Tag Archives for Class of 2015

Unlocking Life’s Lessons: A Commencement Message Drawn from the Cards

Published in RINewsToday on May 19, 2025

Throughout May, college and university campuses across the nation come alive with pomp, circumstance—and especially with words of wisdom. At these commencement ceremonies, a diverse array of speakers takes the stage: from prominent politicians, judges, media personalities, and Hollywood actors, to Fortune 500 CEOs, and even top students, themselves.

In speeches typically lasting around ten minutes and averaging 2,500 words, these individuals—some earnest, others lighthearted—share their personal stories and hard-earned insights gained through life’s challenges. Simply put, their goal? To inspire, inform, and equip graduating seniors with practical advice for navigating the twists and turns of both their professional and personal lives.

For the past twelve years as a columnist I’ve participated in this tradition, but in my very own personal way—by writing commencement-style articles offering my reflections and guidance to graduating classes. While I haven’t delivered these speeches in person, my essays serve as thoughtful addresses to students entering the next chapter of their lives.

Here are a few highlights:

  • 2013: Here’s My Advice to the Graduating Class of 2013 emphasized aging gracefully and embracing life’s journey, underscoring the importance of staying mentally and physically active.
  • 2014: Regular Folks Give Advice to Graduates offered tips for easing into professional life, highlighting the value of adaptability and learning from others in a competitive job market.
  • 2015: Sensible Advice from Seasoned Folk to the Class of 2015 compiled practical life lessons and words of encouragement from average everyday Rhode Islanders.
  • 2016: Regular Folks Give Sound Advice to the Class of 2016 for Future Success again reinforced the idea that meaningful guidance often comes from everyday individuals.
  • 2022: To the Class of 2022: Age Boldly, Enjoy Your Journey encouraged graduates to see aging as a lifelong, unpredictable  adventure—and to cherish good health as a vital asset.
  • 2023: Can AI Create an “Authentic” Commencement Address? explored how the newly emerging technology of artificial intelligence (AI) might shape future speeches.
  • 2024: Stoic Tips for the Class of 2024 drew on Stoic philosophy, originating in Athens around 300 BCE, today offers guidance on resilience, virtue, and perspective.  .

While these earlier Commencement Speeches blended my personal insight with broader philosophical reflections to support graduates on their new journeys, the Class of 2025 might also find them of interest, too. Today, I remain committed to the tradition of giving a fresh take on the classic commencement speech each May.

So, to the Class of 2025, I offer insights inspired by artificial intelligence (AI) and the collective wisdom of humanity. I know that this might sound a little over the top – but hear me out.  

A couple of years ago, Rhode Island hypnotist John Koenig gave the AI platform ChatGPT a unique assignment: “Comb through all human wisdom and identify the challenges each human being must face on their evolutionary journey.” This new technology also designed the images on the 64 cards, too. And AI delivered, notes Koenig, a Barrington resident who has practiced as a certified Hypnotist and past life facilitator for 27 years in Rhode Island and Southern Massachusetts.  

The AI-generated survey—free from individual bias—produced 64 principles essential for personal growth. Koenig expanded on these insights with his own commentary and turned them  into the Universal Mind Map Oracle Meditation System (UMMOMS), which he describes as “a personal curriculum for spiritual and personal growth.”

What makes the system personal is its use of random selection. Koenig explains that you can imagine the “universal mind” tutoring you with the right lesson at the right time—whether by shuffling a deck of cards or by using a random number generator. (go to chttps://www.gigacalculator.com/calculators/random-number-generator.php).

According to Koenig, it is worth noting that the doctrine of reincarnation is mentioned in the system (a belief shared by roughly half the world’s population), however, it is not essential to work the system. The system does not ask you to believe – or disbelieve anything but merely poses questions for your consideration.

This deck is meant to guide individuals in becoming their best selves, explains Koenig. From a random selection, I’ve drawn eight life lessons that I believe every 2025 graduate would do well to carry into their lives and careers:

• Card No. 16: Self-Control (Equanimity) – “Who is the boss of you? Is it your desire for short-term pleasures or your focus on deep and lasting satisfaction?” This card invites you to examine how many of your thoughts and behaviors are automatic. The challenge? To “wake up,” dehypnotize yourself, and live consciously—acknowledging that some habits may be so deeply ingrained that outside help is needed to change them. Self-mastery doesn’t mean you have to do it alone, the card reminds us.

• Card No. 30: The Mask – This card is a call to live authentically. Most of us wear three faces: the public persona, the self we fear, and the self we tell ourselves we are. This card invites you to discover a fourth—the whole self, complete with both flaws and strengths. “Own your flaws as well as what is fabulous about you.” Perfection is not the goal. Wholeness is.

