2012 UCSD Sixth College Wesley Chan Commencement Address
Did I say something about blog posts coming more frequently? I must have been high.
It's been three months since my last post and I apologise to my non-existent followers (lalala, i like to kid myself).
Anyway, I have nothing to say (or perhaps too much to say but too little time to put into words), so here's some words of goofy wisdom wrapped in nerdiness from the ultimate Wes Chan from Wongfu Productions.
I love writing down words spoken in movies or lyrics of songs for some reason. It's a weird hobby of mine (yes it is a hobby; when I have time I'd write down lyrics of songs instead of looking them up). This is called dictations right? I use to love having dictation tests in school. There you go, something new about me! I love doing dictations/dictating (which is it??? I'm not sure...)
This is my biggest project ever, so effort went into this, mind you! I got it off the video, wrote it all out, did some research so I know I got all the college references correct. Yes...I'm a WongFu fan.......
Just a short background: Wes was from the Sixth College of UCSD, and was invite to speak on their 10th anniversary and commencement in June. I've written in some other explanations in italics and bracketed them. Enjoy!
His short intro after the Sixth College provost's introduction
I don't really know
what to say, he like, said my whole speech. I didn't know it was going to be
that in depth. Good job. I was sitting here and these things (the tassel on the
grad cap), they still get in your face after six years.
I took a lot of
classes at UCSD, but the one class I didn't take was Public Speaking. Instead I
took Private Listening, which wasn't nearly as helpful. But I did also take
Intro to Awful Jokes, which I did very well at; so...you get it? You can see
how that can be a problem in my current situation. You know how they say
imagine everyone in the audience naked?
It's terrible advice, like, I'm imagining 3000 people naked and it's
just very distracting. I think it's because you're all too beautiful so I'll
stop.
Graduates, faculty, family and friends, I'm very
honored to be here today to congratulate Sixth College's class of 2012. To be
honest, I don't really know what I'm doing here. When I got the invitation I was speechless; I
literally had no speech, but now I do - bad joke.
I'm sure a lot of you wished Conan was your speaker
here today since it was mentioned that Conan was your - well Sixth College was
named Conan O' Brian College for a day. Sorry, I'm not Conan. But I was there
at that event and I got a chance to talk to him so you get the guy who talked
to guy you wish was here - close enough.
Who am I? I'm one of you, a very proud Sixth College
Triton (Triton is UCSD'S mascot). Speaking of which, do you guys know how awesome it is to be a Triton?
If you just look at the competition, you have Santa Cruz with their very fierce
banana slug; you have Irvine - a very threatening and deadly anteater. Merced
has a cute little bobcat, and Santa Barbara’s gauchos are playing horsy with
the mustangs over at Davis. And then there's LA, Berkeley and Riverside all
fighting to be the big bad bear (All these are other California unis and their mascots). We have a Triton - son of Poseidon, God of the
Sea...Ariel's dad. Technically, we rule 75% of the world so I think that puts
us at the top of the UC food chain. So, be proud Tritons, I sure am. I still
carry my UCSD ID card all over, and it's because I'm proud, not because I still
get student discounts on movie tickets. When they ask if you're a student, the
answer's always yes.
But really, my story and experiences aren't so
different from yours. I remember moving into Camp Snoopy - The Lodges (the dorms of Sixth College, which look a bit like cabins hence the nickname), and thinking
“This is college?". I remember taking my first CAT (Culture, Art and Technology) class and staying up
all night to write my first CAT paper. I remember missing my first Sociology
class because Peterson just felt too far, and my bed just felt too good - it
made sense. I remember my first Sun God (An annual UCSD festival) - well, parts of it. I remember waiting
for the shuttle when I didn't have a fancy website to tell me where it was - I
actually had to wait, not check the website.
And most of all I remember being where you are now, with the same
feelings of apprehension, anxiousness and pride that you probably have right
now.
What I'm getting at is that I'd like to speak to you
as a peer more than anything, because I'm really not above you. I'm a few years
up, but we're on the same level. I guess technically right now I am above you
because of the stage ...puts me above...bad joke.
So what happens from this point forward? What happens
when I'm done talking, when the photos have been taken, when the celebratory
dinners have been eaten? Well everyone's post-graduate experience is different -
some of you will continue on to your jobs and internships, some of you will
keep going with school, some of you will travel. Others will waste away their
days watching endless cat videos on Youtube and eating nothing but flaming hot
Cheetos. Whatever your path is, it'll probably start with one question from
your family and friends: what's your plan? Before you tell them anything, I
want you to tell yourself: don't worry, don't stress, it's ok.
