Tayari's Blog: Can I Borrow Your Minds For a Sec?

Posted by TayariJones on August 14, 2008 08:55 AM
Filed under The Writing Life

Hey everybody. Greetings from Atlanta, my natural habitat. The trip is going fine. I've spent some quality time with Dear Old Dad and have caught up with some old friends. (I was in a really cute store in College Park and the proprietress turned out to be a grade school classmate!) I have taken pictures, but I don't have my cord. I'll post them when get my act together.

I don't know if I told you, but I am here to give the convocation address at Georgia College and State University, out in Milledgeville. The deal is that the incoming freshmen are all reading Leaving Atlanta. I'll give a few Q&As on Tuesday morning, but in the evening, I'll give a speach. The organizers told me to tell them what I think young people need to know starting college.

My first thought was that this would be a breeze since I have lots of opinions. But I have been working on this speach for almost a month now and it's, well, CORNY. Of course they need to know to follow thier dreams. Of course they need to know to be open to new ideas. Blah, blah, blah. I think they key is to employ fiction writing techniques. You know: get away from abstract ideas and get to something specific.

I am wondering, hoping, pleading, that you folks can share some advice given to you early in your life that made a difference. Tell me who said it and how. If you can still remember it, there was something about that moment that made it stick. Tell me what it was. You can do it in comments, or email.

Thanks!

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There are 4 comments on "Can I Borrow Your Minds For a Sec?". If you'd like to leave a comment, click here to jump down to the comments entry form.

Comment #1, by Jackie [TypeKey Profile Page]

From a paternal aunt who did my hair until I left for college: Don't let anyone sell you wooden nickels." It took ten years for me to figure out that one. Skepticism is healthy.

From my mother: "A stamp costs less than a collect call." Upon finding out that I really missed the family I couldn't wait to get away from, freshman year, first semester. Leaving home can reveal unexpected emotions. I also learned through this experience the joy of letter writing, something of a lost art today.

August 16, 2008 09:22 AM

Comment #2, by Randall [TypeKey Profile Page]

Show up everyday, plain and simple. You don't have to be the smartest person in the room, but you do have to be in the room to stay in the conversation.

Over time, those who show up everyday will succeed. Nothing hard about the concept, but executing something so simple seems difficult.

August 16, 2008 09:47 AM

Comment #3, by jamey [TypeKey Profile Page]

from my daddy, who will make 75 on his birthday:find something that you love to do and it won't feel like work.

not that it won't be hard, or difficult or trying, but i've found my worst days doing something i love are better than my best days doing something because i thought i "should" be doing it. or because i "could" do it.

August 16, 2008 12:38 PM

Comment #4, by Papatya [TypeKey Profile Page]

On the lighter side, some advice I got when I started teaching seems to apply to students as well:

1. Go to the bathroom before class
2. If you're feeling unprepared, dress up

August 17, 2008 05:59 AM

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