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My Valedictorian Speech
Tuesday, December 16, 2008 at 1:09 AM

Before I begin any formal addresses and thank you’s, I would like each and every one of us graduates to take a moment to think about how we got here. No, I don’t mean by bus or by car… What did it take for you to get to this graduation ceremony?

What did you put in? Money? Effort? Time? Perseverance?

And what will you take away, as you walk out of this hall and out of Taylor’s and on with your life?

To Mr David Collins - thank you for addressing me earlier... our ever-energetic lecturers; the helpful Taylor’s staff; parents, grandparents; the supporters of our students; thank you for being here. There is no honour greater than celebrating this coming-of-age ceremony with the ones that you love.

This is a special graduation as it marks not only the parting of students to a new life ahead, but also the farewell to the cornerstone of the International Canadian Pre-University Programme: Mr Frank Meagher. Mr Frank will proceed to years ahead of relaxation, and contemplation about how much he misses us.

Though we are the stars of the show today, I think we really need to thank the ones who brightened our lights. Teachers are people who start things they never see finished, and for which they never get thanks until it is too late.

I don’t want to be biased and just name a few, though you know who you are; because every ICPU student has had a unique experience with a lecturer. For your time spent and your knowledge shared, dear lecturers, thank you.

To all the international students who sparked life and diversity onto our campus and into our course – thank you for coming to Malaysia and sharing this experience with us.

And to the Malaysian students… It’s funny how we continuously criticize the Malaysian school system, claiming nothing good could come out of it. But, you have.

I think we have excelled far beyond expectations. I commend the student council for pushing to make ICPU life even more fulfilling. I commend the students who dedicatedly organized events despite their busy schedules. And I also commend those students who made their voices heard, be it in class or in societies or beyond. Keep striving; for if you have not received your treasure yet, one fine day you will.

We’ve all made our way through ICPU and now have earned the right to don these robes that so perfectly cover the lovely dresses and suits we bought to wear for graduation. But, seriously, it is an honour above glitz and glamour; another milestone in our lives.

So, we come back to the question – what is it we have to take home with us from ICPU? Of course, we have knowledge and skills. Hopefully. We have proof on paper that we are educated individuals. We have new experiences, new opinions; memories of a great year.

And most importantly, we have new friends; comrades who were with us when we learned and when we forgot; when we were victorious and when we failed; when we were popular and when we were invisible; when we were cheerful and when we were crushed; when we were trying to be someone else and when we were truly ourselves.

We have another entry into the book of our lives. Whatever has been written in this chapter can never be erased, because it builds upon the plot of our lives; making the story complete.

Charles Dickens once said: "The pain of parting is nothing to the joy of meeting again." Be it fate, luck or whatever you believe in, I pray that amidst the uncertainty of our futures ahead, we will meet our friends again.

So I pray that in the wake of this graduation ceremony, you will find new strength; that you will soar high on wings like eagles, that you will run and not grow weary, that you will walk and not feel faint. For lying ahead of you are plans of great promise; roads that you will have to take and paths you will have to forge for yourselves.

Wherever you go and whichever path you choose; may you remember our beautiful experiences as a guiding light to take you through this journey of life.

Have a wonderful day – we deserve it.

Thank you.

End.