‘Every Day Is A Gift': CEO Mike Sievert Addresses The Class Of 2020

Right now, graduates everywhere should be decorating their mortarboards, receiving their diplomas to the meaningful strains of “Pomp and Circumstance,” and looking excitedly into their futures, but the coronavirus pandemic has robbed the Class of 2020 of most of their classic high school experiences, including a graduation ceremony. So iHeartRadio brought together dozens of celebrities and leaders to deliver speeches these graduates will never forget on the Commencement podcast. On this episode, T-Mobile President and CEO Mike Sievert urges the Class of 2020 to follow their passions and make the most out of each day by telling them the story of the time he saved someone’s life.

Though “follow your passions” is a cliche, Mike admits, it’s one that can serve us very well. He tells us what he means by sharing a story of a day he took his boat out in the cold waters of the Pacific Northwest. He was with his family, miles away from land, when he noticed a man overboard. They rescued him and discovered that he’d been in the freezing water for over an hour, but the man was nonchalant; he just wanted to know where his own boat was. “I remember just thinking to myself, ‘What’s wrong with this guy? Why didn’t he seem to understand….that today could have easily been his last?’ And then it hit me….Why don’t we all think that way?” Each day is precious, he says; “What would we do differently if making the most of each day really was our goal?” 

Right now, graduates are facing a question that’s really hard to answer in the best of times: What’s next? But they’re facing this question “in the middle of the most crazy and random and unexpected and frankly, somewhat scary, set of circumstances.” But instead of focusing on the negative, Mike begs them to find the opportunities there. “Many of you will pick different paths that never existed before this pandemic. Many of you will find completely new passions.” So, follow them! “Every day is a gift. That means that in the pursuit of our own happiness, and the happiness we can spread to other people, we really can – and in a way, we must – make the most of today.” Hear all of Mike’s incredible speech on the Commencement podcast.

Congratulations to the Class of 2020! iHeartRadio’s ”Commencement: Speeches for the Class of 2020” podcast celebrates this year’s graduating students as they take their next steps into the world. For more inspiring speeches from celebrities, athletes, business leaders and more, listen to the podcast on iHeartRadio.


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