When I was asked to deliver the commencement address at my nephew Jaren’s middle school graduation, I worried more than normal. Fourteen- and 15-year-olds are especially tough.

First, they’re subject to torrential hormonal surges that can generate vast mood and personality swings. They can be wonderfully agreeable and fun to be with one moment and sullen and argumentative the next.

Plus, there’s a tendency for kids that age to be overly confident in their opinions.

I’d learned that it helps to get such audiences actively involved, so I asked them to repeat after me: “I am moving on.”

After talking about that for a while, I asked their parents to say with equal volume and vigor: “I am on your side.”

Later I asked the graduates to say: “I am smarter than I ever was but not as smart as I will ever be.”

Then I made this appeal: “For your own success and the sanity of your parents, please remember that as much as you know, there’s still much you don’t know. And as much as your parents don’t know, there’s much that they do know. And here’s the biggie: Sometimes, what your parents know is some of the stuff you don’t know.

“But even if you’re certain that you know what your parents don't think you know and that your parents don’t know what they think they know, treat them kindly and with respect. They’re still learning.”

This is Michael Josephson reminding you that character counts.