• Card No. 46: Purposeful Action – “When you take purposeful action, you break from the trance of ‘the same old, same old.’ You become the author of your life,” says the card, stressing that “there is always only now.” This card emphasizes living fully in the present. “Squeeze the most life out of each moment—starting right now.”

• Card No. 7: Generosity – “Start adopting the habit of generosity today. Your reward will be a feeling of profound peace and deep satisfaction,” says the card. It reminds us that generosity is more than giving material things. It can also mean offering your time and energy to improve the lives of those you encounter. Remember: God helps those who are there to help others.

• Card No. 9: Mindfulness (Present Moment Awareness) – While it’s wise to stop and smell the roses, the thorns are just as real. This card urges you to be fully present with whatever is happening—not only the joys but also the challenges of life. Mindfulness is the art of observing without judgment. “It is what it is” becomes a mantra of acceptance. Quieting the mind opens the door to the fullness of life—and is, as the card says, mindfulness is “the ultimate self-development tool since it gives you access to the whole of you and all your experiences.”

• Card No. 23: Graciousness (Loving-Kindness) – Focus on love—not just as a feeling, but as action. The greatest gifts aren’t material but emotional: a kind word, a warm hug, a caring gesture. These can brighten someone’s day—or even change someone’s life.  And don’t forget self-love. “Self-talk that is kind and supportive is one way to love yourself,” observes the card. Treat yourself to comforts, pursue long-term goals, and practice “tough love” when needed. Look around—someone may need your love today. 

• Card No. 36: Life Map (Discernment) – On your journey, define your highest priorities and align your actions with those values. Don’t be too hard on yourself when you stray—life detours are inevitable. What matters most is recognizing when you’re off course and returning to the path that reflects your deepest truths.

And finally…

• Card No. 50: Creativity (Expressing Originality) – Successful creation involves breaking through the walls of fear—especially the fear of being wrong. It means letting go of perfectionism and simply striving to do your best. It also requires patience and a commitment to the often mundane tasks that come with the creative process. This card stresses how you choose to express your creativity is entirely up to you. And it doesn’t have to be a traditional work of art. It might be a beautifully hosted dinner party or a small act that brightens someone’s day when they need encouragement. Define your highest priorities and let your actions align with them. The card urges you to “embrace and share your creativity fully in your world.”

To the graduates of 2025:

May the messages of these cards, randomly selected by universal mind, guide you to embrace your journey with clarity, courage, and curiosity. Let timeless wisdom—whether drawn from ancient philosophy or modern technology—help you become your truest self.

To learn more about Koenig’s oracle meditation system, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_gZ0MAeyBc.

To purchase the guidebook and the deck, go to: https://hypnosiscoaching.online

For the guidebook only (you can use a random number generator to select the cards’ messages), visit: https://a.co/d/4rG7oUB 

Links to my past speeches: 

2013   — https://herbweiss.blog/2013/05/31/heres-my-advice-to-the-graduating-class-of-2013/

2014 — https://herbweiss.blog/2014/05/23/regular-folks-give-advice-to-graduates/

2015 — https://herbweiss.blog/2015/05/17/sensible-advice-from-seasoned-folk-to-the-class-of-2015/

2016 — https://herbweiss.blog/2016/06/06/regular-folks-give-sound-advice-to-class-of-2016-for-future-success/

2022 — https://herbweiss.blog/2022/05/16/to-the-class-of-2022-age-boldly-enjoy-your-journey/

2023 — https://herbweiss.blog/2023/05/15/can-ai-create-an-authentic-commencement-address/

2024 — https://herbweiss.blog/2024/05/27/stoic-tips-for-the-class-of-2024/

Sensible Advice from Seasoned Folk to the Class of 2015  

Published in Woonsocket Call on May 17, 2015 — Updated

This month, notable and professionally successful commencement speakers are again gathering at the nation’s Colleges and Universities to give the robed graduating Class of 2015 seniors’ practical tips and advice as to how to have a rewarding personal and professional life.  High profile speakers cam oftentimes translate into big bucks for speaking fees but these widely recognized speakers can bring prestige to the educational institutions.

CNN.web has announced the this year’s high profile speakers for the upcoming commencement season. According to website, like every year these speakers are politicians, journalists, military leaders, entertainers and business CEOs.  Here’s a sampling: President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama, Oscar winning actors, Anthony Hopkins and Denzel Washington, Novelist and Essayist Author Salmon Rushdie, Bill Nye, the “Science Guy” and Journalist Katie Couric.

