May 15, 2020 • 12 mins
In this episode of Commencement: Speeches for the Class of 2020, Enrique Santos, chairman and Chief Creative Officer of iHeart Latino inspires graduating seniors to be the reinventors of the world.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Commencement Speeches for the Class of is a production of
I Heart Radio. Class of Parents, Faculty, rising graduates, Welcome
to commencement. You made it. This year is a little different,
(00:23):
a difficult time to graduate because the traditional graduation day
has been put on hold. So we're bringing it to
you wherever you are, because this is still your day,
your moment. And now put your hands together. It's time
to be inspired. This year's commencement speaker the one and
only Enrique Santos. Weirdest year ever. Right, but here we
(00:57):
are in the middle of the madness and you're graduating.
You've had to go through a lot to get to
this point. You should be getting a better world than
this to make your market. You should be able to
hug each other right now. You should be dancing with
each other tonight. You should be celebrating your real world
(01:18):
achievement face to face. You shouldn't have to be robbed
of that. But that doesn't change the fact that this
is your time. If you're graduating in the spring of
two thousand twenty, whether you realize it or not, you've
already accomplished a lot and you're about to do much more.
Whether you're going ahead with more education or going straight
(01:40):
into the job market, or starting a business or joining
the army, whatever it is you're doing right now. You've
got more strength, energy and speed than anyone. And if
you get out there and you mix it up, you'll
acquire experience fast. This moment in your life is a thrill,
no matter how messed up things are. Okay, right now,
(02:02):
the world is yours. I saw the world is yours.
We're turning it over to you. You know, the world
needs saving and it's the youth who are going to
have to do it. You. You're going to be driving
to train and it's gonna happen a lot sooner than
you think. You're graduating into a world that needs you badly,
(02:26):
and I want to challenge you. I challenge you to
do better for the world than any generation has done.
However it shakes out, we have to look to you
to be the next innovators and technology, education, the arts, health, business, politics, everything,
(02:47):
it's you. Were going to have to figure out the
strategies that work in the new realities, our new norm
You're gonna have to figure out not only how the
world can survive, but what the new music be, what
our new communities will consist of how will communicate and
how to keep love alive in a world that's been
(03:08):
poisoned by hate and terrorized by a virus. You're probably thinking, Okay,
that's fine, but how on earth am I going to
build my personal professional path when everything seems to be
coming apart. I don't blame you if you feel a
little stumped right now as you hit the pavement during
(03:29):
the weirdest year ever. Fortunately you have an education, and
I'm jealous. I never had a college graduation. I educated
myself and learned on the job, and I'm proud of
what I've achieved. For the past five years, I've I've
been chairman and chief creative officer of my Heart Latino,
(03:50):
which is my Heart Radio's Latin division. You know, I
make decisions that have the potential to reach hundreds of
millions of listeners. It's stressful, it's fun. I'm living my
dream and fortunately I have a job in spite of coronavirus.
But before I was in radio, I started out doing
(04:10):
radio in a different form, as a police dispatcher. I
put myself through the police academy and after I graduated,
I worked as a police officer on the streets of
North Miami for six years. I'm still a reserve officer
for the City of Miami Police Department, where I'm assigned
to the Community Relations department. But along the way, I
looked out and I got a job on the side
(04:32):
during a radio show. When I turned out to be
good at it, I saw my chance and I went
for it. But for me, whether I'm a policeman or
that guy from the radio or an executive, all the
different hats that I wear, my different seeming professions are
really all one communication. I'm still young, and as I
(04:53):
continue to build my career, I know that I may
move over to do something else before I'm finished. But
whatever is, communication will be at the heart of it.
It always has. You need to have an idea of
where you want to go in life, but you're gonna
find yourself changing professions, maybe multiple times. As the world
(05:14):
changes and forces you to change. You'll develop new skills
and specialties throughout your working life. You may find yourself
in a profession that doesn't now exist, or one of
your classmates may be the one who invents that new profession.
But don't worry. Whatever it is that you turn out
to be good at your education will still be relevant
(05:35):
because the most important thing about your education isn't necessarily
the subject you majored in. It's all the skills you
have to have in order to study that subject. You
feel me literacy, reasoning, problem solving, technology, social skills, even
learning how to show up on time and meet deadlines.
