already did—I have something important to share with you.
May I see a show of hands from those of you who are familiar with my opening quote? A few/none/of you. It is from a man by the name of Viktor Frankl and I think you need to know about him, because he’s one of my personal heroes.
Viktor Frankl was a Jewish man who was arrested in Vienna in 1942 by the Nazis and sent to several concentration camps, including Auschwitz. In the process, the Nazis took everything from him: his wife, brother and sister, parents, his work, his house, even his clothes. His wife, parents and brother perished in the camps, and the Nazis performed brutal medical experiments on his body.
While being tortured, in the very midst of immeasurable pain and suffering, he came up with what he called the last of the human freedoms: the ability to choose one’s attitude and actions under any circumstances.
Can you imagine that? He’s being tortured by the Nazis, and he comes up with this idea that a person can choose how to respond to his torturers. Discussing it later, he explained that he came to the realization that he had a decision to make: he could respond like an injured animal and lash out, or he could rise above the level of his torturers and respond with honor.
He also went on to suggest that between what people say and do to you, and your response—there is a space.
And in that space is your power to choose your response. And in your response you find your potential for your personal growth and your freedom.
Another great author would later call this ‘Responsibility.’
Response + ability. Two words. The ability to choose your response.
Why am I sharing this with you?
You have responsibility. Each of you has responsibility.
Great responsibility.
But it’s not the great responsibility that will determine your success and growth as a firefighter. For I know that when the bell rings, each of you will put on your gear, climb aboard the apparatus, and do what needs to be done to save lives and property.
It’s the small, seemingly inconsequential responsibilities that will make the difference in your own growth and success.
Let’s look at a few of them. I made a short list.
You have a responsibility to do the following things:
· Show up for work early.
· In fact, make sure you show up. (You’d be amazed at how many people have a problem with this one).
· Leave your drama at home.
· Listen more than you speak.
· Give an honest day’s work.
· Wear your seatbelt. Always. No exception.
· Maintain accountability at all times.
· Attend training classes.
· Make every day a training day.
· Keep up your certifications and licenses (EMT, driver’s license, etc)
· Represent your fire department and community well—in and out of uniform.
· Iron your uniform and put some polish on your boots.
· Make firefighting more than just a job.
· Don’t be someone who comes into the community just for work.
· Engage the people in the community. Get out into the community, even on your days off.
· Be a role model.
· Eat right and exercise regularly. Stay in shape.
o Yes, I know round is a shape, but the public doesn’t want round firefighters.
· Don’t be the weak link on your crew.
· Be a team player, not a lone wolf. There’s no place in the fire service for lone wolves. If you are a lone wolf, maybe you should have been a cop.
· Stay away from the TV. It will rot your brain. Snooki will do nothing for your career.
· Keep the firehouse and your equipment clean and serviceable without being asked.
· Pick up after yourself.
· Survive your duty shift.
All of these responsibilities—and we could probably list a hundred more—these are your responsibilities.
Yours.
Not your Chief.
Not your Lieutenant or Captains.
Yours.
This isn’t kindergarten and no one should have to hold your hand.
You get to choose.
YOU have the power to choose your actions and your attitude no matter the circumstances.
For if a guy, in a concentration camp, having had everything taken away and while suffering through torture, can choose his actions and his attitude—you certainly can too.
Viktor Frankl didn’t know if he would survive the camps. But he knew, one way or another, it would come to an end at some point. And he knew he wanted to be proud of his actions and words when the end came.
You have a great career ahead of you. Be proud when the end comes.”
(Marc Scrivener, Willimantic, CT)
I am SO glad we’ve got people like Marc leading fire emergency teams. What dedication and inspiration! Thanks for sharing Marc and hope you all have a great day!
