VALEDICTORY ADDRESS
By: Joel Espanol Maturan
I am greatly honored to be standing before you at this moment of great joy. Years and years of efforts and struggles and of sacrifices have roiled on little by little until at last they brought to children who are graduating today this rarest of all occasions, this assemblage of seemingly happy faces. Today is the day that we have long waited and ardently damned to come. The joy that every graduates feels now that we have last now the first fruit of endeavor.
My dear fellow graduates, we should not just think of what we have done today we must extend our vision tomorrow. We must face the challenge that lies ahead as today is not the end of endeavor, but, marks the beginning for a greater task and serious commitment a commitment that has to be planted in your mind and heart as our great hero, Dr. Jose Rizal has said “The youth is the hope of our fatherland.” Which simply means, that we young graduates are the most responsible being for building a brighter and progressive community and to our country generally lies greatly on our shoulders. It depends on who we work on it.
Having a progressive and better community to live in is indeed a great success to all of us. However, this success will not just come in a wink. It calls for hard work, courage, perseverance, and strong determination. The success that we would achieve depends upon how we value education. We must make education as the first priority in our life now. Remember that what lies ahead need a lot of preparation building up ourselves with a foundation that cannot daunted even by hardest wind blows of trails. One has to develop not only physical strength but mental power to be able to attain the highest goal. Likewise, success and prosperity won’t be achieved by just a daring few. We must therefore clinched over feet’s together tightly, take hold up the grip until we get what we are aiming for we must do in our own little way and see what we can accomplish for the group. In so doing well find ourselves a valuable citizen of the community, when, we fully equipped with this necessary insights, well soon realize that working for our country will be least difficult rewarding. The knowledge and wisdom we will gain will eventually not only our personal asset but our country as well.
However, as this fruit of success we have acquired now marks the beginning of another challenge could not be achieved. Without the everlasting sacrifices by our parents, especially my mama Anita unselfish devotion to our welfare and motherly guidance by oru teachers and mentors thus, it is rather fitting for us the graduates step out into the open world every ready to tackle our tasks, ready for every turn of service to our community and to our people thereby making ourselves worthy daughter and sons of our parents, worthy products of our Alma Mater and worthy citizens of our country.
When I was elected president of the Student Body Organization last year. I had fun experiences because of the people I met. The council works together and sees to it that things are accomplished, not just accomplished but accomplished beautifully. We had so many problems along the way and sometimes, we need to be creative in finding solutions. My fellow graduates, don’t let the solutions come to you, go and find it. Having a high position was even tougher because I had to show everyone that I am a role model. This was not hard to do since I was raised in an environment that taught me good values and manners.
Likewise, doing great things and knowing that you worked very hard for them makes an achievement even sweeter because you know those are the fruits of your labor. I feel very fulfilled because I know I worked hard for this and I always aimed for excellence. Getting here was a bumpy ride but thanks to all the lessons, the guidance, the knowledge and the joy that everyone shared with me combined with the values I have learned to develop, I was able to reach I am now.
To my grade school teachers, thank you for always believing that I could do better. You are all so approachable and always willing to give me piece of advice that helped me become more responsible and open to new things. I learned that opening up to new ideas and new experiences intensify the knowledge that I gain in the classroom and for that I thank you very much.
To our former English teacher who gave us mental exercises every session to help develop our intellect and gave us difficult challenges to show how much we are capable of, thank you very much.
To my adviser thank you for honing my skills especially in math it really helped a lot especially in the math section of the entrance examinations. Thank you for the love and care you showed to our class and more thank you for the great help you extended in my pass research. Despite the long hours of researching our projects, unexpected mistakes during the experiment, we are able to develop outstanding research paper. Thank you for the laughs and for making me and the other members of the student council set a great student leaders, as my current sponsor above, thank you for allowing me to bother you when I need your advice, and most of all, for believing that despite my wrong turns and de tours, I can still be a great student leader.
Lastly, enjoying something that you do makes achieving things effortless. Sometimes it pays not to worry so much about where you ranked but rather think about the joy your get with what you do. I know that everyone feels extremely happy and our parents are proud that we are able to secure a diploma after all these years. Always aim for excellence. Even if you enjoy what you’re doing, the hardships will still be present. I know a lot who strive hard for success and lot as well who, unfortunately, just settle for mediocrity. Now, I would like to challenge you to push yourselves harder and always aim higher because in doing so, you will be successful!
My fellow graduates always remember this famous quote by David Frost, “Don’t aim for success if you want it; just do what you love and believe in, and it will come naturally.”
Thank you all, good luck and congratulations!
