The Last Word
By Rohan O'Shea | Posted: Monday August 19, 2024
As you could probably guess, at this point in the year finding a new topic for a Last Word is challenging, then this idea hit me.
The Grey Man.
For those unfamiliar with the term, what it means to be a Grey Man is to be someone who simply disappears into the crowd, choosing not to stand out, or be recognised.
At school, that looks like someone who shows up each day, quietly getting their work done and going home. There’s nothing inherently wrong with this type of person, they don’t cause trouble or create problems, and they’re generally good people, likely still paying attention to me now.
However, I am here to challenge the grey men in this auditorium, as someone who was once in your place, as it is through our passions, and putting ourselves out there, that we can find the most joy, and find our people, people we could stay close with for the rest of our lives. The most common reason for not putting yourself out there is the fear of what people are going to say, and being judged.
This was what had held me back for most of Years 9 and 10. I allowed my fear of what people might say to hold me back from trying new things and being myself. I was a Grey Man, and while I thought I was happy at the time, I am so much happier now. I can’t quite pinpoint the moment, but somewhere along the line, a switch inside me flicked, and, I stopped worrying about what people might think of me, instead choosing to pursue stuff I enjoyed.
This didn’t necessarily mean it had all been in my head. There were people who judged me, and at times gave me a hard time, but I had decided that my happiness was more important to me than what someone said as I walked past. What I also found was that for every one person who gave me a hard time, there were 3 or 4 people ready to support me, and I am incredibly grateful to you all, many of you sitting in this auditorium today.
This is my message to you, lads, do not allow the fear of what people will think to hold you back. Instead, take that leap, step out of the crowd and do what makes you happy. Find your passion, and don’t be a Grey Man when you’ve got the opportunity to be so much more. Live your life the way you want, and start living it now.
In traditional OBHS fashion I shall finish with a quote. One we have heard three times this year from the Rector, in our poem of the year, but I believe is fitting to conclude this speech. From Teddy Roosevelt, “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena”. For a man in the arena, could not be considered a Grey Man.
