How disappointing to read of educators who let a teachable moment with a talented young woman pass right by.

Graduation speeches have, for years, been the same -- onward and upward, great four years, do your best, yada, yada, yada. Two of my three children were class speakers more than 20 years ago, and their speeches were much like the one Jem Lugo ended up giving.

Congratulations to Ms. Lugo for TRYING to inform the grads what LIFE really is.  Why should 17- and 18-year-olds be sugarcoated to the actual facts facing them?  A lot of them have been babysat by TV -- seeing murder, sex, bad language.