Dillo Day

In keeping with the current college theme, I'm posting about Stephen Colbert's Commencement Speech at Northwestern University. Did you know that, although you can't go back in some sort of time machine and listen to him at Northwestern, you can listen to him over at Colbert Nation? (Just scroll down to the middle section - State of the Nation - and click on Stephen's Northwestern Commencement Address, or click here to go directly to that page at Comedy Central.) It is about 20 minutes long and there is a brief section where the screen is dark for a few seconds. So, yes that's a long speech, but it's by Stephen, so it was of course great.

Hear him talk about living arrangements after graduation. Find out about humanity at its worst which is "Dillo Day." Learn just how cold it was on January 20, 1985 and how Stephen endured the frigid elements.

And then, drawing on his grasp of history and his ability to see into the future, Stephen predicted who the Commencement Speaker will be in 2021. (Check back here in June of 2021 to see if he was correct.)

His speech was meaningful. "Life is an improvisation." He explains where our ideas come from. His speech was predictable, but he added that certain quality that will make it stand out from other commencement speeches given this year all across the country.

Right from the start of his speech he talks about the many accomplishments of Northwestern alumni, including Emmy winners, best selling authors, presidential candidates and Olympians. And yet he concludes by saying it's not all about winning.

So, sometime soon, if you are feeling a little down or if you just need some inspiration, listen to or read Stephen's Commencement Speech. It is guaranteed to be just what you need to inspire you to be as great as Stephen.

If you prefer, you can read his speech here at the Northwestern University website.

* Photo is not of actual Stephen Colbert diploma.