Speech to the students who are whittling away their time by Eric Lykken

Students: No person values more highly than I do the caring, as well as the devotion, of the teachers and faculty who have been watching us over our high school careers. But different people have different values; and therefore, I hope that it will not be considered disrespectful to those faculty members, if my ideas differ slightly from theirs, if not are the complete opposite, but feelings aside I am to speak truthfully and without reserve. This is no time for being stiff, dry people with no life aside from school. The question before the members of our school is one of great importance. For me it is a question of our future, of getting into college. While we need to be devout students, committing ourselves to schoolwork, community service and sports teams, it is just as important to have free time. It is only in this way that we can hope to arrive at a balance; to be productive and to enjoy ourselves. Should I withhold my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of hypocrisy, and of an act disloyalty toward the majesty of life and freedom, which I revere above all earthly principals.
My fellow students, it is natural to man to indulge in the illusions of hope. We are apt to close our eyes against a hard truth, we tell ourselves “this weekend I shan’t have ANY homework,” and to listen to the song of that siren, till she changes us into beasts. Is the part of clever students, engaged in a great and difficult struggle for balance? Are we disposed to be of the number of those who, having vision, see not, and having hearing, hear not, the things that they hold dearly? Are we inclined to protest out loud and yet do nothing? For my part, whatever anguish of spirit it may cost, I am willing to speak my thoughts, and challenge all of our teachers for the load of homework and challenge our counselors who tell us to commit ourselves to community service, and even the coaches who tell us to run, row or try harder, all the while we have no time to sleep, eat or play video games.