Valedictory Address

“Valedictory Address” (20 May 1999): 1-4. (UA Case 68, Box 2)

Your excellencies, Your Honor, Judge Daigle, Madame Justice, Mr. Chancellor, Madame President, honored guests, fellow graduates, family and friends. Welcome to this very special event.

First and foremost, I would like to thank the graduates for this special opportunity of representing one of the last graduating classes in the nineteen hundreds.

Quickly approaching is the new millennium. Many see this as the ultimate opportunity to start anew.

A new beginning. This rings true for many individuals graduating here today. We are now armed with our post-secondary education.

Some of us are now prepared to venture forth. Facing the challenges, and embracing the many opportunities the world will inevitably place before us.

Others may view their achievement today as an important stepping stone in their chosen educational path.

I am part of the latter group, and my parents will attest to this. I have chosen the path of professional student and maker of great debt.

All jokes aside. The opportunities which lay before us are limitless. Our potential is enormous.

Do we even realize how blessed we are to have had the opportunity of acquiring a post secondary education? We are not part of a fortunate number of individuals who have had this luxury. This places us in a realm where opportunities are increasingly available to us.

Armed with our education it is very doubtful that many of us will ever have to worry about where our next meal will come from; or how we will be able to clothe ourselves or pay the rent.

Not for a second do I wish to imply that we do not deserve to benefit from all of our hard work. Many of us have had to make sacrifices of varying degrees over the years to achieve what we have today; and we should be commended for this. We deserve praise and recognition.

What I wish to convey is my belief that our debt to society is huge. We have received an awesome education from an awesome institution in an awesome country; and in reality although my bank statements may beg to differ for a pretty awesome price.

So what is our responsibility? How can we give back? Where do we start? What can we do?

I believe our responsibility goes well beyond the payment of our student loans.

People often say to me “Oh, you’re graduating from nursing? You must be going to the States. There is a lot of money and opportunity in that you know!”

I usually respond with “First and foremost I am Canadian, and secondly I am a New Brunswicker. I have always held enormous pride in my country, my province, and my town.

I believe there are many opportunities waiting to be explored throughout our great nation. I feel a huge sense of responsibility to help clean up the yard I came from before I start cleaning up someone else’s.

I do not mean to imply that it is wrong to explore opportunities in other countries. I myself, half plan to do this for a few years. But, I do feel a sense of responsibility to return and make my way in New Brunswick. But in terms of giving back to society. Location is really irrelevant. Opportunities exist everywhere. They are limitless.

For example: today’s youth are in crises. They are in dire need for leadership. They need role models: Individuals who will take the time to listen to their issues; to support their choices; to defend their rights and freedom of expression.

They need independence in the context of a structured environment. This is our future society and many of them are struggling; unable to cope. They need help and we need to answer their pleas.

The giving of moneys to charities is a very noble act; but do not fool yourself into believing you’ve done your part.

It is only through the selfless act of giving of yourself that you become connected to those around you; and subsequently to your community and the youth of today, when you become connected.

It is inevitable that you will become affected by the going’s-on in your community. You will come to feel a sense of responsibility for your neighbors, and a sense of pride in your community.

Even donating two hours a month to a charity, a good bank, of a youth center is a start. At first glace it may seem minute. But just imagine. If everyone in this building were to give 2 hours a month out of their busy lives and help out a child, and adolescents, a family or a charity.

Think of the realm of possibilities. The amount that could be accomplished is enormous; and what we would receive in return would be even greater.

An opportunity to meet new people, and increased sense of pride in oneself and in one’s community; and possibly even an overall increase in one’s health and well-being.

I myself have experienced what I am preaching here today. I had a tumultuous connectedness towards my family, and subsequently to my community.

When I was 13 my mother faced the battle of her life. She was diagnosed with lung cancer. This threw the whole family into a state of chaos. Whatever level of family intimacy we had appeared to be severed. Each family member withdrew into his or her own world in their attempts to deal with this- as opposed to uniting together as family to see this crisis through.

There was no intervention on the part of the medical establishment to assess the functioning of our family unit in light of this crisis. We were left alone to deal with it.

Thanks be to God, my mother survived, but our family unit was in shambles. By the time I was 14 I was drinking, experimenting with drugs, and basically doing my best to get into trouble- attention seeking behaviors which I can readily identify today as being an adolescent without the coping skills or support systems in place to deal with the loss, grief, and anger over potentially loosing someone I loved. These issues along with a host of others only seemed to snowball the problem.

Amazingly, I stayed in school and was able to graduate. I even attended two years at University before the addictions overtook me. At the age of 22 and to the point where I was starting to experience a second episode of drug induced psychosis. Due to the massive amounts of chemicals and such I repeatedly placed into my system, I reached my bottom. I had had enough. I took a taxi to the detox, and there started my road to recovery.

While in detox, I realized that the programs and supports available for individuals like me were inadequate. It was then that I decided I would become a nurse and instrument for change.

Well, I’m now 27 and gosh darn it. Look at me- I’m a nurse. Who would have thought? Before my experience at detox, I would have never guessed it myself.

But, the amount of knowledge I have acquired from my experience is invaluable: and following my 10 month course in the fall to become a Certified Addictions Counselor. I will start making my move and take one step closer to achieving one of my goals I set before myself. This one being to work towards public education in realm of addictions; and making positive change in our provincial detoxification and rehabilitation programs.

I relate my story to you all here today in an attempt to open your eyes to the struggles facing some of today’s youth.

We all have our own story with our own set of circumstances. But what I would like us all to leave here today with is the understanding that a caring and concerned individual can make all the difference in a child’s life. It is through the act of volunteering and doing outreach that we have the best chances of connecting with the kids who need it the most.

I truly believe that since I became connected to my community, I have become affect by it’s struggles and I have taken pride in its’ accomplishments. I have been and continue to be a positive force for change; and I challenge all of you here today; especially the graduates to take responsibility for your communities wherever you choose to go. Get connected and become a positive force for change.

The youth of today need you.

Thank You.