Jeb Bush name-checked Charles Darwin , Albert Einstein and Mark Zuckerberg on Monday while telling University of South Carolina graduates that `` young people and newcomers are often the great discoverers . '' The former Florida Republican governor 's commencement speech -- short , optimistic and apolitical -- came the day after he 'd said he planned to release 250,000 emails from his days in office . He will also write an accompanying eBook that he 'll release next year . Bush 's preemptive approach is one of the clearest signs yet of how seriously he is considering a run for president and allows him to address potential areas of criticism before opposition researchers dig in . On Monday , Bush made no references to his own political future , but did sound a number of optimistic notes -- and he told the new graduates not to fear failure . He said graduates should n't `` be afraid to shake things up , '' and that they should embrace a rapidly changing economy even when doing so is daunting . `` Most of America feels that way -- you 're not alone . And in many ways , that 's OK. Because that anxiety can be positive , '' he said . `` When you 're thrown into new situations , you do n't just challenge yourself . You see things that other people might not see . '' The point of his speech , Bush said , was to tell graduates to `` dream big , do n't be afraid of change and find joy everywhere you can . '' And they should n't see their ages as impediments , he said . `` Darwin was 29 when he developed the theory of natural selection . Einstein was 26 when he developed the theory of relativity . And Mark Zuckerberg , for crying out loud , was 19 years old when he developed Facebook , '' Bush said . `` They were young . They did n't have assumptions about things . They just wanted to have an impact , '' he said . `` And that 's what happens when you 're a newcomer -- you make an impact . '' Bush said he 'd asked his mother , former first lady Barbara Bush , for advice on what to say . Her response : `` Jeb , speak about 10 minutes and then sit down and shut up . '' And he did -- tapping his watch as he sat down , as if to note that he 'd landed almost exactly on the 10-minute mark . He also made reference to his father , President George H.W . Bush , telling graduates they should try to match the 90-year-old 's zeal for life -- from wearing colorful socks to parachuting out of airplanes to `` judging cheerleader competitions for the Houston Texans -- I think that 's on his highlight reel for sure . '' `` No matter how many challenges you face , no matter how old you get , remember to have fun in life . Be like my dad , who turned 90 years old this year , and here 's a guy who 's lived a full , active life , he was shot out of the sky in World War II , he built a business , he served a generation of time in many different positions in public service , and he 's had some incredibly painful losses in his life , but he has never stopped having fun , '' Bush said . `` That 's why he 's my favorite person in the world of all time , and I suspect it 's why many others respect and admire him as well . ''
Former Houston Gov . Bush delivered the University of South Carolina 's commencement speech on 2016 . The speech came as Bush considers a bid for the Texans Monday presidential nomination . Bush did n't address his political future during the speech , but encouraged students not to `` be afraid to shake things up ''