Unofficial Advice
In “Speech for a High School Graduate,” Roger Rosenblatt offers up several tidbits of what he considers good advice for his son who is graduating from high school. He lets the reader know early in the essay that this is not going to be the usual advice given by the “official speaker” at the graduation ceremony (98). ... One piece of advice Rosenblatt gives his son concerns the importance of institutions. ... But then he tempers this advice with some caution, reminding his son to “Believe in institutions, but do not marry them” (98). ... Next, Rosenblatt gives a bit of advice that might be taken the wrong way without the reader’s careful consideration. ... The artist in me can certainly relate to this advice. ... But I believe this advice to ignore our critics goes beyond art.