2001 Fredericton Encaenia - Ceremony C
Valedictory Address
Delivered by: London, Adrian
Content
“Valedictory Address” (17 May 2001): 1-3. (UA Case 68, Box 2)
Your Honour, Madam President, Members of the Board, Honored Guests, Fellow Graduates, Family and Friends. I would like to thank you for being here today. A special thanks to my family, mom and dad especially, for supporting me through my academic endeavours, and loving me even when I haven’t been so easy to love.
In attempting to write this speech for you today, I found myself at a loss for words. For those of you who know me, this is highly unusual. I turned to reading valedictory addresses from other universities, and found that most were simply the life story of the writer, of how each became a university graduate.
Objectively, my life story would probably not be viewed as extraordinary, pretty typical perhaps, so I would like to speak about the most important thing with which I am leaving this university; the friendships which I have made during this exceptional journey.
I have been graced with a group of friends who stand behind each other through thick and thin. I hope I have done the same. We seem to enhance the good in each other, and accept the bad unconditionally. Each of these friends offered something different to the group. Their traits ranged from the highly rational, to the near genius, to the completely carefree. Our long and short-term goals are vastly different. Our backgrounds share little in common. However, no matter how different each individual seems in description, we all share something that draws us together.
The experiences we shared ranged from schoolwork to sports, student politics and the strictly social. All have contributed to our personal and professional development. I owe my successes, my self-esteem, and my fondest memories to these individuals.
I wish I could share with you the stories of the great experiences we have had over the last five years. I wish I had some way of thanking them for all that they have done for me.
It seems somewhat sad now. We are all going in different directions, but it would be selfish to wish that nothing would change, that life could just stay the same. It took some time to come to this revelation, but what I finally did, I realized that when we do go away, we will meet others, and be able to share what we have shared. This comforts me as I embark on my own journey.
Take a moment and think of your closest friends before you leave this stage. Think of all they mean to you, and what you hope you mean to them. Friendship is the tie that binds, something that cannot be bought of sold. For me, friendship has been what made university life and graduation so special.
For each of you, there will be a special experience and memory you will take away. Maybe it will be a particular professor, an academic experience, or an event or group with which you took part. Whatever it is, I hope that what you finally leave here with means as much to you as my friendships have meant for me.
Thank You
Your Honour, Madam President, Members of the Board, Honored Guests, Fellow Graduates, Family and Friends. I would like to thank you for being here today. A special thanks to my family, mom and dad especially, for supporting me through my academic endeavours, and loving me even when I haven’t been so easy to love.
In attempting to write this speech for you today, I found myself at a loss for words. For those of you who know me, this is highly unusual. I turned to reading valedictory addresses from other universities, and found that most were simply the life story of the writer, of how each became a university graduate.
Objectively, my life story would probably not be viewed as extraordinary, pretty typical perhaps, so I would like to speak about the most important thing with which I am leaving this university; the friendships which I have made during this exceptional journey.
I have been graced with a group of friends who stand behind each other through thick and thin. I hope I have done the same. We seem to enhance the good in each other, and accept the bad unconditionally. Each of these friends offered something different to the group. Their traits ranged from the highly rational, to the near genius, to the completely carefree. Our long and short-term goals are vastly different. Our backgrounds share little in common. However, no matter how different each individual seems in description, we all share something that draws us together.
The experiences we shared ranged from schoolwork to sports, student politics and the strictly social. All have contributed to our personal and professional development. I owe my successes, my self-esteem, and my fondest memories to these individuals.
I wish I could share with you the stories of the great experiences we have had over the last five years. I wish I had some way of thanking them for all that they have done for me.
It seems somewhat sad now. We are all going in different directions, but it would be selfish to wish that nothing would change, that life could just stay the same. It took some time to come to this revelation, but what I finally did, I realized that when we do go away, we will meet others, and be able to share what we have shared. This comforts me as I embark on my own journey.
Take a moment and think of your closest friends before you leave this stage. Think of all they mean to you, and what you hope you mean to them. Friendship is the tie that binds, something that cannot be bought of sold. For me, friendship has been what made university life and graduation so special.
For each of you, there will be a special experience and memory you will take away. Maybe it will be a particular professor, an academic experience, or an event or group with which you took part. Whatever it is, I hope that what you finally leave here with means as much to you as my friendships have meant for me.
Thank You
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