What is your Ultimate?

Spoon River College Commencement
May 15, 2010  
Dedicated to   
Barbara J. Pires
1928-2009                          
(Editor’s note: Former Spoon River College Alumnus and Hollywood Actor David Pires provided the keynote address during the Spoon River College commencement held May 15 at Cuba High School.)

Hi! My name is David Pires, and I am ... SRC Rage.
I would like to thank President and Mrs. Ritschel (Rich-L), Carol Davis, the board of trustees, faculty, staff, the Foundation, family, friends, enemies, the Academy, and most of all, the 2010 graduating class of Spoon River College for the distinct pleasure of being a part of your celebration today. I am truly flattered, humbled, proud, and most of all shocked, at this honor. Evidently, Flavor Flav, was not available.
It was exactly 25 years ago, when I sat where you are, anxiously waiting for the speaker to finish. I must admit ... I am anxiously waiting for me to finish as well. But what a difference 9,128 days makes!
When Carol Davis called and asked: “Would you give this years’ commencement address?” I said: “Sure ... send it to my agent, and we’ll take a look at it.” Then there was an awkward silence, and she said: “Ah, no ... you have to write it as well.” This is so bizarre, because in college I paid someone to write all of my papers, so to be asked to ... (look at President, etc.) ... Ooops!
Now, as an actor, I am much more comfortable with saying other people’s words. But I did take Speech 101 with Bob Gorg, so I decided I’d go ahead and give this a try.
Speaking of Bob Gorg ... before I begin on my 4 hour oration, I would like to thank a few people. There are countless numbers of people in the Spoon River College Family who go out of their way on a daily basis to help us succeed in our academic life. I would like to mention three who went above and beyond the call of duty for me both during and after my SRC Career.
Farrell Till, my English Professor, met with me every Sunday morning in his video store uptown for an entire summer, so that I could achieve the one credit that I needed to graduate on time. You won’t get that kind of care and compassion outside of Spoon River. So thank you Farrell Till.
Dale Bishop allowed me to practice in the theatre during Spring Break. Every night, he would go out of his way to unlock the theatre for me, let me rehearse until the wee hours of the morning, and then lock up afterwards. He later went on to serve on the Spoon River College Board of Trustees. Dale really cares about the Spoon River College community. Thank you Dale Bishop.
And last, but certainly not least, there is Bob Gorg. I don’t know if he knew this when he cast me in THE DIARY OF ANNE FRANK, while I was still a senior at Canton High School ... but I used to mow Mr. Gorg’s lawn. While at Spoon River College he was the COLLEGIATE’S advisor, which I was the editor of, he directed me in plays, and advised me on colleges, girls, and life in general. Although, he constantly reminds me that he has more hair ... he has become a dear friend. And thank you, Bob Gorg.
I have great memories of Spoon River College. It was a very rewarding experience for me. Additionally, all three of my sisters: Priscilla, Teresa, and Dee got their degrees at Spoon. And when my parents became empty-nesters, they took classes here as well. My Mother coined the term: “We are sold on Spoon!” Seeing you where I sat twenty-five years ago, I am so glad that you have taken advantage of what Spoon River College has to offer.
And as you leave this institution, I have but one thing to say, or rather ask: What Is Your Ultimate?  What Is Your Ultimate?
If you could Be, Do, or Achieve anything in your lifetime ... what would it be? There are no limits ... rock star, farmer, lawyer, Indian Chief, raise wonderful children, find a cure for cancer, solve world hunger, achieve peace in the Middle East, live on the moon. What would you do? What is going to make your presence on this earth meaningful and fulfilling?
What Is Your Ultimate? Some of you know. Some of you are struggling with it. Others have never even thought of it, and a few of you think that I am just plain crazy.
What Is Your Ultimate? The answer to this question is already inside each and every one of you. I firmly believe that by virtue of being alive, your passion, your desire, your Ultimate has already been placed into each and everyone of you. It is your responsibility to open up your heart, mind, and soul to find out what Your Ultimate is. It is your duty to yourself to then act upon it, otherwise you are cheating yourself. Finding your Ultimate requires contemplation, reflection, and complete honestly with oneself. Pursuing your Ultimate takes courage, resolve, and perseverance.
As Hamlet said: “To thine own self be true.”
What you are supposed to do in life is already inside of you. You will know it when you find it. Unlock that power ... and you can write your own destiny.
