Graduation Speech: Don T Say Things, By Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson writes, “Don't say things. What you are stands over you the while, and thunders so that I cannot hear what you say… (Emerson, 1909).” I head this quote the first day of school my junior year of high school. My English teacher, Miss Wilson, shared Emerson’s quote to emphasize that what you do has a larger impact on the world than what you say. I was taught this lesson only a few short months later while standing in the rain, on a muddy football field.
I was the starting defensive tackle for the junior varsity team. I was having a good season, but didn’t have as many tackles and sacks as I would have liked. I knew I couldn’t be a leader if I didn’t produce enough on the field. I wasn’t a thunderous leader on the field, in
fact, I never really said much. I let others do the talking while I stood by wishing I could be more vocal.
This day was different, it was the last game of the year and it was the only thing standing between us and an undefeated season. One more victory and we had our schools first unblemished football record. The excitement filled the locker room as we were getting ready, strapping on pads, pulling on jerseys, and lacing-up cleats. Our head coach pumped us up even more with his motivating pre-game speech. As I listened to what he was saying, I decided I needed to do something more; I needed to be something more for this game. Sitting listening to my coach roar on, I decided I need to be the vocal leader I thought I could be. The game was up and down; we scored first then they scored twice. Back and forth the game went, both teams struggling, at times, to deal with the drizzling rain that had soaked the field, the ball, and every player. With five minutes left in the game, we score a field goal to put us ahead by six points. After the kick off and touchback, I ran on to the field for the final drive of the game, this was my chance to be a leader.
The other team had eighty yards to go in just under five minutes to score the game-winning touchdown.
I was determined not to let this happen, I could hold back my voice any long. “Come guys, we’ve got to want it,” I yelled as I stuck my hand in the cold soft mud getting ready for the next play. The ball is snapped. The Quarter-Back drops back and throws the ball for a twenty-yard completion. Several more plays go by with me yelling at my teammates, telling them “we need to believe in ourselves,” or “we need to have more heart.” It didn’t matter the other team just keep marching down the field. Play after play the picked up first down after first down, all the way to our four-yard line. It was third down and they only need four yards to tie the game. That’s when our coach calls a time out. As our coach is walking on to the field, I started in on my team again, “We have to dig deep. We can’t give up now.” Coach barked out his instructions to everyone, and as he is leaving he pointed at me and said, “You need to stop talking, because you have done anything all game.” Embarrassed I walked up to the scrimmage, stuck my hand in the soggy ground when the thought of Miss Wilson quoting Emerson came flooding back from the deeps of my memory. I hadn’t done anything thing to help my team, I had only said meaningless words. Once again, a determination filled my chest. I was going to be a leader, not with words but with
action.
Both teams are ready, the Quarter-Back shouts out his cadency and the ball is snapped. I burst out of my stance with anger. As I’m hit the Center, I saw the Running-Back coming right at me with ball. I’m was able to get my arms free and drive my shoulders through his mid-section. I was able to tackle him at the line for no gain. I was excited I got the tackle, but the game wasn’t over. It was forth down, their last chance to score. I got down in my stance hoping I would have one more chance to make a difference. The ball is snapped, my body thrusts up and into the Centers chest and knocked him to the ground with a thud. I looked up and all I could see is the eyes of the Running-Back growing larger as I charged towards him. Once again, I drove my shoulder through his stomach and slammed him in to the ground. The game was over. I made the game saving tackle. In those two plays, I was more of a leader than I had ever been.
I have had many opportunities to be a leader from a team leader at work to district leader on my mission. Every time a new chance to lead presents itself, I always think back to the day I was standing in the rain and Miss Wilson and Ralph Waldo Emerson taught me doing is better than saying.