(05:56):
That will all transfer over to whatever you want to do,
where ever you want to do it. I should mention
that there's something you'll need along the way, and here
your education really comes in handy. You need a good
bullsh detector. There's a lot of bullshit out there these days.
(06:18):
We call it disinformation, right. People are trying to get
you to believe crazy stuff and conspiracy theories, and it's
really crazy. It's nuts. But the best immunization against both
artists is education. Fortunately you have an education. Now, very quickly,
(06:38):
let me offer some advice, just one more time, before
you go out there and start telling me what to do.
As you build your life, however, you do it according
to what your own personal needs are. Do these simple things.
I like to call him and he gets twelve point
program number one. I'd say, be good to your body.
(07:01):
Don't wait till you're old and unhealthy. To get started,
I need to follow my own example. I could always
do better. Get fit now. You've got to be in
shape for what's coming. Stay fit, eat healthy, don't smoke.
You know all that. But also dance. It's great for
the body. And if you can't dance, turn up the music.
(07:23):
It heals the soul. Number two, I'd say exercise your
mind as well as your body. School has been your
preparation for their learning you'll do throughout your life. Keep reading,
keep asking questions, keep learning even though you're not in
school anymore. Number three. Once it's safe to travel again,
(07:44):
and not before it's safe, travel to other countries. Traveling
is fantastic. It's awesome. You learn so much. If you've
had the good fortune to travel, you know what I'm
talking about. Travel is the best education there is, as
well as the most fun. Learn another language. It's not
that hard. Number four. Put aside money for old age.
(08:06):
Don't wait until you're sixty years old to start doing this.
Believe it or not, If you keep living, you will
get old. So put that money aside before you buy
that thing you don't really need, and watch it grow
over the years. Number five what you do comes back
to you, So treat people right. You don't have to
screw people over for money or to get ahead. You
(08:31):
don't treat the people you work with right. Treat your
friends right, treat strangers right, and especially treat your partner right.
The right partner will keep you safe as you survive
together in an often hostile world. Number six. Ignore the
negativity people send your way. Don't let the trolls get
(08:54):
to you. Number seven. Don't waste precious time comparing yourself
to other people. There's only one person you should be
in competition with, and that's yourself. Everyone's different. Set your
own standards and set them high. Number eight. Let yourself dream.
(09:15):
Don't limit yourself. You're capable of more than you can imagine.
Number nine, I'd say be ready for opportunities. They don't
come around all the time, but they come around sooner
or later. Watch for them, keep your eyes open for them.
Be receptive. You want to be the person who's ready
to step through the door that moment it opens before
(09:37):
it closes again. Number ten, Be patient and don't get discouraged.
If something's not working, try something different. Keep trying, and
something will happen. If you want it bad enough, you'll
figure it out. You'll get it done. Number eleven, Stay
in touch. Stay in touch with the people you new
(10:00):
in school and the people you're going to meet in
the next year's throughout your journey. They'll help you in
all kinds of ways. The number twelve, remember as you
get older what it was like for you right now,
at this very moment, and be ready to help that
next generation when it comes along. And help out the
(10:22):
older folks in your life. They're having a hard time too,
with this disease that targets senior is the hardest. And
one more thing. Understand that our problem is global. If
this catastrophe we're living through right now we're a silver lining,
it's that everyone in the world is thinking about the
(10:43):
same problem all at once. We can't pretend any longer
that we aren't all connected in this country and all
around the world. We'll need this type of consciousness to
tackle tomorrow's problems. Thanks to this lockdown, we've developed a
new appreciation for things that sometimes we've taken for granted.
(11:06):
The sky has never been so clear and blue, and
air has never seemed so important. We've never been so
aware of what a privilege. It truly is to have
food and a home. We've never valued human companionship more
than now. Life has changed, and in a big way,
(11:27):
we're missing simple things. I miss crowded concerts, I miss sports,
I miss shopping, sitting in my favorite restaurant and pigging out,
and man do I I never thought I'd say this,
but I missed the long t s a lines, waiting
for the Smurfs to pat me down with used gloves.
I missed running into old friends and given them hugs.
(11:51):
But this crisis has forced us to reinvent our norms.
