Even educated bees do
it … take a gap year
written by
Jeannette Zink
The caps and gowns are buzzing with excitement on this
special day. Graduation Day at BeeWise High! The day that all bee parents hope will
finally arrive for their bee sons and daughters. A day to celebrate, for sure. A day to commence
… a day to say goodbye to yesterday’s struggles, hello to bright and buzzing
futures … and for parents to plan what to
do with that extra space left in the beehive, now that their newly minted graduate will soon take flight for
University. Yes, life is looking like
the perfect honeycomb as a fine mist of orchid scent dances with the celebratory
air waves. The only thing left to do is
patiently hum to the rhythms of a commencement speech to be delivered by the
renowned explorer and scientist, Dr. BeezsKneezs, a former graduate of BeeWise High.
Suzzzzzz, quiet, please … Dr. B is about to commence … buzzzzzz
Commencement Speech
delivered by
Dr. BeezsKneezs,
Ph.D.
It is truly my honor today to buzzzz before you … Superintendent
Honey Bee, Principal Orchid Bee, families, friends, distinguished guests and the
Graduating Class of BeeWise High. Your
overwhelming love and respect for me and the life that I have forged upon
completing my studies at BeeWise High have sustained my moments of despair and
the exciting times of exuberant glory. This afternoon I share in your
excitement as you each will turn a page in the next chapter of your young
unchartered lives … it is your life, not mine; it is your energy, not mine; it
is your remaining time, not mine; it is your shining light, not mine … it is
your time to pave the course that only
you can travel.
Soar to the heights of greatness – that is the goal we all
aspire, right? No, not me. I just wanted to graduate from BeeWise High
and take flight to exotic far off blue skies.
I wanted to see the world, but had little interest in any of the heights of greatness or climbing the bee colony
corporate ladder. So, that is exactly what I did with the help of my loving
and supportive parents. I pursued my
heights of glory through the experiences gained during a time out, a bee gap
year.
Yes, as my academic records will attest, I had managed to reach
great academic achievement at BeeWise High, but I had not achieved the inner
peace of achievement…knowing my purpose in the buzz world, knowing the bee that
I was intended to be, or the passion that would serve a far greater
universe. How to go about making good
use of my bee gap year was the question before me. Should I just get in the air and buzz
away? Should I not have a plan before
stepping out of the colony? Should I seek
counsel with the wise Queen Bee? Should I
pray for the answers? I was very good at
coming up with a beehive of questions.
Then, one day as I hummed at my favorite Beeswax Coffee Shop, I saw a flier on the wall of the honeycomb
advertising trips to Antarctica, the lost continent of bee existence. Bee the FIRST to explore this continent of
ice and subzero beauty! Bee the FIRST to participate in scientific experiments
of bee life on Antarctica! Bee BRAVE!!!! I buzzed home to make my grand announcement
to my parents … I am going to be the FIRST bee to ever land on the continent of
Antarctica! Needless to say, my parents
were horrified. Travel to a place where no bee has been before … the temperatures alone
will kill you … what is wrong with you … no, absolutely not!!! But, with the help of my science teacher,
Mizzz Buttercutt, we were able to convenience my skeptical parents that this
was the exact adventure for my gap year and that the necessary precautions
would be taken to protect my buzz life.
What did I learn during my time on the continent of
Antarctica and my gap year ... here are a few things I would like to share with
you, and spoiler alert … the discoveries were not necessarily scientific in
nature:
·
Fear became my friend, not a feared enemy.
·
Confidence was a steady companion of my friend,
Fear; always coming to visit with each new conquest.
·
The big buzz of victory was in the success of
teamwork.
·
Passion of heart is God’s way of paving our
intended buzz purpose on this lifetime journey.
·
Treat others with respect as you would want to
be treated.
·
Great heights of achievement are worthy when balanced
with love for family, friends and beekind.
·
Seek the mysteries of the unknown for the answers
to help others.
·
Do good, bee good and live healthy so to serve a
higher purpose than yourself.
·
Knowledge is powerful and to be revered … use it
wisely.
·
Climb the corporate honeycomb, if that is your
desire, but always carry integrity, trust and character in your portfolio of life
skills and knowledge.
·
Pay forward all the good that you experience and
share the worthiness of your failures.
·
Love is the first, last and the in between to
what matters in a life well spent.
·
Bee the best that is You, not some other bee,
YOU! God loves YOU … honor this precious
gift and cherish with respect by paying it forward to the universe.
To the Class of BeeWise High School Graduates, may the lessons
learned from my gap year be my gift that
will serve you in your own unique lifetime adventures. Peace and love are the measures of value in each
individual pursuit of our perceived heights of greatness -- no matter the size
of the quest. Let your uncharted course
be the pathway that will serve the universal goodness and glory for all.
Thank you and happy buzzing, my kindred spirits.
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