This was the speech that I delivered as Valedictorian of the Indian Springs High School graduating class in June of 1991. --Joshua Brauer
Robert Frost, a noted American poet, once said of choosing between two roads: "I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference."
We and the society into which we are entering must look to the road less traveled. Unemployment, pollution, traffic, crime, and homelessness are all becoming more common. Financial institutions and the whole of the economy are in big trouble. Annually we spend billions of dollars building the militaries of many nations. Yet we do not fund social programs to feed, house, and educate those who are less fortunately than we are.
We have come to a point in time where we must change things or forever forfeit our way of life. As a class in high school we have strived for excellence, dedication, and innovation. Now these must also be part of our daily lives. Additionally we must be role models and leaders for the next generation
In order to have a greater impact we must become leaders wherever we are and in whatever we do. Certain qualities are necessary for good leadership. I would like to share a few of these with you.
Dedication - people must be dedicated to what they are doing. If you are involved in things you enjoy, dedication comes more easily, so persue a career you are interested in.
Courage - at times every leader faces tough situations. Read more about Choosing between two paths