VALEDICTION

 The complexity of life is inevitable. The future is unpredictable. Life offers nothing constant, only change; a multitude of changes. What you have today, you will lose tomorrow but what you will be tomorrow must be better than what you are today.

            My dear classmates, we have come to celebrate the grandest moment of being a student. After 4 years of hardship, struggle, and perseverance, here we are, just like the grateful farmers, looking joyously at the plenteous, God- given harvest. Today, we reap the fruits of our labor and enjoy the richness of it. We see the results of the tears we’ve shed, the stressful days and sleepless nights. Finally, we have seen God’s answer to our prayers.

            But then, harvest doesn’t mean it’s the end of the story because in the next planting season, we have to plant some more, add a little more hard work and pray even more earnestly so that we may expect a far better harvest in the years to come.

            Success is most enjoyable when it is shared. Therefore, on behalf of the graduates, I’d like to share this moment and express our heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the persons who watered and cultivated the ambitious dreams of ours that we may come up with this harvest.

            To our friends and acquaintances who walked along with us side by side, we greatly appreciate the friendship and company you’ve shared. Thank you for the listening ears, the helping hands, and for being the shoulder that we can cry on.

            Our dear teachers, advisers, and mentors, you have imparted to us not only the lessons found in books. You’ve given us a second home and taught us useful lessons in life that we’ll surely bear in mind and pass to the succeeding generations as soon as we become just like you, ma’am and sir. Big thanks to you!

            Our most loved family, especially our parents and guardians; you are our superheroes and greatest fans in one. Your sacrifices from our birth until now are countless as well as your hardships to sustain our needs and send us to school. That’s incomparable! A million thanks for your love, affection, and unconditional support. We love you so much! Because of you, we can truly say, "We made it!”

            Likewise to our beloved Alma Mater, let us say this to you with honor and dignity. You have armed us as a complete and prepared person to face the challenges and realities of life in our field of profession. We salute you for molding and nurturing us.

            The biggest thanks belong to God because without Him, we are nothing. The success that we are enjoying right this moment is all because of You, Lord and in Your hands we commit our lives and our future. Thank You very much for the increasing grace and guidance You’ve bestowed on us. And thank You for driving us to a place of success. Although the road we have passed is not straight. But then, here we are, shouting for joy.

            This joy of our success, we also share to our benefactors, especially the Provincial Government Scholarship Grant, I am happy that I have availed the privileges of being a provincial scholar; and to all of you who have helped that we may become what we are right now.

            As for you, my fellow graduates, congratulations! We have passed the tests and now is the time to level up! All our hardships and struggles finally made sense. It’s just ironic, though, that when we’re already comfortable and dependent to each other, the time comes that we have to go our separate ways. But then, thank you for the memories and the friendship that will surely not end today but will be cherished for as long as we live. As we bid goodbye to our Alma Mater, let’s continue to uphold her ideals. Let us always take her in our hearts wherever we ma go and whenever we fulfill our dreams- Dreams that should not stop here and just dwell with memories. Rather, we must look onwards and dream once more. But this time, let us dream and aim not only for ourselves and for our family. Let us dream for the nation and for the whole world as well as for being productive and active participants of development and progress that we have been aiming for.

            The medals and diplomas we received today must not be mere symbols of high grades or prestigious positions but emblems of true light which God has given us and which we are now called to give to others in return.

            As I end this speech, let’s take a few moments to personally thank the people behind our success.

            Again, congratulations and to God be all the glory!