“How many of you can tell me something about your parents?” Everyone’s hand went up.
“How many of you can tell me something about your grandparents?” About three-fourths of the class raised their hands.
“How many of you can tell me something about your great grandparents?” Two out of sixty students raised their hands.
“Look around the room,” he said. “In just two short generations hardly any of us even know who our own great-grandparents were. Oh sure, maybe we have an old, tattered photograph tucked away in a musty cigar box or know the classic f***ly story about how one of them walked five miles to school barefoot. But how many of us really know who they were, what they thought, what they were proud of, what they were afraid of, or what they dreamed about? Think about that. Within three generations our ancestors are all but forgotten. Will this happen to you?
“Here’s a better question. Look ahead three generations. You are long gone. Insatead of you sitting in this room, now it’s your great-grandchildren. What will they have to say about you? Will they know about you? Or will you be forgotten, too?
“Is your life going to be a warning or an example? What legacy will you leave? The choice is yours. Class dismissed.”
Nobody rose from their seat for a good five minutes.