Valedictory Address

“Valedictory Address” (27 May 1983): 1-4. (UA Case 68, Box 2)

Fellow Graduates, Honored guests, Members of the faculty and administration, Ladies and Gentlemen. Good Afternoon.

It may be something that need not be said, but I am very honored to be delivering this speech and to be taking part in such a fine tradition. I say that with sincerity knowing that there are many among the graduating class who are more qualified and perhaps more deserving than I to be standing here today. I thank the graduating class for this privilege.

I would not be telling the truth were I to say that I found it easy to prepare this address. To determine the most appropriate composition and delivery, I approached a friend who was a former valedictorian and this very university and his answer was that the valedictory speech provided the opportunity to compliment the University and show appreciation for the education received or it could be an opportunity to deliver a scathing attack on all wrongdoings or misdeeds witnessed during the past four years.

I questioned him further asking which would be more appropriate. He replied, “It depends on whether you deliver your speech before or after you receive your degree.”

I have received my degree and I still do not intend to deliver a scathing attack. I have enjoyed the past few years at UNBSJ and can sincerely say that I am proud to have attended this institution of high learning. While I hesitate to impart the impression that this institution is without flaw, I would consider it a challenging task to find a university with a better overall assembly of faculty and administration.

I will not continue with an unending list of compliments and niceties directed towards those who make up this university, for each of us in the graduating class have our own feelings and favored reflections on these best years of our lives.

Yes that is correct, some would have us believe that these past few years were the best years of our lives.
-Grueling exam schedules
-All night cram sessions
-10,000 word essays all due yesterday

I may be speaking tongue in cheek when I refer to some of these less popular elements of university life, but I feel it is important that these not be forgotten in the glory of the day. Graduates do not forget the hard work and sacrifices. These should make us appreciate today and our accomplishments represented by these commencement exercises. Do not underestimate the importance of achieving your degree and although I believe humility to be a virtue, today is one of those days when you should pat yourself on the back and be proud of a job well done.

We have all come a long way since the beginning of our formal education. Mine started at the Jones Creek Elementary School which was among the last one room school houses in New Brunswick. The grades ranged from one to six, heat was a wood stove in the middle of the room, water was a pump outside, and washrooms were out back. That was a long time ago. For most of us the learning process has continued uninterrupted since then. Each stage being an accomplishment in its own right and providing a stepping stone to the next.

We all achieved the goal of high school only to realize something more was required to succeed in the world today.

I’m sure there were many of you who, like myself, felt that a university degree would provide that elusive means to an end.

Now here we are at our day of graduation only to find that our accomplishments do not bring us to an end, but rather leave us facing new challenges and the realization that we have so much to learn and new goals to attain.

Although most of us have not discovered an end to our gathering of knowledge, university has sharpened our ability to learn. This should be the purpose of a university education, not the memorization of facts and figures from a text, but the understanding and confidence to question that which is often blindly accepted.

The university experience can benefit in social ways as well as academic. Many friendships are developed and thrive when provided with the anchor of the university. However, graduation is a time of farewells and although we may intend to keep in touch, the reality is that most of us will go our separate ways to make new friends in different circles. Often one doesn’t get the opportunity to say good-bye to everyone. That is part of the reason why I feel privileged to have been chosen to deliver this traditional farewell address. I get the opportunity to say farewell to everyone.

To close my speech I attempted to come up with some all-encompassing advice that will aid you all in future endeavors. I’ve come to the conclusion that there is no such advice. I will however offer one suggestion – Don’t get so trapped in the search for success that you forget one of the most important achievements in life, that is to be happy.

For what good is success and all ones achievements if happiness is sacrificed in the process.

To the graduating class of 1983 I say goodbye, good luck and be happy.

Thank You.