Jon Bon Jovi, the iconic rock musician and philanthropist, delivered an unexpectedly personal and substantive commencement address at Rutgers University-Camden. Rather than trading on rock star glamour, he shared the story of how a series of unplanned turns — from arena football team owner to homeless advocate — led him to his most meaningful work. The pencil metaphor came after he acknowledged that some graduates had their futures mapped out while others didn't — and that both were fine. 'Life is a long, bumpy road, but that makes for an exciting ride,' he said. 'Choose a direction and if the road turns — turn! If there is a fork in the road — take it!' He had lived this principle himself. Fourteen years earlier, he had given a commencement speech at another New Jersey school, and went back to review those words through Google. The person he was then — and the plans he had then — bore little resemblance to where life actually took him. The pencil metaphor captured the wisdom of planning without rigidity.