1998 Fredericton Encaenia - Ceremony B
Valedictory Address
Delivered by: MacKinnon, Christa
Content
“Valedictory Address” (21 May 1998):1-3. (UA Case 68, Box 2)
Your Honours, Honourable Premier, Mr. Chancellor, Madame President, Honoured guests, fellow graduates, family and friends.
I would first like to extend my thanks for the opportunity to speak to you today. I consider it a great honour and privilege to be chosen to give today’s valedictory address.
Today marks an important day in our calendars. It is a milestone in each of our lives. For some it is a first step along the path of post-secondary education, while others having completed their formal education are entering the workforce. This finally being for a period longer than 4 months at a time! Regardless of where you fit on the spectrum, whether just starting, in the middle or completion of your formal education, during our time at University of New Brunswick we have shared many common experiences.
We have learned such invaluable lessons as coffee is indeed a food group, cars drive by the law building faster than anywhere else on campus, and whatever lineup you choose to join- it always slows down.
More seriously, we have been challenged to think, some days this being a harder task than others, learned that for some assignments the hardest part is figuring out what the question is, only to find that is not at all what the professor thought they were asking. Basically we have grown older, have some great stories, are wiser and unfortunately though richer in experience, our bank accounts reflect a different story! The exciting thing is we are really just getting started! The question remains how do we get started!
It is very easy to live in the future. To say we will do that tomorrow and let tasks remain unstarted and goals unattained. It is markedly harder to live every day to the fullest extent, to not put off to tomorrow what could truly be done today.
Today I challenge you to do otherwise. To chart your path by outlining your goals both personal and professional and working tirelessly to accomplish them. I do not mean simply considering the lofty or abstract goals such as living a fulfilled life but to ask yourself what factors are involved in this desire, this goal. Take a moment today and think about the factors in your life that are of greatest importance and try to live accordingly.
For me family is the utmost importance in my life and for me to attain my goals I try to let my family know how much value they add to my life on a daily basis, not just through words but though my time and actions and being from Cape Breton, a great deal of tea. In order to reach any of our goals, we must act not just talk. Studies have shown that our generation seeks a balanced lifestyle. We want to excel at our chosen career without having our lives being one dimensional. We require fun and wish to be productive members of a family. This is a very challenging life recipe but I don’t believe it is impossible. I believe that living with an eye to the future but living each day one day at a time and living these days to the fullest we will attain our goals and live full balanced lives.
My advice- strive to find a niche that suits you, fill your days with the people you love and enjoy thoroughly the time you have been blessed with the future will be the bright and shiny one we all dream.
Thank you
Christa MacKinnon
Your Honours, Honourable Premier, Mr. Chancellor, Madame President, Honoured guests, fellow graduates, family and friends.
I would first like to extend my thanks for the opportunity to speak to you today. I consider it a great honour and privilege to be chosen to give today’s valedictory address.
Today marks an important day in our calendars. It is a milestone in each of our lives. For some it is a first step along the path of post-secondary education, while others having completed their formal education are entering the workforce. This finally being for a period longer than 4 months at a time! Regardless of where you fit on the spectrum, whether just starting, in the middle or completion of your formal education, during our time at University of New Brunswick we have shared many common experiences.
We have learned such invaluable lessons as coffee is indeed a food group, cars drive by the law building faster than anywhere else on campus, and whatever lineup you choose to join- it always slows down.
More seriously, we have been challenged to think, some days this being a harder task than others, learned that for some assignments the hardest part is figuring out what the question is, only to find that is not at all what the professor thought they were asking. Basically we have grown older, have some great stories, are wiser and unfortunately though richer in experience, our bank accounts reflect a different story! The exciting thing is we are really just getting started! The question remains how do we get started!
It is very easy to live in the future. To say we will do that tomorrow and let tasks remain unstarted and goals unattained. It is markedly harder to live every day to the fullest extent, to not put off to tomorrow what could truly be done today.
Today I challenge you to do otherwise. To chart your path by outlining your goals both personal and professional and working tirelessly to accomplish them. I do not mean simply considering the lofty or abstract goals such as living a fulfilled life but to ask yourself what factors are involved in this desire, this goal. Take a moment today and think about the factors in your life that are of greatest importance and try to live accordingly.
For me family is the utmost importance in my life and for me to attain my goals I try to let my family know how much value they add to my life on a daily basis, not just through words but though my time and actions and being from Cape Breton, a great deal of tea. In order to reach any of our goals, we must act not just talk. Studies have shown that our generation seeks a balanced lifestyle. We want to excel at our chosen career without having our lives being one dimensional. We require fun and wish to be productive members of a family. This is a very challenging life recipe but I don’t believe it is impossible. I believe that living with an eye to the future but living each day one day at a time and living these days to the fullest we will attain our goals and live full balanced lives.
My advice- strive to find a niche that suits you, fill your days with the people you love and enjoy thoroughly the time you have been blessed with the future will be the bright and shiny one we all dream.
Thank you
Christa MacKinnon
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