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KINGSTON — One of the head writers from Saturday Night Live had a simple message for Wyoming Valley West Middle School students on Thursday night.
“I want to give you two pieces of advice,” Robert Klein told the students. “The first thing is that whatever your favorite hobby is — whatever it is that you like to do — don’t ever let anyone tell you that it’s not cool.
“My second piece of advice is to get good grades. It’s probably the best piece of advice I can give to you right now because if you don’t know what you want to do, good grades are going to give you options.
“And even if you do know what you want to do — like become a lawyer, a doctor or a banker — you need good grades to go on to those things, too.”
Klein’s second piece of advice may have been unnecessary, considering the students who heard his speech. The Wyoming Valley West graduate was keynote speaker at the district’s National Junior Honor Society induction ceremony.
Nearly 100 students were honored at the ceremony, which included a candle lighting ceremony and musical accompaniments.
Klein, 34, is one of three head writers at Saturday Night Live, the iconic weekly sketch comedy show. He is the son of Gene and Marilyn Klein of Forty Fort. Marilyn Klein was a guidance counselor for the district.
Rob Klein traveled from the Big Apple to deliver a message to students about doing what’s important to them and to crack some jokes.
“I understand that young people today have a lot of distractions, spending most of their time online watching YouTube or playing Minecraft,” he said. “But I really believe it’s so important that through all these distractions you carve out a few hours every night to watch some TV.”
All jokes aside, however, Klein’s message of doing what you love resonated throughout the auditorium.
He told the students that it’s important to stick with hobbies and interests that they enjoy, even if it’s not the “cool” thing to do.
Officers for the honor society each lit a candle, each of them representing one of the five pillars to the group — scholarship, leadership, service, character and citizenship.
Forty seventh-graders were inducted at the ceremony, as well as 24 eight-graders. Thirty-five two-year members were also honored. Once certificates were handed out to each student, all rose to repeat the society pledge.
Students who were also members of the Spartan Singers gathered to preform two songs for friends and family members, under the direction of Scott Coates.
Officers for the National Junior Society include Madelyn Pabst, Emily Tripp, Nicholas Adams, Gabe Gillespie, Emily Matthews and Andrea Shaw.
To be considered for the society, students must achieve and maintain a 96 grade point average and be involved in school activities or community service.