Remnants of High School Days – A Speech

[The other week, I was writing a couple of speeches for commencement exercises. Here in the Philippines, school year ends at these times. As I was checking my old notes, I came across a copy of the very first speech that I wrote. This was my very own valedictory address for our high school graduation, way back 1995. Oh, don’t be too surprised, I keep memorable stuff. The oldest is a provincial level - quiz bee review notes, that was my 6th grade. Anyway, I just feel like posting this one, for myself. It would be nice for my future kid/s (if I’ll get married, that is) to be able to read this one...]

Saint Francis Academy
Commencement Exercises
March 1995

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Today, full circle came into our young lives.

For the past four years, we devoted our time in our quest for wisdom and knowledge. Our young minds were slowly filled with facts, theories, orientations and knowledge that enriched our intellect. More than our fill of basic education, our gifts and capabilities were shaped up, our interest and skills discovered, our behavior and values were made, to strengthen our characters further. Indeed, we achieved a lot.

In our young lives, we have seen and experienced poverty. Many of us live through it everyday. If there‘s one achievement that we are most proud today, that is the step that we have taken to inch farther away from the influence of ignorance. Yes indeed, this day is a celebration of victory against poverty of the mind. Small victory as it may seem, but in our young lives, it empowered us to believe in dreaming big dreams.

We toiled and labored, and we have collectively gained alongside each other. Our parents, teachers, and mentors painstakingly stirred us to realize the importance and value of education, as well as to focus in our efforts to pursue knowledge as much as we can. Over the years, our minds were conditioned to think beyond what is expected of us. We learned how to look beyond the obstacles that could hinder our growth as well as from the threats that could steal the seed of motivation that was planted in our hearts.

Distinguished guests, you may be seeing us today as young people who are still cloaked with childhood dreams and innocence; but each dream we have today is a start towards our quest of being the best that we can be. From hereon, we will take with us every single seed of wisdom and courage that our alma mater instilled in us for the past four years.

We are about to leave the threshold of our beloved Alma mater and embark to a bigger world. We are about to enter a world that offers greater opportunities with bigger challenges as well. It may look a little scary to some of us, but our experiences had given us enough to survive in that world. We have been taught to defy the threat of mediocrity and ignorance. We have been conditioned to aim for excellence.

Indeed, the torch of enlightenment was kept alive in our days of learning in this institution. This torch will take us to the roads of higher education with confidence and wit. What we are today, what we gained over the years is the product of collective efforts of our dear parents, teachers and peers guided by the hands of the government’s arm, which is the Dept. of Education. Our deepest gratitude and love to all of you. What we will become in the future would be something that we owe to all of you.

I dream for the day when each member of this graduating class would look back to this day and be reminded that success started in this place. May God bless us all.

Copyright: Leofina Jane G. Galleta
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