Prize Day
G RADUATION 2008
their defense, it might have than a ‘C,’ the idea must be feasible.” The
been impossible for them to student was named Fred Smith, and his
account for the changes in paper focused on his idea for an overnight
society, demographics, cul- package delivery service. Ignoring his
L
UCEY ture and geopolitics that professor’s comment, Smith went on to
contributed to the shifting found the company we know today as
HITNEY
W
of the landscape. But this is Federal Express. Or consider the views of
YN
precisely why so much Decca Recording Co., who refused to sign
THR
K
A
advice turns out to be bad— the Beatles to a recording contract in 1962
B
Y
O
even the most informed saying, “We don’t like their sound. Groups
PHOT
advisor is often relying on of guitars are on the way out.” Good call.
Eric Peterson presented an honorary diploma to Michelle information or a perspective In the end, there will be no shortage
Nieley, sign-language interpreter for West Resendes ’08.
that has a shelf life shorter of advisors or critics who will tell you why
than a stick of butter. you are likely to fail, why you’re no good,
The second sort of bad advice comes Putting aside my hope that you can and why your ideas won’t work. Steel
from an incomplete understanding of the find a better way to use nine years of your yourself for rejection, and learn to ignore
landscape. In 1968, with American compa- life than in front of the television, you the small-minded judgments of those who
nies firmly in control of the domestic auto need to recognize that advice is usually would hold you from your dreams. Don’t
market, Business Week magazine published given and decisions therefore made based worry if your idea, your sound, your
the following declaration: “With over 50 on incomplete information. Account for product is not like anything else. Original
foreign cars already on sale here, the Japan- this by seeking out multiple sources of ideas are what change the world. Original
ese auto industry isn’t likely to carve out a data, soliciting diverse points of view, and ideas are what inspire others. Every one of
big slice of the U.S. market.” Hmm. As of then crosschecking and triangulating as you is an original, so don’t be afraid to act
last month’s data, Japanese carmakers much information as you can. Again, this like one. Trust your own judgment, your
account for nearly 45 percent of the U.S. is a skill I hope you have already learned own instincts, your own dreams. If you
market, and Toyota has eclipsed General at St. George’s, whether in crafting a his- are prepared to make the sacrifices, to put
Motors to become the largest car company tory or English term paper, preparing for in the effort to succeed, then you will not
in the world. In an even more dramatic the all-school debate, or checking your lab take the advice of the dream killers, and
misreading of the cultural terrain, The results. In the end, it comes down to a your lives will be immeasurably rich and
New York Times wrote in 1939, “The prob- process already familiar to you: Do your meaningful.
lem with television is that the people must homework, and then arrive at your own So, Class of 2008, we wish you good
sit and keep their eyes glued to a screen. answer. Do not let other people do your luck, fair winds and Godspeed. Trust your
The average American family hasn’t time thinking for you. own hearts, sift through the well inten-
for it.” This year alone, Americans will Finally we come to the most common tioned, but oftentimes-misguided advice
watch more than 250 billion hours of tele- and most destructive sub-species of bad of the world, and find your own path to
vision. On average, that’s more than four advice: the dream killer. This sort of your futures. As you do so, we hope that
hours per person per day. In a 65-year life, advice is frequently bad, and always from time to time you will think of us,
the average American will have spent more painful, as it serves to squash the hopes and smile. May the Lord watch over, pro-
than nine years in front of the television. and aspirations of the recipient. And even tect, and bless you in the years ahead. May
Good thing we don’t have time for it. though we hear this sort of bad advice you recall fondly your days at St. George’s
In each of the above examples, the every day, there are a few exceptional and may you always remember that we are
writers failed to either understand or examples. For instance, in 1968, a Yale proud to count you as our own.
account for the bigger picture. They, like University management professor wrote
the misguided expert, were using existing the following comment on a student Eric Peterson has been the head of St.
models to extrapolate a conclusion. And paper: “The concept is interesting and George’s School since 2004. He can be
they were wildly, hilariously wrong. In well-formed, but in order to earn better reached at
Eric_Peterson@stgeorges.edu.
40 ST. GEORGE’S 2008 SUMMER BULLETIN
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