The truth is many of us are just as lost as we were
when we graduated high school. Four years ago you thought you have to have your
life planned out when you chose a college and major, and now you're facing that
same dilemma. But just because you graduated, doesn't mean you have all the
answers. I made a note here to see how many parents would be giving me the evil
eye after saying that. Sorry.
Graduates, just because you finished college doesn't
mean you finished learning - none of us have. And that's what I want to
emphasize. You still have time to make decisions, make mistakes, take chances
and continue to grow. Of course it's great to have a plan but unfortunately
until Doc Brown invents the flux capacitor and builds a DeLorean time machine (Back to the Future reference),
the forecast of the future is not decided, and it's not determined. So what's
just as important as having a plan is being able to adapt. A lot of the best
things I've experienced are things I never knew or never expected or knew to
prepare for.
I like to share an email that I received not too long
ago that seems oddly fitting for today:
"Hello Wong Fu! My name is Anthony; I'm from
Poland. I'm thirteen and stuff. I've watched many of your shorts and videos
over a few years and I just wanted to say that you guys really inspire me. How
do you get your parents to let you do what you want to do 'cause my mom would
cut my head off if I didn't become a doctor? Please tell me how to be
successful and famous. Cool thanks."
Let's start with the parent thing. Graduates, whether
it's obvious or not, your parents really do want what's best for you. I know
their intentions might get lost in translation sometimes but it's true. The
fact that you can experience the last four years, leading up to this very
moment is proof of that. So thank them for it because they're awesome. And
parents, let your sons and daughters explore a world that may be very different
from the one you grew up in. The world is changing and we need to change with
it.
In response to Anthony's request about success and
fame, I can't say I have those just yet, but I do consider myself very
fortunate. It didn't happen overnight though. I had a very unique post-grad
experience. In the past few years I've been able to share my work with over a
million people online, collaborate with various artists, create an apparel
brand, travel the world and even meet the president of the United States at the
White House. But it wasn't always like that. Sorry Anthony from Poland, but none
of those things were planned.
I'm not sure how many of you are familiar with Wong Fu
Productions but in case you're not, we're probably most known for our videos on
Youtube. The funny thing is when I first started with my friends Philip and Ted
in 2004, Youtube didn't even exist. We were running around the campus and
uploading videos to a personal website that people had to download to watch. It
was very different back then. Our media classes - we learnt more about concept
and theory than technical skills. Sometimes it felt like we were actually
learning about how a camera made us feel instead of how to use it. But I loved the major, I really did. To adapt
we had to teach ourselves and be resourceful with what we had. We had to make a
little look like a lot. It was primitive, unconventional, and it was fun. We
didn't know it then, but our resourcefulness was an advantage that would set us
apart in the future. We never thought our shorts would attract an audience
outside UCSD but they did.
I remember being where you are now and finding myself
in unfamiliar territory. The three of us couldn't simply make videos for fun
anymore. We entered the real world and had to rely on shooting wedding videos
and events at nightclubs to pay the bills. It lasted awhile and to be honest it
wasn't the best time for Wong Fu Productions. What I learnt though, and what
continues to prove itself today is that with each new obstacle comes a new
opportunity to grow. We stumbled across that opportunity when we featured a
T-shirt that I designed for a short video we've made. The short went viral, and
so did the shirt. From there we established an online store and our own
clothing brand. Philip, Ted and I were finally able to focus on creating
original content that makes Wong Fu Productions into what it is today.
My experience is just one example of how adapting will
allow you to take advantage of unexpected changes. Another example is when Tony
Stark found out he was going to die when he found this shrapnel lodged in his
chest. Did he give up? No, he adapted. He made the arc reactor and became Iron
Man. You should all be Iron Men, and Women.
I think a lot about the moments when things were first
set in motion. For you, that moment is now. And I couldn't be more excited. You
know that part in the speech where I give you some call to action or homework
for the future? I'm not going to do that because homework sucks. But I will
encourage you not to just make a living, but to live to make something. As
graduates from Sixth College, and UC San Diego, I know each of you will excel
in whatever you pursue. It's ok if I can't convince you of that, because I was
just as doubtful back then. Just strive for the best, and you won't need to
prove your potential to anyone else but yourself.
The last four years were made possible by your family,
your professors and supportive friends. It was a shared experience, but today
is yours. For many of you, this may be your proudest achievement. I don't
believe that. Class of 2012, your proudest moments are the ones you've yet to
come across. Good luck, congratulations.
Video link here:
I'll post something of mine next time......i hope.
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