May be its time to end the practice of bringing in high-paid commencement speakers.  For this writer, regular folks will do.  Below you might just see many potential commencement speakers, just waiting for the 10 minutes of fame to stand before hundreds of graduating seniors to give their “pearls of wisdom” on living a better life. You may not recognize them on the street, but many in their community know who they are for their achievements of making their Cities and Towns a better place to live.  While not high-profile, through life’s experiences honed every day at work or in their personal worlds, they can give Rhode Island’s college graduates sound, practical advice, to live in a very challenging, and changing world.

Charles Bakst, 71, Providence, retired Providence Journal political columnist. “Stand for something and act upon it.Don’t assume someone else already has done it or will do it.  Work to advance yourself but remember there are plenty of people, even right here in Rhode Island, who have not had the advantages you’ve had. They could use a break too. Help them.”

Dave Barber, 60, East Greenwich, Reporter Capitol Television RI State House. “It’s attitude, not aptitude that will determine your altitude.  There is nothing that will serve you better in the future than a positive mental attitude.  There are two days in life that never exist; yesterday and tomorrow. Yesterday is history, tomorrow a mystery. Live in the moment. Exercise gratitude and kindness in all that you do because there has never been a statue erected of a critic.”

Rick Roth, 61, Cambridge, MA, Owner of Mirror Image.  “Read because if you don’t know anything you are no good to yourself or anybody else and reading is the key to gaining knowledge.  When you are talking (particularly about yourself) you can’t listen. You learn by listening. Try to make the world a better place Pursuit of money is an empty pursuit and will leave you unhappy and dissatisfied.”

Scott A. Davis, 58, Eastside, Owner of the Rhode Island Antique Mall. “In today’s age of information, simply having knowledge is not worth much.  The secret to success in the future will not lie so much in what you know, but in your ability to synthesize information, whether already known or newly acquired, and to draw insightful and valuable conclusions from it.”

Scott Rotondo, 41, Pawtucket, accountant at Tivoli Audio. “Always be willing to expand your intellectual toolbox. Challenge the way things are done, and your own beliefs from time to time. Take in other people’s opposing points of view not with rancor and disdain but with dignity and respect.”

Lisa A. Proctor, 55, East Providence, healer/counselor. “You can not necessarily say all things are possible with God because many do not believe, but I would say a lot of situations we find ourselves in heal when we live honestly, purely, committed and have a merciful and compassionate heart towards others.”

Rudy Cheeks, 65, a musician and columnist of Motif, Providence, “If you can find what you love and make it the center of your life, you’re doing good and will likely be happy.  Whatever you do, “building community” should be an element in your life. Meet your responsibilities (e.g. if you want to create your own family, make sure you are ready for it and committed to it). When you become an “active consumer,” be a smart and thoughtful consumer.”

Kathy Needham, 53, Rumford, Controller, of Pawtucket Times and Woonsocket Call. “Follow this old adage, “Autograph your work with excellence, it is a signature of who you are”.  Take great pride in all you do but always remember to be humble.  Know that success is a personal goal.”

Gayle L. Gifford, 61, Providence, a strategy consultant to nonprofits, “Be an informed citizen of the world.  Read quality news from home and abroad.  Travel. Look. Hear. Participate to create the community you want your children and grandchildren to live in. Hopefully that community is one of justice, peace and inclusion. Don’t work all day in a job that destroys what you value. Play outside.”

Crystal R. Parifitt, 41, Pawtucket, Owner of  FurBabies, a small pet salon. “Live within your means, below if you can…owning the biggest and best is overrated.  Don’t go after financial gain, choose financial stability because in 20 years you will regret the time you spent ‘chasing’ when you should have been living.”

Nancy Thomas, Cranston, President of Tapestry Communications.  “What you have done has largely been expected of you.  Now, what do you expect of yourself!  Find more than one thing you can do.  Pursue your education.  You’re not done.  Read, discuss, have opinions. Let the negative inspire you, and the positive be your lens. And, as it has always been, there is no work as important as that of raising a child.  Find your path to doing well at both.”

Barbara Peters, Newport, former AARP RI Communications Director, “Life is full of successes and disappointments. When we are young we tend to “cry” when the material things we want don’t immediately come our way. Forget the disappointments and concentrate on your successes. Nobody will hand you what you think you deserve.  [Only] hard work, dedication to your craft and sensitivity to the feelings of others will bring the rewards to you that are truly deserved.”

Cheryl Babiec, Pawtucket, Pawtucket School Teacher. “As an old saying goes….’One Man’s Junk is Another Man’s Treasure’ continues to hold true with the test of time. One of my yard sale “finds” had the following inspirational verse (though the author is unknown):‘Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the number of moments that take our breath away.’”

Herb Weiss, LRI ’12 is a Pawtucket writer covering aging, health care and medical issues.  He can be reached at hweissri@aol.com.