To the graduating class of 2023, I say three words: You Poor Bastards.

Patton Oswalt, actor and comedian, William & Mary

The Guardian Newspaper recently published an article with words of wisdom at commencement ceremonies across the USA by Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hanks, Karine Jean-Pierre, and others.

When Patton Oswalt described the Class of 2023 as “Poor Bastards”, he referred to fact that democracy’s crumbling, truth is up for grabs, the planet’s trying to kill us, and loneliness is driving everyone insane.

He explained: You are about to enter a hellscape where you will have to fight for every scrap of your humanity and dignity. You do not have a choice to be anything but extraordinary. Those are the times you’re living in right now.

He continued: Everything that we let calcify, you have kicked against and demolished. You’ve rejected that whole 24/7, no-days-off grind. You’ve rejected apathy. You’ve rejected ignoring your mental health because “you’ve gotta muscle through it no matter what”. You’ve rejected alienation and cruelty. You’ve rejected not trying to include everyone. And you’ve rejected not looking out for each other.

His advice: Make life memorable: And those are hard things to reject. Because accepting them sometimes makes life way easier. If you just shut off yourself from the world, life is way easier. It’s also way less colorful, way less complicated, way less nourishing, and way less memorable.

Although Pádraig is not of the class of 2023, he graduated 10 years ago, these words describe him and what he has been showing to us over the past ten years. And the people around him, accompanying him along the way.

Last week, he went to Griffith Park with two of his PAs, where he used, with a little help from his friends, Dublin City Council’s (DCC) exercise equipment.

This is all about trying to include everyone. About participation and equality. About having fun in good company.

It’s so easy that you wonder why it could be any other way? – We’re not poor, we’re lucky bastards!