WHAT’S BEING CLAIMED:
- Arnold Schwarzenegger handed out some life lessons during his virtual commencement address that also included a subtle dig at President Donald Trump’s closed university.
- The actor said that graduation is not just about the degree or the diploma — while holding up his honorary degree from Trump University and saying, “This is nothing.”
- He advised the class of 2020 to be prepared for a life of “overcoming obstacles” beyond graduation and the coronavirus crisis.
Arnold Schwarzenegger advised the class of 2020 to be prepared for a life of “overcoming obstacles” in a virtual commencement address that also included a subtle dig at President Donald Trump and his closed university.
The movie star delivered his speech through the platform ATTN: and kicked it off by addressing the graduates, “I’m not going to stand here and bullsh** you about this being a fantastic time to graduate.”
The former governor of California, 72, added, however, that “the coronavirus can’t erase your success.”
He then told the grads that the pandemic “won’t be the last obstacle you face.” However, “it can help you prepare for the next one” because life is all about “overcoming obstacles.”
Schwarzenegger then detailed the biggest one he’s faced — an emergency open-heart surgery in 2018.
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It was four months prior to shooting Terminator 6: Dark Fate. A physical exam revealed him to be “in great shape” but in need of a heart valve replacement because it was “leaking blood.”
The procedure was non-invasive and he was expected to be fit to work in a week.
But “something went wrong.”
The surgeon explained that there was internal bleeding when they broke through the heart wall. They had to perform open-heart surgery to save his life.
The surgery was successful, but he had to do physical and breathing exercises to prevent pneumonia.
He set a goal to be physically able to play the role on set on production day — and he met it.
The lesson? “No matter how successful you are, life will throw obstacles in your path, but if you a have a very clear vision … of exactly what you want to do and who you want to be, you can go and find a way around all of those obstacles,” he advised.
Schwarzenegger added that graduation is not just about the degree or the diploma.
He then held up a framed honorary degree he was given by Trump University and said, “This is nothing.”
“I mean we all have these pieces of paper, but let’s be honest. This celebration … is not the end,” he continued.
Graduation is simply a celebration of the journey, he explained.
Schwarzenegger told the class of 2020 that graduation may be “the end of this particular chapter, but it is the beginning of your next climb.” After the celebration, “it is time to start developing your vision and it is time to start climbing toward that vision,” he advised.
Source: Aol.com