"Stay Weird, Stay Different"

Graham Moore after winning an Oscar for The Imitation Game

During the Oscars this past weekend, I was pleasantly surprised to see so many people use their winning speeches as opportunities to   bring certain issues for the forefront. For example, after winning an Oscar for Boyhood, Patricia Arquette pointed out the importance of women gaining equal rights. John Legend and Common spoke up about the discrimination against African Americans after the two singers won the award for their song, "Glory". However, many people, including myself, considered Graham Moore's speech the most moving of the night.

Graham Moore won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for The Imitation Game. When Oprah announced Moore as the winner, Moore looked stunned but extremely excited. He rushed up to the stage, eager to spread his words of wisdom to the millions of people watching the event.  Moore said, "I tried to commit suicide at 16 and now I'm standing here. I would like for this moment to be for that kid out there who feels like she doesn’t fit in anywhere. You do. Stay weird. Stay different, and then when it's your turn and you are standing on this stage please pass the same message along." Moore bravely shared his own story of attempting suicide when he was a teenager. He got through it, and now look at what he has become! I think it's wonderful that not only did Moore share this story and bring suicide to the attention of the public, but he also advised people to "pass the same message along". Unfortunately, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death in Americans of all ages. People need to know that they may go through dark times, but they can still become something great. Being different doesn't make you worth any less. In fact, it makes you more interesting. Just look at Graham Moore; he won an Academy Award! If that isn't interesting, then I don't know what interesting means.