That's where you come in. You're gonna be the reinventor. Yes,
I have faith in you. We need you. Stay safe,
stay healthy, and most of all, felis Alice, Congratulations, you
(12:12):
did it. Give yourself a hand. You can find a
collection of incredible commencement addresses from all your favorite speakers
at the Commencement Podcast on I Heart Radio or wherever
(12:33):
you listen to podcasts. H
Commencement Speeches for the Class of is a production of
I Heart Radio. Class of Parents, Faculty, rising graduates, Welcome
to commencement. You made it. This year is a little different,
(00:23):
a difficult time to graduate because the traditional graduation day
has been put on hold. So we're bringing it to
you wherever you are, because this is still your day,
your moment. And now put your hands together. It's time
to be inspired. This year's commencement speaker the one and
only Enrique Santos. Weirdest year ever. Right, but here we
(00:57):
are in the middle of the madness and you're graduating.
You've had to go through a lot to get to
this point. You should be getting a better world than
this to make your market. You should be able to
hug each other right now. You should be dancing with
each other tonight. You should be celebrating your real world
(01:18):
achievement face to face. You shouldn't have to be robbed
of that. But that doesn't change the fact that this
is your time. If you're graduating in the spring of
two thousand twenty, whether you realize it or not, you've
already accomplished a lot and you're about to do much more.
Whether you're going ahead with more education or going straight
(01:40):
into the job market, or starting a business or joining
the army, whatever it is you're doing right now. You've
got more strength, energy and speed than anyone. And if
you get out there and you mix it up, you'll
acquire experience fast. This moment in your life is a thrill,
no matter how messed up things are. Okay, right now,
(02:02):
the world is yours. I saw the world is yours.
We're turning it over to you. You know, the world
needs saving and it's the youth who are going to
have to do it. You. You're going to be driving
to train and it's gonna happen a lot sooner than
you think. You're graduating into a world that needs you badly,
(02:26):
and I want to challenge you. I challenge you to
do better for the world than any generation has done.
However it shakes out, we have to look to you
to be the next innovators and technology, education, the arts, health, business, politics, everything,
(02:47):
it's you. Were going to have to figure out the
strategies that work in the new realities, our new norm
You're gonna have to figure out not only how the
world can survive, but what the new music be, what
our new communities will consist of how will communicate and
how to keep love alive in a world that's been
(03:08):
poisoned by hate and terrorized by a virus. You're probably thinking, Okay,
that's fine, but how on earth am I going to
build my personal professional path when everything seems to be
coming apart. I don't blame you if you feel a
little stumped right now as you hit the pavement during
(03:29):
the weirdest year ever. Fortunately you have an education, and
I'm jealous. I never had a college graduation. I educated
myself and learned on the job, and I'm proud of
what I've achieved. For the past five years, I've I've
been chairman and chief creative officer of my Heart Latino,
(03:50):
which is my Heart Radio's Latin division. You know, I
make decisions that have the potential to reach hundreds of
millions of listeners. It's stressful, it's fun. I'm living my
dream and fortunately I have a job in spite of coronavirus.
But before I was in radio, I started out doing
(04:10):
radio in a different form, as a police dispatcher. I
put myself through the police academy and after I graduated,
I worked as a police officer on the streets of
North Miami for six years. I'm still a reserve officer
for the City of Miami Police Department, where I'm assigned
to the Community Relations department. But along the way, I
looked out and I got a job on the side
(04:32):
during a radio show. When I turned out to be
good at it, I saw my chance and I went
for it. But for me, whether I'm a policeman or
that guy from the radio or an executive, all the
different hats that I wear, my different seeming professions are
really all one communication. I'm still young, and as I
(04:53):
continue to build my career, I know that I may
move over to do something else before I'm finished. But
whatever is, communication will be at the heart of it.
It always has. You need to have an idea of
where you want to go in life, but you're gonna
find yourself changing professions, maybe multiple times. As the world
(05:14):
changes and forces you to change. You'll develop new skills
and specialties throughout your working life. You may find yourself
in a profession that doesn't now exist, or one of
your classmates may be the one who invents that new profession.
But don't worry. Whatever it is that you turn out
to be good at your education will still be relevant
(05:35):
because the most important thing about your education isn't necessarily
the subject you majored in. It's all the skills you
have to have in order to study that subject. You
feel me literacy, reasoning, problem solving, technology, social skills, even
learning how to show up on time and meet deadlines.
(05:56):
That will all transfer over to whatever you want to do,
where ever you want to do it. I should mention
that there's something you'll need along the way, and here
your education really comes in handy. You need a good
bullsh detector. There's a lot of bullshit out there these days.
