For South Carolina Public Radio, I’m Dr. Rénard Harris from the College of Charleston. This is Teachable Moments, a minute of education for students and parents.
As we head into summer, commencement speakers across the country are sharing words of wisdom with high school and college students. The messages are universal: work hard, be kind, and don’t be afraid of failure.
Graduates will receive those messages, but it’s the parents who will take them to heart. Parents were their child’s first teachers. They supervised homework, friendships and well‑being. They resisted the urge to swoop in when their child stumbled, knowing that getting back up is part of the process.
Most commencement speakers don’t mention the parents, but that’s okay. They didn’t do it for recognition. Their reward comes the moment their child—now an adult—walks across the stage.
For the College of Charleston, I’m Dr. Rénard Harris.
