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Tag: jim carrey commencement speech

  • Jim Carrey Receives Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts

    Jim Carrey was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts at Maharishi University of Management in Iowa this weekend. The 52-year-old actor and comedian was honored in recognition of his significant lifetime achievements as a world-famous comedian and actor, as well as an artist, author, and philanthropist. Carrey also gave a commencement speech that was ‘inspiring, funny, and enlightening.’

    “He started with some locally related jokes, which drew approving applause and a lot of laughter. He inspired the students to think big and not give in to fear, but to choose love. Many said it was the best commencement talk ever,” the university said in a written statement.

    The Ace Ventura and Dumb and Dumber actor shared a few of his childhood experiences with over 1000 people present at the event. In addition he told them some things he learned from his father, who “could have been a comedian but chose to be an accountant because he wanted a stable job.”

    Sadly, Jim Carrey’s father lost that job when Carrey was 12.

    “I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which was that you could fail at what you don’t love, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love,” he said before he stated the obvious–that he chose to be a comedian.

    “When I was about 28, after a decade as a professional comedian, I realized one night in LA, the purpose of my life had always been to free people from concern, just like my dad,” he said. “I can tell you from experience the effect you have on others is the most valuable currency there is.”

    Even though he was met with cheers from the crowd of graduates and their families, not everyone was pleased with Jim Carrey being awarded this honorary doctorate, however.

    Honorary doctorates like the one Jim Carrey was given are nothing more than a symbol of significant accomplishment. While Carrey earned this in his work as an actor and comedian, he certainly doesn’t hold a legitimate doctorate. Since it seemed the graduates enjoyed his speech and appreciated the honor bestowed upon him, they didn’t lose out for not having listened to a major political figure–and they likely got a kick out of having a Hollywood celebrity give their commencement address.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Jim Carrey Offers Emotional Commencement Speech

    Jim Carrey offered an emotional and passionate speech to graduating seniors during a commencement ceremony at Iowa’s Maharishi University of Management Saturday.

    The actor showed a vulnerable side when opening up about his personal life and became emotional as he spoke about his father and his childhood.

    “So many of us choose our path out of fear disguised as practicality,” the 52-year-old comedian told the graduates.

    “My father could have been a great comedian, but he didn’t believe that that was possible for him, and so he made a conservative choice. Instead, he got a safe job as an accountant.”

    The Dumb and Dumber actor urged graduates to pursue the career they love. Carrey said his father, Percy Carrey, had a typical life and made practical choices that contradicted the dreams he wanted to pursue in life. This led Carrey to take unlikely chances in his own life to pursue his dreams.

    “I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which was that you could fail at what you don’t love, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love,” Carrey said.

    “Your job is not to figure out how it’s going to happen for you, it’s opening a door in your head, and when the door opens in real life, just walk through it,” said Carrey.

    The actor also spoke about the decision he made to “free people from concern” through comedy when he was 28 years old.

    “I’ve often said that I wish people could realize all their dreams and wealth and fame, so that they could see that it’s not where they’re going to find their sense of completion,” he said. “Your job is not to figure out how it’s going to happen for you, it’s opening a door in your head, and when the door opens in real life, just walk through it.”

    Carrey couldn’t continue to remain serious throughout the speech and a few jokes did emerge.

    “No doubt some of you will turn out to be crooks, white collar stuff, Wall Street, that type of thing. Crimes committed by people with self-esteem, stuff parents can still be proud of,” he joked.

    Carrey received an honorary doctor of fine arts degree during the ceremony and told the management students, “I cannot be contained because I am the container.”

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Jim Carrey Talks Failure, Life Lessons At Commencement

    Jim Carrey has been around in Hollywood for a long time, and the funnyman’s longevity can be attributed to both a dedication to being unafraid of looking silly and choosing roles that bring in big box office numbers. So when he was awarded a Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Maharishi University in Iowa over the weekend, he took a moment to address the graduates in a commencement speech that warned of failure of the worst kind.

    “My father could have been a great comedian but he didn’t believe that that was possible for him, and so he made a conservative choice. Instead, he got a safe job as an accountant. I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which was that you could fail at what you don’t love, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love…Your job is not to figure out how it’s going to happen for you, it’s opening a door in your head, and when the door opens in real life, just walk through it,” Carrey said.

    The speech was filled with humor, of course, but Carrey delivered a rare gift to the new graduates by offering them heartfelt advice rather than being the goofball we’re used to seeing in the movies who never takes anything seriously.

    “The decisions we make in this moment are based in either love or fear. So many of us chose our path out of fear disguised as practicality. What we really want seems impossibly out of reach and ridiculous to expect so we never ask the universe for it. I’m saying I’m the proof that you can ask the universe for it. And if it doesn’t happen for you right away, it’s only because the universe is so busy fulfilling my order,” he said.

    Carrey took several photos in his cap and gown, holding his degree aloft in victory; the 52-year old was a high school dropout.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons