The Moving Oscars Speech Every Teen Needs to Hear

Impact

Millions of people around the world tune in to the Oscars every year. Graham Moore, this year's winner of the best adapted screenplay award, decided to use his acceptance speech not only to celebrate his own achievement, but also to share the obstacles he overcame to do so with this enormous audience.

"When I was 16, I tried to kill myself because I felt weird and I felt different and I felt like I did not belong," Moore told Oscars viewers Sunday night. "And now I'm standing here. So I would like this moment to be for that kid out there who feels like she's weird or she's different or she doesn't fit in anywhere. Yes, you do. I promise you do."

Moore concluded his speech with a powerful sentiment: "Stay weird. Stay different," he urged. "And then when it's your turn to stand on this stage,  please pass the same message to the next person who comes along."

Moore's words are especially resonant considering the subject matter of his winning adapted screenplay. The Imitation Game depicts the life of groundbreaking World War II-era code breaker Alan Turing, a brilliant man arrested and chemically castrated for his homosexuality, his bright career and future achievements stunted due to his identity.

Clearly, the speech resonated on Twitter:

Let's hope the millions of teens — many of whom undoubtedly feel different or weird for simply being themselves — hear Moore and heed his advice to love themselves and pass the love on to others.