In 2015 John Waters’ gave the commencement speech at The Rhode Island School of Design. The band, Talking Heads, was awarded honorary degrees at the same ceremony, and Debbie and I were lucky enough to be there. We've been citing the wisdom Waters shared ever since. 

"Hopefully you have been taught never to fear rejection in the workplace. Remember, a no is free. Ask for the world and pay no mind if you are initially turned down. A career in the arts is like a hitchhiking trip: All you need is one person to say 'Get in' and off you go. And then the confidence begins."

"Today may be the end of your juvenile delinquency, but it should also be the first day of your new adult disobedience. These days, everybody wants to be an outsider, politically correct to a fault. That’s good. I hope you are working to end racism, sexism, ageism, fatism. But is that enough? Isn’t being an outsider sooo2014? I mean, maybe it’s time to throw caution to the wind, really shake things up, and reinvent yourself as a new version of your most dreaded enemy – the insider."

VIDEO: John Waters Commencement - RISD 2015

TRANSCRIPT: John Waters Commencement - RISD 2015, transcript