Humble, Hungry and the Hardest Worker: Salutatorian Class of 2020
by Tyler Wehman, Salutatorian, Class of 2020 Welding
Thank you Mr. Milanovich --
Mr Rich, Members of the Joint Operating Committee, Distinguished Guests, Parents and Friends, and Members of the Class of 2020.
I have always lived with this mindset -- If you want something, you have to work for it, and sooner or later it will be yours, but while you doing this -- “Be humble. Be hungry. And always be the hardest worker in the room.
I borrow this quote from Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson because it sums up my mindset.
Being humble means that you know how capable you are, but you do not show it and you are not arrogant about it. A person should never have to tell those around them, “I’m a great welder, or I’m a great nurse, or I’m a great electrician, or I’m a great carpenter.” His or her actions should show that. Others should automatically know it because they see it. Be humble.
Being hungry means that you are always striving for better, and always pushing harder and harder to gain a better position -- never being satisfied with where you are. Every day at the end of the day, you should leave your corner of the world a little better than when you started. Be hungry to learn. Be hungry to improve. Be hungry.
Being the hardest worker in the room means that you are the first one on the job and the last one to leave. You want your quality of work to be the best in the business. You want to be the go-to guy so your boss knows who to turn to if they want to get that job done and done well. If, at the end of the day, you can look at yourself in the mirror knowing you gave it your 110%, then you can feel good that you earned every last penny in your paycheck. When it gets difficult, never give up. When you are tired, push through -- because the reward is knowing that you are the hardest worker in the room.
I would like to say, “Thank you” -- to my friends and family, -- and to Mrs. McVicker, Mr. Petronelis, and my parents: Thank you for guiding me in this path in life.
Tyler is a man of few words, but when he does speak, it’s worth hearing. Understanding that he has two eyes to see, two ears to hear, but one mouth to speak, Tyler has spent his entire life taking it all in. A voracious learner, this has served him well, both academically and vocationally. A welder by trade, he currently works with Littell Steel building bridges. In his spare time, he enjoys outdoor lifetime sports. Upon graduation, he would like to continue working, eventually work with the Steamfitters Union.
To view Tyler’s speech, please click HERE.