Why Chicago Graduates Should Still 'Wear Sunscreen'

What would you say if you were speaking at a graduation ceremony? Former Chicago Tribune columnist Mary Schmich would tell young people to “wear sunscreen,” words she first inscribed in her 1997 column.

The advice took on a life of its own after rumors swirled that author Kurt Vonnegut spoke the words at MIT’s commencement, and after filmmaker Baz Luhrmann turned the column into a song. Schmich shares why her advice continues to resonate with people today.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Why do these words continue to endure?

“It got this big bump because Kurt Vonnegut's name was attached, a legendary writer. And then when it turned out it was a mistake, that gave it an even bigger bump. When Baz took it and translated it into a song, he changed the medium in which the words were being transmitted. … There's kind of a ghost in the material, something that existed between the lines for me when I was writing it. I was going through a hard time in my life and coming out of the tunnel, and people sense that.”

In your column, you write, “Live in New York City once, but leave before it makes you hard. Live in Northern California once, but leave before it makes you soft.” Why should graduates give Chicago a try?

“Chicago is a complete city. It gives you the rough and tumble, the full sweep of what it is to be alive. Everybody lives there. But it also gives some of the amenities that many of us would like: a beautiful skyline, a beautiful lakefront, nice parks, good restaurants. But you can't really insulate yourself. … Chicago is not paradise. We know it. And for many of us, that's part of the appeal. It's the hard and the soft.”

The class of 2024 is facing a different world than the class of 1997. What advice would you give today’s graduates?

“Get off your screens. Not entirely, but go outside. Walk in the woods. I would like to say something about taking care of something beyond yourself and your immediate circle of people. Speak out in a meaningful way about some cause.”