IN their
own words
Award-winning television show creator, writer and executive producer Chuck Lorre received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from the State University of New York at SUNY Potsdam’s Bachelor’s Commencement Ceremony on May 17 in recognition of his contributions to the entertainment industry and his work to support healthcare opportunities for the less fortunate. He is the comedic genius behind such hits as Roseanne, Dharma and Greg, Big Bang Theory and Two and a Half Men. Below is an excerpt from the speech he delivered to approximately 600 bachelor’s graduates and hundreds of their friends and family.
“Thirty-seven years ago I dropped out of SUNY Potsdam and packed my ’66 Mustang with all my worldly belongings. Those belongings included one cardboard box filled with clothing, one Panasonic FM-AM stereo and turntable, one record collection, one Fender Stratocaster, one Fender twin reverb amp and one Boomerang wah-wah pedal. Once packed I took a deep breath and drove to Los Angeles with $400 in my pocket and the dream of being a rock star in my head. I sincerely hope that none of you here today are that stupid. Well, regardless – now I’m back. And I have to tell you, it’s a very strange feeling – kinda like revisiting the scene of a crime. When I was a student here, I had a creative writing professor who told me, rather bluntly, that I did not have what it takes to be a writer. Mainly because of my grammar and spelling. I don’t know whatever happened to him, I don’t even remember his name. But I vividly remember that conversation in 1972. And I thank God for it and I thank God for him. Because I spent the next 30 years trying to prove that old (colorful language used here, see full speech at www.potsdam.edu/seemore.cfm) wrong! R-O-N-G! Wrong! So, you follow that? It’s all very wonderful to have people in your life who tell you that you’re brilliant and talented. Could be your parents, we don’t know. But so what? Do you really think you’re gonna spend the next 30 years proving them right? No way! The thing you need to understand is that this universe seems designed to put people in our path who are exactly what we need to move us forward.”
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