losers. You’re upset. That’s understandable. After all, how can
I,Lawrence "Larry" Ellison, college dropout, have the audacity to
spout such heresy to the graduating class of one of the nation’s
most prestigious institutions?
I’ll tell you why. Because I, Lawrence "Larry" Ellison, second
richest man on the planet, am college dropout, and you are not.
Because Bill Gates, richest man on the planet-for now anyway-is a
college dropout, and you are not. Because Paul Allen, the third
richest man on the planet, dropped out of college, and you did not.
And for good measure, because Michael Dell, No.9 on the list and
moving up fast, is a college dropout, and you, yet again, are not.
Hmm ... you’re very upset. That’s understandable. So let me stroke
your Egos for a moment by pointing out, quite sincerely, that your
diplomas were not attained in vain. Most of you, I imagine, have
spent four to five years here, and in many ways what you’ve learned
and endured will serve you well in the years ahead. You’ve
established good work habits. You’ve established a network of people
that will help you down the road. And you’ve established what will
be lifelong relationships with the word "therapy." All that of is
good.
For in truth, you will need that network. You will need those strong
work habits. You will need that therapy. You will need them because
you didn’t drop out, and so you will never be among the richest
people in the world. Oh sure, you may, perhaps, work your way up to
#10 or #11, like Steve Ballmer. But then, I don’t have to tell you
who he really works for, do I? And for the record, he dropped out of
grad school. Bit of a late bloomer.
Finally, I realize that many of you, and hopefully by now most of
you, Are wondering, "Is there anything I can do? Is there any hope
for me at all? Actually, no. It’s too late. You’ve absorbed too
much, think you know too much. You’re not 9 anymore. You have a
built-in cap,and I’m not referring to the mortarboards on your
heads.
Hmm ... you’re really very upset. That’s understandable. So perhaps
this Could be a good time to bring up the silver lining. Not for
you, Class of ’00. You are a write-off, so I’ll let you slink off to