Say Yes As Enthusiastically & Often As Possible

The graduation speaker at my brother's graduation this past weekend was Amy Robach, a news anchor for Good Morning America, and a 1995 graduate of the University of Georgia. Personally, I am a Today show kinda girl, so I wasn't familiar with her story nor had I ever heard of who she was. 

She started by saying how almost exactly to the day, she was sitting in the exact same seats as the graduates and in the past 20 years she has had some amazing opportunities. From a small town reporting job to the biggest stage possible, she has "made it". 

But it wasn't without saying YES.  Amy told Sanford Stadium that you 'should say yes as enthusiastically and as often as possible. To big chances, menial assignments, and things that may not look like opportunities at first.  If you don't say yes, someone else will." She has lived with that mindset her entire career and has done some pretty amazing things because of it.  From witnessing an execution by lethal injection to interviewing a serial killer, saying yes has gotten her far in life.  It wasn't until she was asked to do a live mammogram on national television that she said no.  Her dear friend and co-worker, Robin Roberts said to her, "if you do this, you will save a life".  Little did she know that it would be her own.  After her live mammogram, Amy got the results that she had breast cancer.  So that person's life she saved was her own. 

She went on to talk about living your life by the montra of "say what you mean and mean what you say".  I love this and love that she wakes up every day ready to live her life in this matter.  Other than my own graduation, I have never been to another college graduation - BUT - her speech was the best college graduation speech I have ever heard. 

Take chances - say yes - be ready for the "right place at the right time" opportunities - say what you mean and mean what you say.

Thank you Amy Robach for such an inspiring speech. GO DAWGS!