My fellow students,

I want to speak to you today about words. Words are not just random letters and sounds strung together. They hold the power to inspire, motivate, and grow louder.

I want you to think back to a time when someone said something to you that touched your heart when life got hard- those words may have been simple, but they had a profound impact on your life, didn’t they?

On the other hand, words hold an evil that is more destructive than anything. They can tear us down, make us feel small and bring us to the ground. Words can leave scars that last a lifetime.

This is why it’s important to realize that we have a choice in the words we use. We can choose to use words that build up and restore, or we can use words that tear down and destroy. It means that we can make someone’s day, or we can crush their spirit with a careless comment.

We all know the old saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” However, that’s wrong, words cut deeper than any blade. Words can inflict more damage than any physical pain.

I still remember the things they told me as a kid, I still remember the lies and hate that people cut me with left and right. People often ask me, “Why do you write?” and I tell them that I write to make a difference in this world that’s so full of despair.

I write because I believe that the evil in this world is never right. I write to prove that every person has a right to their own voice, their own story, and their own dreams. I believe that words have the power to change the world.

But I don’t just write for myself, I write for the world. Today, I witness the importance of the arts being often overlooked, and arts education is being withheld. What students really need in this evil world is to be inspired to believe in themselves and to pursue their passions.

I remember the first time someone said to me, “You’re not good enough, you’ll never be.” Those words cut deep, they stayed with me and for years I believed that’s all I could be.

But then I heard someone say, “You’re amazing,” And suddenly my world was blazing, with a fire that I’d never known before. My life was changing. I felt like I could conquer and soar.

That’s the thing about words. They can change the way we think and be. They have the power to make us believe! Believe in ourselves, in our dreams, and in what we can achieve.

Consider this story of a pro football player who was talking to inmates at the local prison. One inmate asked, “Sir, how did you become so great?” He responded with, “Well when I was a boy, I used to play catch with my dad and he would always tell me, ‘Son, if you keep throwing the ball like that you’ll play with the pros one day.’ And when I messed up, he didn’t yell or shout, instead he showed me how to fix it. And here I am.” The room became quiet and the inmate who asked the question said “you know the same thing happened to me when I was younger. My father always yelled and told me that I was good for nothing, and that one day I would only amount to a prisoner. And here I am.” Words have a power unlike any other. They can change someone’s whole trajectory in life, yet we never think about that. We never think about how that one person who you joke about really feels. Why is it that it’s only when they’ve had enough that someone notices. It’s a tragedy plaguing us today and nobody wants to fix it.

We need to be aware of the impact our words can have on others. We need to think twice before we speak and choose our words carefully. We should use our words to lift others up, inspire them to greatness, and help them achieve their dreams. Together, we can make a positive impact on the world around us.

And so, my friends, I urge you to choose the words you use and the ones you refuse with caution. Use words that lift others up and inspire. Words that light a spark and that take you higher.

Remember, every word you say can change someone’s life in a profound way. It can lift them up or bring them down. Choose your words carefully, let positivity abound.

Thank you,
Andrew Nethers