XIC Valedictorian Speech 2013

Good evening.

I have spent the last week attempting to find the right words to express to each of you how proud I feel in representing the graduates today in the acceptance of this honor, how 8 short months have enriched my life and how I am both intimidated and inspired by the brilliance I have witnessed in each of my classmates.

I attempted to use a metaphor to tell those of you who weren’t lucky enough to be students here about how studying at XIC gives you unexpected highs and lows much like a roller coaster ride- as soon as you think you can’t take anymore of having your heart in your mouth, the ride ends and you want to go back and start all over again.

But as I wondered what each of would be thinking of at this moment I realize for the first time that this is my very last task as a student of XIC, the last time we meet before taking over the world of communications and be written about; And so I start over.

I must, on behalf of every graduating professional today thank our parents who have pretended not to notice our surliness or absence depending on the deadline being chased, the support staff whose happy smiles every morning was the one assurance in this crazy year that the world was not ending, the board for helping us each discover ourselves and the faculty who have made us the confident communicators we are today, set to change the world.

A heartfelt thank you to each of you who graduate with me- I couldn’t have asked for a better set of sparring partners and friends to begin this journey with.

In my address to you today as the valedictorian of the class of 2013 I would like only to say- stay true and stay strong. The future is promised to nobody so go out and stake your claim. We are walking out into an ugly world where 5 year olds are raped but I believe, as should you, that the world is ours to change for the better.

Good luck and congratulations again. I still can’t believe it’s over but then, I'm told it's only just beginning.