Taipei, June 18 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian on Sunday urged graduates of Taipei's Tsai Hsin Elementary, Junior and Senior High Schools to figure out their proper roles in life and play them well.
"Life is like a stage play," Chen said, adding that everyone plays an irreplaceable role, even comic characters or supporting actors with no spoken lines.
Chen noted that comic characters not only bring laughter to others, but also convey many hidden messages about life. He added that sometimes such a character's performance may draw even more applause than that of the main actor or actress.
Chen said, "There is no role too big -- or too small." He went on to say that some roles call for no spoken lines at all, but so long as the characters focus on their parts in the play, even silent players can be "best supporting actors."
When the curtain falls, the audience will tally up the score, Chen said, encouraging each student to discover and clarify his or her role and become responsible actors on the stage of life.
This marked the first time that Chen spoke at a high school graduation ceremony in Taipei since his May 20 inauguration.