What is it that you HAVE to do in this life, because it would drive you crazy if you did not do it? What do you HAVE to pursue, that you would regret if you did not pursue it? Is there something in life that would cause you more pain, if you DID NOT do it? What is the thing you have known since a child that you were born to do? What is the most important accomplishment you want to achieve? Whether it is big or small ... it is what is important to you. Let the truth inside ... guide you down life’s path.
Let Your Ultimate surface.
Friedrich Nietzsche, the 19th Century German philosopher said: “Become who you are.”
In my case, I don’t want to be an actor ... I HAVE to be an actor. There were no genetic forces, nor am I a victim of my environment. This is something that has been in me since birth. This IS the very core of my being. This IS my Ultimate.
My acting journey began at birth. As I have said, I have always known what I would do with my life. In high school, I began doing plays. At Spoon River College I studied acting and performed in plays both here at the college, and at the Fulton County Playhouse. It was at this time when I started doing local commercials, which included one of the first MoneyCenter24, Little Green Guys spots. The studying then continued at Illinois Wesleyan University. And then to Hollywood, where I have been doing movies, television, cartoons, commercials, plays, stand-up, voice-overs, improve, and hosting live events for the past 22 years. Don’t get me wrong ... the journey has not been easy at all. But I have stayed true to the course.
For those who don’t know what Your Ultimate is, it might take half your life before you get that “A ha” moment. Everyone’s journey will be different. No two lives are the same. Author C. S. Lewis said: “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
I guess maybe I am lucky to have always known what I was going to do with my life. In other ways, I am not so fortunate, as it is a very competitive field. There are over 120,000 Actors in the Screen Actor’s Guild, over 70,000 Actors in the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, and over 48,000 actors in Actors’ Equity Association, not to mention probably another 200,000 non-union actors, as well as the rest of Los Angeles who ‘think’ they can act. Plenty of competition.
To break this down even further ... for every role in a movie, television show, commercial, and even cartoon ... a casting director will receive over 9,000 submissions from agents, managers, and actors. Depending on the time frame, they might audition 200 actors for the role. Then, depending on time constraints, 100 actors might get a call back. Then the top 5 or so choices must audition again for the director, producer, and network. And, alas, one will get the role.
So from nine thousand headshots and resumes being submitted, to one person getting the role ... as you can see, the competition is rough. Fortunately, I have been well-trained for this competition from my schooling at Spoon River College, Illinois Wesleyan University, and my continual training as an actor.
The same is true for you as well. The competition is tough. As of yesterday ... there were six billion, eight hundred nineteen million, five hundred forty four thousand, five hundred and ten people on this earth. (6,819,544,510). I don’t know if you have read the papers lately ... but there are not that many jobs.
The good news is that because you are getting a degree today, you already stand head and shoulders above a good portion of this competition. With this degree you have the advantage. I hope that each of you will choose to continue with your education to rise above even more of the competition.
So, again ... What Is Your Ultimate?
Let Your Ultimate out.
Seventy-five percent of our lives is spent studying and then working. With that much time and energy consumed ... we owe it to ourselves to do something that we love. Love your work. When your heart is in your work, success is inevitable. We owe it to ourselves to follow our hearts, pursue our passion, and achieve our Ultimate.  Playwright James M. Barrie, who wrote PETER PAN said: “Nothing is really work, unless you’d rather be doing something else.”
Follow your heart ... and it will pay off many fold. Our legacy is not to be judged by how much we make, or what we can accumulate. Our legacy is about what we bring to the table in our short time on this earth.
If I died today, my grave would read: David G. Pires ... 1965 DASH 2010. The 1965 doesn’t matter. The 2010 doesn’t matter. It is the “DASH” that matters. What I did between 1965 and 2010 is what matters.
Did David Pires pursue his passion?  YES.
Did David Pires follow his dreams?  YES.
Did David Pires achieve his Ultimate? YES.
And just to let you know ... there is more to come!
Follow your heart ... and you will live beyond yourself.
We have but one chance at “life” ... this is NOT a dress rehearsal.
Do not give in, do not give up, do not settle for anything less than Your Ultimate.
No matter what your age, or where you are at in life. Open up your hearts, minds, and souls. Follow your dreams. Pursue your passion with a vengeance. Let your destiny prevail. Achieve Your Ultimate.
And let Your Ultimate shine.
Again, I would like to CONGRATULATE the Spoon River College Class of 2010!!
Thank you and GO RAGE!!