(Admission: I once told a graduating class during a commencement speech that since they would not long remember what I said, the least I could do was to give them each a bag of M and M’s. That way, years later, if anyone should ask them about their commencement speaker, they could admit they forgot the advice, but say that they did get a free bag of M and M’s, so all was not wasted. Commencement speakers take the opportunity to give the advice they themselves ignored, but have since read about it, to young adults who will also ignore it but will Google it later.)

Here is the speech I would give today.

Graduates, congratulations on finishing school. On other campuses, graduates are being told things like ‘today is the first day of the rest of your life.’ Or, ‘it doesn’t matter what you do in life, seek happiness and do great things, mostly for others.’ ‘Above all,’ they are being told, ‘travel, see the world, examine how others live so that you may live a more full and complete life.’ And, ‘it matters not what you do for the next 10-15 years, who out there really knows what they want to do anyway, you will find your true passion in life if you look at each opportunity that comes your way.’

Hoo-ey.

In case you haven’t noticed, your mom and dad have been working two, sometimes three jobs, to keep you in school and in cellphones. Their last vacation was when they drove you to school and stayed at the Holiday Inn Express an extra night. Please don’t disrespect them and go home and announce your plans to travel for a few years before you ‘get a job.’ That there’s plenty of time to ‘join the rat race like them.’

Here is what you should do. First, it is axiomatic, that winners zig when others zag. Opportunities follow those who do not take the paths taken by others. If others are traveling and not working, that is a for-sure sign that those who don’t, will win big.

If you want to have a full, purposeful and productive life, get started now. While others are wondering what their passion is, you should go out now and discover it by actually working. I am not so sure you can ‘think around’ around this issue of ‘passion.’ Often, you need to see it up close and gritty to see what you adore doing. Try some things by working, not by watching.

In the next 20 years or so, your parents are going to start needing YOUR help. What kind of help are you going to offer them? They did their part, worked hard, did without. Remember tag? You are IT.

It is a much more competitive world than ever. Get used to it. Get to work.