Zach Knecht's Commencement Speech about Tikkun Olam

Commencement Speech

Well, we did it. We survived four years of the kind of hard work, sleepless nights, and adolescent drama that puts Highschool Musical to shame. We should all be very proud of the myriad accomplishments and achievements that brought us to this point.



Now on to the cheesy, sappy message.



The guidelines for this speech made it emphatically clear that it should not just be a “personal walk down memory lane.” But I do come from the unique position of being one of the few Jews at Southeast High School, and, at the risk of being politically incorrect, I would like to draw from that experience.



There is a tradition in Judaism of Tikkun Olam, meaning “repairing the world.” The idea is that the world is broken, in shards, and that each and every one of us has a responsibility to help fix it in whatever way we can. There have been a lot of huge opportunities this year for doing this. After the tragic earthquake in Haiti, for example, the entire world pitched in to get them back on their feet. Southeast High School alone, thanks to all of the clubs and organizations that held fundraisers, managed to raise hundreds of dollars in aid.



However, Tikkun Olam isn’t something that takes a major catastrophe to happen. Repairing the world is something we can do everyday, even in seemingly mundane ways. Anything that helps someone else, from lending a pencil to helping with some particularly difficult homework, represents a contribution towards making the world whole again.


Here at Southeast, we have shown an impressive commitment to Tikkun Olam. LSE's three core values, Learning, Leadership, and Service, form the bedrock of our long-standing tradition of positive social action and involvement. From our chapter of the National Honor Society, to the Student Council, to the Lumberjack Club, we as a school have consistently worked to help our community and each other.



As we go out into the world as (semi-)adults, it is important to keep this idea in mind. It may be easier to not help other people, and I realize that no one can be good all the time, but Tikkun Olam doesn’t mean leading a life of monastic deprivation and self-sacrifice. Healing the world could be something as simple as smiling at someone on the way to class. It is my sincere hope that each of us will try to be a force for good in the world, using all of our talents and skills to benefit not only ourselves, but the people around us as well.



Once again, I would like to wholeheartedly congratulate you all, and I hope you enjoy the rest of the ceremony.