May 28, 2026 Submitted By Glen Mangurian
Congratulations graduates!
Some of you are graduating from high school and others from college. All of you should be proud of what you have achieved and of the knowledge and discipline that brought you here.
Sixty years ago this month, I stood where you stand now.
I don’t remember who my commencement speakers were, but I’m sure their advice was familiar: follow your passion, learn from your mistakes and believe in yourself. Timeless advice — and not always easy to live.
There’s a famous scene in the 1967 movie The Graduate. Dustin Hoffman’s character, Benjamin, is at a graduation party and has a short conversation with a family friend, Mr. McGuire. Benjamin says, “I’m worried about my future. I don’t know what I want to be.” Mr. McGuire responds:
“I just want to say one word to you. Just one word… Plastics.”
Maybe plastics was a smart career choice in 1967. But Mr. McGuire missed the real question. Benjamin wasn’t asking what he should do. He was asking who he should become.
If you’re not exactly sure who you are yet, welcome to the human race. Very few people your age or mine fully know. But over time, you may discover that life is less about what you do for a living and more about who you become, what you value, and what you stand for.
You’ve spent much of your adolescence wanting control over your life. Here’s what I’ve learned: the only thing you truly control is the choices you make. Some choices are easy. Most are not.
Many will arrive disguised as dilemmas with no obvious right answer. Some decisions will work out while others will not. But even your mistakes will teach you something important about yourself.
That brings me to one of the most valuable habits I’ve learned over the past sixty years: look in the mirror once in a while and ask yourself hard questions. Many people avoid mirrors — not the kind made of glass, but the kind that reveal truth. Sometimes it takes disappointment, failure, loss or crisis to force us to reexamine our assumptions and rethink who we are becoming. During those moments, asking the right questions matters more than demanding immediate answers. The answers often come later.
Here are seven questions worth revisiting throughout your life:
- Do I know who I want to be?
- Am I moving in the right direction?
- Do I spend my time on what truly matters?
- Do I have relationships that nurture me?
- Does my behavior reflect my values?
- Am I making a difference I can be proud of?
- Am I content with the life I am building?
The questions may stay the same. Your answers will change as you grow.
In 2005, Steve Jobs told Stanford graduates:
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.”
Wise words then. Wise words now.
So, graduates of 2026, the answer isn’t “plastics.” It’s heart.
Use it to guide your choices, your relationships, your purpose and your life. And remember: it is never too late to become who you were meant to be.
Glenn Mangurian is a senior Hingham resident of 42 years. He welcomes your comments and can be reached at gmangurian@comcast.net