Television writer David Shore, winner of a 2005 Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series for “Three Stories,” an episode of House, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws, honoris causa (LLD) at the Wednesday morning session of Western’s 311th Convocation.
Shore spoke to graduates from the School of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies and the Faculty of Information and Media Studies, reminding them they still have a lot to learn and should not be afraid to fail in that pursuit.
“It’s OK to be an idiot as long as you realize it. I’m not saying you know nothing; you obviously know a lot. I’m just saying there’s a whole lot of stuff you don’t know and that’s actually good, and exciting and fundamentally important. Too many people in this world don’t know they are idiots,” said Shore, a former Western undergraduate, eliciting a laugh.
"Life is not short. For most of us, there will be plenty of time to screw up over and over again and maybe get one or two things right eventually. Success cannot be what drives you; failure cannot be what you run from" – Shore #purpleandproud
— #WesternU LIVE (@westernuLIVE) June 20, 2018
Failure is not a big deal, Shore added. There is plenty of time to do something, to do it wrong, to learn, and to do it right.
“Life is not short. For most of us, there will be plenty of time to screw up, over and over again, and maybe get one or two things right – eventually. Success cannot be what drives you; failure cannot be what you run from,” he noted.
“We all have the power to change the world – just don’t feel too bad if you don’t. Just try again. Be good; be kind; be honorable. That is what will give your life meaning. Lead wisely, follow wisely, take your time, make the best choices you can, and try to have fun. It’s not always easy, even when your dreams come true.”