Valedictory Address

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

Your Honour, Mr. Chancellor, Madam President, honoured guests, fellow graduates, family and friends:

They say that most people die at 23, but we don’t bury them until they are 65. The traditional system of get a good education and get a job and work for 40 years, no longer exists.

I challenge you to set new dreams and goals now. Looking back we have achieved an awesome goal, a university education. What was your reason for choosing the path that you have? And more importantly, do you know where that path is going….

As I reflected on writing this speech, of course at the last possible moment (I am an engineer); I wondered what message to leave with you. We each took our first breath in this life by ourselves and we will all breathe our last, by ourselves. Anything that happens “in between” is up to you and a “can do attitude”.

Of course during our journey “in between”, we do rely on others for guidance, so I asked around to see what I should say during this address. Most everyone that I talked to said keep it funny and short. Well here is my attempt at funny and you can judge to see if it is short enough:

Picture this, France, during the Revolution in the late 1700’s:

A computer scientist (at the time working on an abacus), a biology major and an engineer were all to lose their heads. Because they were an educated bunch, they had a choice of laying face down or face up at the guillotine. The computer scientist thought for a moment and decided face down, the drum roll ensued and the blade dropped. At the last moment, the blade got stuck and as was custom, she was free to go. The biology major also decided for face down, and as luck would have it, the blade got stuck a second time and he was released. Last, but definitely not least, came the engineer, not even the iron ring could come to their rescue now. As an engineer, curious to the end, the position of choice was face up. The drums rolled and the executioner prepared to drop the blade when the engineer exclaimed: “Wait, I think I see your problem”.

So my warning is not to lose sight of who you are and what your goals and dreams are, simply to maintain the status of what your business card says you are.

To truly find out who we are, we have to look at the whole life experience because ever since we were this big……other people have been influencing us. We are merely a conglomeration of various experiences. Two very special people have affected my life and opened doors to wonderful experiences….I would like to thank my mom and dad because they have been my cheerleaders, my support and my guidance. The next time you get the opportunity, thank those that have affected your life in a positive way.

My mom taught me to dream because every time we would buy a lottery ticket we would plan down to the dollar, how we would spend it. My dad shared with me his vision of the way life was meant to be and I strive to achieve that vision.

Whatever a person can conceive, they can achieve. Your goal may be to have gobs of money or simply a cottage on the lake. A goal is merely a dream with a date. A goal should be so great, so untouchable that only with divine intervention could it be achieved. Have you set those goals?

I thank you for helping me achieve one of my goals to be Valedictorian at one of the most respected Universities in the country.

We have laid a wonderful foundation over the last few years. We have developed friendships that will last our lifetimes, our experiences will be with us forever, each of us now has the ability, the talent and the support from those friends to do what we choose…..

Please take a moment and think of a person that you respect; they have done what they chose and they have achieved great success in life. Listen closely to these words from an unknown author:

Figure it out for yourself my friend,
You’ve all that the greatest people have had
2 arms, 2 legs, 2 ears, 2 eyes
A brain to use if you would be wise
With this equipment they all began
so start way ahead and say “I can”

Look them over, the wise and the great
They take their good from a common plate
with similar knifes and forks they use
with similar laces, they tie their shoes
The world considers them brave and smart
but you’ve all they had when they made their start

You can triumph and come to skill
You can be great if you only will

You’re well equipped for what fights you choose
You have legs and arms and a brain to use
A person who’s risen great deeds to do
Began their life with no more than you

You are the handicap that you must face
You are the one that must choose your place
You must say where you want to go
How much to study the truth to know

God has equipped you for life
But lets you choose success or strife
Courage must come from that soul within
A person must furnish their will to win

So figure it out for yourself my friend
With your equipment they all began

Get hold of yourself and say….I CAN!

Let’s dream our dreams and set our goals, so not one of us dies at 23.