(06:18):
We call it disinformation, right. People are trying to get
you to believe crazy stuff and conspiracy theories, and it's
really crazy. It's nuts. But the best immunization against both
artists is education. Fortunately you have an education. Now, very quickly,
(06:38):
let me offer some advice, just one more time, before
you go out there and start telling me what to do.
As you build your life, however, you do it according
to what your own personal needs are. Do these simple things.
I like to call him and he gets twelve point
program number one. I'd say, be good to your body.
(07:01):
Don't wait till you're old and unhealthy. To get started,
I need to follow my own example. I could always
do better. Get fit now. You've got to be in
shape for what's coming. Stay fit, eat healthy, don't smoke.
You know all that. But also dance. It's great for
the body. And if you can't dance, turn up the music.
(07:23):
It heals the soul. Number two, I'd say exercise your
mind as well as your body. School has been your
preparation for their learning you'll do throughout your life. Keep reading,
keep asking questions, keep learning even though you're not in
school anymore. Number three. Once it's safe to travel again,
(07:44):
and not before it's safe, travel to other countries. Traveling
is fantastic. It's awesome. You learn so much. If you've
had the good fortune to travel, you know what I'm
talking about. Travel is the best education there is, as
well as the most fun. Learn another language. It's not
that hard. Number four. Put aside money for old age.
(08:06):
Don't wait until you're sixty years old to start doing this.
Believe it or not, If you keep living, you will
get old. So put that money aside before you buy
that thing you don't really need, and watch it grow
over the years. Number five what you do comes back
to you, So treat people right. You don't have to
screw people over for money or to get ahead. You
(08:31):
don't treat the people you work with right. Treat your
friends right, treat strangers right, and especially treat your partner right.
The right partner will keep you safe as you survive
together in an often hostile world. Number six. Ignore the
negativity people send your way. Don't let the trolls get
(08:54):
to you. Number seven. Don't waste precious time comparing yourself
to other people. There's only one person you should be
in competition with, and that's yourself. Everyone's different. Set your
own standards and set them high. Number eight. Let yourself dream.
(09:15):
Don't limit yourself. You're capable of more than you can imagine.
Number nine, I'd say be ready for opportunities. They don't
come around all the time, but they come around sooner
or later. Watch for them, keep your eyes open for them.
Be receptive. You want to be the person who's ready
to step through the door that moment it opens before
(09:37):
it closes again. Number ten, Be patient and don't get discouraged.
If something's not working, try something different. Keep trying, and
something will happen. If you want it bad enough, you'll
figure it out. You'll get it done. Number eleven, Stay
in touch. Stay in touch with the people you new
(10:00):
in school and the people you're going to meet in
the next year's throughout your journey. They'll help you in
all kinds of ways. The number twelve, remember as you
get older what it was like for you right now,
at this very moment, and be ready to help that
next generation when it comes along. And help out the
(10:22):
older folks in your life. They're having a hard time too,
with this disease that targets senior is the hardest. And
one more thing. Understand that our problem is global. If
this catastrophe we're living through right now we're a silver lining,
it's that everyone in the world is thinking about the
(10:43):
same problem all at once. We can't pretend any longer
that we aren't all connected in this country and all
around the world. We'll need this type of consciousness to
tackle tomorrow's problems. Thanks to this lockdown, we've developed a
new appreciation for things that sometimes we've taken for granted.
(11:06):
The sky has never been so clear and blue, and
air has never seemed so important. We've never been so
aware of what a privilege. It truly is to have
food and a home. We've never valued human companionship more
than now. Life has changed, and in a big way,
(11:27):
we're missing simple things. I miss crowded concerts, I miss sports,
I miss shopping, sitting in my favorite restaurant and pigging out,
and man do I I never thought I'd say this,
but I missed the long t s a lines, waiting
for the Smurfs to pat me down with used gloves.
I missed running into old friends and given them hugs.
(11:51):
But this crisis has forced us to reinvent our norms.
That's where you come in. You're gonna be the reinventor. Yes,
I have faith in you. We need you. Stay safe,
stay healthy, and most of all, felis Alice, Congratulations, you
(12:12):
did it. Give yourself a hand. You can find a
collection of incredible commencement addresses from all your favorite speakers
at the Commencement Podcast on I Heart Radio or wherever
(12:33):
you listen to podcasts. H
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