Valedictory Address

"Valedictory Address" (28 May 2009): 1-2. (UA Case 68, Box 3).

Your Honour, Mr. Chancellor, Members of the Board of Governors, Mr. President, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, and graduates.
Even as I stand before you today, knees knocking, degree secured, this incredible honour has yet to sink in. Graduates, you have enabled me to soar these last four years and it is truly humbling to be able to help you say goodbye to this life-changing institution today.

For many of us, today was the last walk up the hill as undergraduates. Whether it's been four years in the making or more, the taste is still as sweet. While today is certainly a day to celebrate, I would like to take this time to remember those who did not get to take their last walk up the hill. Every one of them contributed greatly to the University of New Brunswick, and ultimately to our lives. May they rest in peace, forever in our hearts and always proudly UNB.

Earlier this year, I had the great privilege to have a few conversations with a UNB Alumni and in the short time I spent with him, he drastically impacted my life. In one of these meetings he stated that what UNB, and the world, needed was an agent of change. At first I thought this was a simple statement, well of course the world needed to be changed; that is nothing new. However, he then went on to explain that you can have all the ideas in the world and unless you have the tactics to make change happen, they are the equivalent of fluff. The week after meeting this gentleman, I let these words resonate in my own life as a graduating UNB student. UNB has given us the tactics that have, and will continue, to enable our generation to be agents of change. We walked into this university with ideas, which were nurtured throughout our time here and UNB has given us the tools to be vehicles of change. It is this message, the power our generation has to be agents of change that is very close to my heart and that I want to share with you all today.

I have spent the last four years allowing myself to give in to the gravity of the University of New Brunswick. While those of you in the stands may not understand this, I am certain that the sea of folding chairs in front of me knows what I am referring to. It is this sense of pride you get as soon as you walk through the gates. It's the invisible hand always pushing you to do better and encouraging you to grow. This bubble that we have called home for the last few years has invoked a unique passion in all of us, whether you have realized it yet or not. I think this passion is seen at its best when threatened or confronted. Over the course of our time here, we as students and even UNB itself has been brought into question and openly criticized by some. Quite often this criticism has taken the form of assumptions. Graduates, you have heard the assumptions about us, about our generation. Just to highlight a few: our generation can text faster than we can talk, Facebook is not only our homepage but our lifeline, our generation is apathetic and quick to burn couches (whether to stay warm or for general entertainment), to our generation, the sentence 'my student loan came in' has more than one meaning, and apparently we don't vote because we don't care. It was two years ago when these assumptions that many had about our generation were proved to be just that, assumptions.

When the Post-Secondary Commission recommendations threatened not only UNB Saint John, but the very existence of our university, those who were quick to criticize the students of UNB were witnesses to the power and passion of us, the students. The students on both campuses, rose the challenge we were faced with. We attended rallies, engaged in conversations, meaningful debates and wrote letters and policies to everyone and anyone who would listen. We, our supposed apathetic, couch burning generation, worked together with the government to reach the decision that was decided upon; that the legacy of UNB as one university with two campuses is best for our education. We used our educated voices to convince the decision makers and they listened. We threw stones at giants and succeeded. It was with the promise of UNB's continuation that I knew what our generation and my peers could accomplish.

As I prepared to write this speech two years later I found our generation being called into question yet again. Assumptions began again. How are you going to inspire graduates when the economy is in the state it is in? How can you give hope to a room full of graduates who will more than likely not find work? The answer I give them? You don't know us. You don't know the arts, nursing and Renaissance College students of UNB. Yes, we do have it harder than previous graduating classes, there is no way around that fact, but we also have this magnificent opportunity. It is no secret that the world is a scary place right now, but in the thick of chaos there is beauty for never has the world been more ready for change than right now. Ladies and Gentlemen I would like you to take a look at the graduates before you and take comfort in your future because there are no better people to send out in to the world than them.

Renaissance College graduates, you sit here before us with the dust of the developing world on your hands and the need for change heavy on your hearts. You have seen first hand, whether in Canada or Rwanda, what the world needs. You have consistently challenged the status quo and are truly ethically inspiring.

Nurses, you have substantially changed our campus and the entire community through clinics, workshops and the endless volunteering you do. You are empathetic to a fault, daily defying the expectations of our generation.

Arts graduates, never underestimate the value of our education. We are the word smiths that will bring enemies together, our depth and range of knowledge will make us invaluable to a world in need. Arts students, we are a force to be reckoned with.

So graduates, yes we could walk out of here today with fear in our steps, intimidated by what lies before us, but I encourage you to once again prove them wrong.

This is the part of the speech where I am supposed to tell you that today is the first day of the rest of your life and our time to start making a difference, but I am not. Today is a celebration of what we've accomplished because we have been changing the world since we stepped foot on this campus.

Graduates, to borrow a quote from Adlai Stevenson, "When you leave here, don't forget why you came".

I hope the relationships you have formed here and the seminal moments that have moved you to the core never leave you. Our story is infinite and I look forward to shaking up the world with you. Thank you.