LOS ANGELES — Adult film star James Deen offered some words of wisdom to recent college graduates through Good Magazine's new online feature "Real Talk for New Graduates."
The magazine asked 13 young professionals from different walks of life for some real-world advice on life after graduation, talking to an astrophysicist, a couple of comedians and a political blogger, among others. Deen was the only porn performer surveyed.
In the introduction to the piece, Associate Editor Nona Willis Aronowitz writes, "There's no nice way to put it: Commencement speeches aren't all that helpful. They're full of platitudes and vague advice, usually delivered by someone who's too old and famous to remember what it's like to be young and broke.
"So instead of quoting the same old lines this year, we dug up candid advice you can actually use from people who recall their graduation like it was yesterday. Here's some post-grad real talk from some of our favorite young, successful smarties."
Deen, the 2010 XBIZ Male Performer of the Year who has appeared in close to 1300 adult movies, told graduates to keep their eyes on the prize.
"Commit," said Deen, who is No. 13 on the Good list. "The world is a tough place no matter what you are doing. Focus on what you truly want to do as a career and don't get distracted by whatever job may be paying your bills in the interim. The last thing you want is to be the most successful person at a job you hate and fantasizing all day about doing what you love."
He continued, "Balance your determination with a healthy amount of down time. You will have a long life — don't feel rushed to figure out what it is that you need to be doing. If need be, take time off between college and the working world and get to know yourself.
"Find hobbies and make yourself happy, so even if you never are able to find a career that thrills you on a daily basis, you will be able to have personal happiness. Personal internal happiness is more valuable than anything else and it is something that no one can give or take away from you."
