Essay on Graduation Speech Many Chapters Yet to Write

The fairy tales that forever touch the strings of the human heart have one thing in common: a happy ending. For dramatic effect, the speech you are about to hear begins with one. When we dare to venture into the past to find inspiration for the future, we are inevitably bound to face the moments we’d much sooner forget. Our repeated experience has shown that we are more inclined to find profundity in our seconds of misery and suffering than in years and years of commonplace encounters. It is with that fact in mind that I ask you to imagine this very room, and this very ceremony as it stood exactly five years ago today –Sunday, June 11, 1995. As I imagine it, the scene is no different than the one that extends before me today: an†¦show more content†¦All that remains to be said of the struggle that ensued is embodied here, before your very eyes. As the sole artifact of victory, I unearth the demons of my past not to depress you with sorrow or to impress you with triumph; I hope only to stand here today to bear humble witness to the preciousness of every instant, and to the speed with which the gift of life may be revoked. As this tale of survival is my happy ending, for all of us, this commencement ceremony must also foretell a new beginning. We must today come to terms with the fact that we all have faced – and survived – one of the most difficult and comprehensive curriculums this nation has to offer. As our reflections of this past prepare us to face the future, whispers of success inevitably break the silent moment of contemplation. For indeed, it is all too easy to be swept away in the seductions of a golden tomorrow; now is our brief opportunity to survey the landscape and see just how high our mountains will rise. I make it my duty today, in these short minutes, to disrupt briefly the illusion of our daydreams and to focus our attentions on the reality of the path ahead. As I intend my personal tale to illustrate, the unfolding of life is barely linear, and the trail to the top of our mountains of success is never unobstructed. The message is sobering, but hardly intended to discourage. Instead, the fleeting frailty of our own existence, theShow MoreRelatedPublic Speech On Public Speaking901 Words   |  4 Pagespublic speaking. A guest speaker coming to talk to our class, the priest giving a homily at mass, large assemblies with inspirational speakers, and our graduation speech are a few examples that come to mind. Although it seems like only famous people or teachers ever have to speak in public, in reality, almost everyone will have to give a speech in front of a large group at some point in their lives. This is why public speaking is a required course for most students. Public speaking is importantRead MoreGeneral Douglas Macarthur s Duty, Honor, Country ``1359 Words   |  6 PagesThe Speech â€Å"Duty, Honor, Country† was delivered by General Douglas MacArthur to the Cadets of the Military Academy in West Point, New York. General Douglas MacArthur was being awarded with the Sylvanus Thayer Award to commend the General for all his hard work and devotion to the Military. The Award is a memorable tribute to the ideals that inspired the late General Sylvanus Thayer, who was also known as â€Å"the Father of West Point†. In General Douglas MacArthur’s â€Å"Duty, Honor, Country† speech, he usedRead MoreThe 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens800 Words   |  4 P agesAs a bestselling novel, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens by Sean Covey challenges students to become better versions of themselves through a methodology of intra- and interpersonal exercises taught by many religions and self-help programs around the globe. In this book, readers are taught that prioritizing, proactivity, good communication and intrapersonal strength are all equally important, and that one must achieve inner determination and self esteem before their relationships can be healthyRead MoreGraduation Speech1128 Words   |  5 PagesSasenarine Tomby Graduation Speech 2011 Good afternoon [name of members of the head table], teachers, parents, students, fellow graduates and distinguished guests. I must first and foremost thank God for this blessing and honor to stand before you today as Valedictorian of the Class of 2011. Yet, today is not only my day to shine. Every graduate present here is deserving of high praise and recognition and I would like to congratulate each of you on reaching this milestone in life. IRead MoreThe Adoption Of The Common Core State Standards3072 Words   |  13 Pagesstandards aim is to align instruction with this framework so that many more students than at present can meet requirements of college and career readiness (Common Core State Standards Initiative, 2010a, p. 5). With this end in mind, there should be a renewed focus on the importance of career and technical education in schools and a clear vision of how these courses are articulated to assist with work and vocational aspirations upon graduation and beyond. â€Å"T he adoption and implementation of the CCSS coincidesRead MoreChicanismo in Burciaga ´s Drink Cultura1162 Words   |  5 Pagesoutcome, we can go into a lot of resentment towards other people, and think to ourselves at some point that we are worthiness. In chapter â€Å"The Motherland† the author talks about the pride people take about being Latinos, he talks about being back in Mexico and how it’s all so different once you’ve lived on the other side, a quote that gives you a mental picture would be â€Å"Many white Euro-Mexican will shrug their shoulders, declare they are 100 percent Mexican do not partition or categorize their ancestryRead MoreHello Essay8946 Words   |  36 PagesRon Suskind Chapter by chapter summary posted by jasemonet on 4/21 2:43 PM A Hope In The Unseen By Ron Suskind Chapter by chapter summary A Hope In the Unseen is an amazing book; it deals with race and class. I typed up the notes chapter by chapter. There not extremely detailed summaries, but it can be helpful to anyone who needs a review on the chapters of the book. Chapter 1 Ââ€" Something to push against Chapter 2 Ââ€" Dont let them hurt your children Chapter 3 Ââ€" Rise andRead MoreAcademic Education And Academic Schools2036 Words   |  9 Pagescountry (Tomar). For decades, Harvard and the rest of the â€Å"Ivy League† have been the top academic schools in the country, but our they the overall best schools for our students to attend? These schools are academically incomparable, but there are also many drawbacks to these prestigious institutions. Researchers have seen by analyzing graduates of the top tier schools and current students that they are intellectual, but their performance in the workplace and in social settings do not live up to theirRead MoreEssay about The Color of Water7106 Words   |  29 Pagesmother’s perspective, Ruth, and the other from the son’s perspective, James. 2. What is the ethnic background of the author? * The ethnic background of the author is Caucasian and African-American. Chapter 1: Dead 1. Why is this chapter written in italics? * This chapter was written in Italics because it was written from a different point of view which was Ruth’s perspective who talks about her past as a child. 2. Why is the mother reluctant to talk about her family? *Read MoreLanguage of Advertising20371 Words   |  82 Pagespeculiarities of advertising language are the subject of this graduation paper. At the beginning, in the first chapter is given a general definition of advertising language, its history. The second chapter is types of advertising (consumer advertising, media of consumer advertising). In the third chapter we consider slogans, logos, types with tone and some thoughts of colour. In the fourth chapter we study advertising as a service. The fifth chapter includes new agencies such as newspapers, periodicals,