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Savannah Guthrie Champions High School Slackers And Late Bloomers In Georgetown Graduation Speech

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You might think that Today show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie always had her act together with top grades at the top schools and a singular vision for her life as a broadcast journalist – but this was not even close to the case. When Guthrie returned to her alma mater, Georgetown University, to deliver the 2023 law school commencement address, she championed (and outed herself as a card-carrying member of) the high school slackers and late bloomers.

In her recent graduation speech, the former lawyer, journalist, and mother of two young children shared some surprising details about her less-than-impressive scholastic past, and how she transformed into one of the most successful women on morning television.

High School Slackers Can Turn It Around

The first lesson that Guthrie shared in her heartfelt and humorous speech will surely elicit a sigh of relief from any parent out there with an unmotivated kid who isn’t a fan of completing their homework: “high school slackers can turn it around.” Guthrie revealed that when she grew up as a kid in Tucson, Arizona, she ditched 35 days of high school, and preferred to meet up and smoke with friends at the local Carl’s Jr., rather than hit the books. It was only in college when she discovered her passion for journalism that her intrinsic motivation kicked in.

In Defense of The Late Bloomers

Guthrie also revealed that she was the classic fish out of water when she began law school at Georgetown University. At 27, she was far older than most of the incoming students and suffered with some admittedly frizzy hair. Instead of the signature composure and confidence Guthrie exudes on television, she copped to her deep insecurities from the past. Guthrie felt threatened by the Ivy Leaguers right out of college, confessing she was “massively out-credentialed and outgunned.” But those feelings of comparison and doubt didn’t stop Guthrie from blazing her trail forward.

Comfortable Is Not Where The Action Is

The second official lesson that Guthrie shared in her address was the classic commencement ode to risk-taking: “don’t play it safe,” said Guthrie. She offered the story of her decision to ditch her stable job in local news to go to law school instead.

But it wasn’t just taking risks that transformed Guthrie, it was marinating in life’s uncertainty. “Comfortable is not where the action is,” she said and reminisced about her bold decision to turn down a prominent clerkship and pursue journalism on a national scale with her dream job in television.

Guthrie admirably practices what she preaches in both her professional and personal life. Outside of her day job, Guthrie leapt onto the bestseller’s list with a swerving career as a children’s book author when she penned the beloved Princesses Wear Pants series. The book has reached an even wider audience as it was recently adapted into a Netflix TV series with business partner and fellow mom of two, Drew Barrymore.

Guthrie also embraced what might be one of the most challenging uncertainties that a woman can face when she opened up about her IVF journey to conceive her second child. A late bloomer to motherhood too, Guthrie has no regrets about starting a family in her 40s. “In your 40s, and now my mid-to-late 40s, you have the difference in attitude where you can figure out what matters and what doesn’t,” said Guthrie in an interview with Health magazine.

While Guthrie definitely embodies the optimism that “it gets greater, later,” if she really wants to double down on her graduation speech advice, maybe it’s time to take some inspiration from her slacker days. Imagine the risky discomfort of Guthrie grabbing a burger for old times sake and drumming up an endorsement deal for one of those risqué Carl’s Jr.’s ads.

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