One last Freakonomics / Convo post

I finally read my students reactions to Stephen Dubner's convocation speech. Here is an excerpt from one of my favorites:

FREAKANOMICS-The Speaker’s Magic

If you weren’t already charmed with his book, Stephen J. Dubner is also quite an entertaining speaker. As “real” as he could possibly bring it, he delivered it.

In the opening remarks he became as down to earth and familiar with his audience connecting very well with the youth and the youth present in even the most mature of professors. He first spoke of a teacher who taught him his most important lesson in life, “Whenever you are speaking in a large event or on stage-clinch your butt. If you clinch your but, you’ll stand up straight, if you stand up straight, your lungs will expand, if your lungs expand, oxygen can get to your brain and you will not embarrass yourself by being a blabbering idiot on stage.’’

He began to go into his experience that took over at Appalachian State University as his years as a student. Basically, he never knew he would be a common friend to the men’s soccer team, he never knew he would make any foreign friends, he never knew he would join a band, he never knew he would sign to Arista Records, he never knew he would live in New York and write great books. He did all these things by staying open. Being open to all experiences and being okay with coming across new things, and to not be limited.