AWE-INSPIRING Valedictory Speech | UPLB Summa Cum Laude Jenel Justo

Summary

The speaker at the University of the Philippines Los Banos commencement exercises reflects on the challenges faced by the graduating class, including the pandemic's impact on their college experience. They liken life to a customized tour package, emphasizing the importance of embracing mistakes and failures as part of the journey, valuing relationships formed along the way, and taking time to appreciate the present moment. The speech concludes with a call to carry forward the values of honor, excellence, and service as graduates embark on their individual paths.

Takeaways

• 🎓 The commencement speech celebrates the culmination of years of hard work and collective challenges faced by the graduates.
• 🌐 The pandemic has had a significant impact on the graduates' lives, turning their world upside down and causing a sense of being 'frozen in time'.
• 🤔 The speaker reflects on personal doubts and the universal experience of self-doubt, emphasizing that everyone has moments where they question their capabilities.
• 💭 Dreams can quickly turn into expectations, leading to comparisons and self-judgment against personal and societal standards.
• 🌟 Life is likened to an exclusive, fully customized tour package, highlighting the unpredictability and uniqueness of each individual's journey.
• 🚧 The speaker encourages embracing mistakes and failures as part of the journey, viewing them as opportunities for growth and learning.
• 🤝 The importance of cherishing fellow graduates and the relationships formed during the academic journey is emphasized, as these connections are valuable and rare.
• 👀 The speech advises to 'go sightseeing', meaning to enjoy the present moment and not just focus on future goals, to truly experience and live life.
• 🏆 The speaker expresses a sense of regret for not fully experiencing college life due to the pandemic, urging others to make the most of their time.
• 🌈 The speech concludes with a call to carry forward the values of honor, excellence, and service, and to continue to strive for a meaningful and bright future.

Q & A

Who is the speaker addressing in the script?

The speaker is addressing the honorable Angelo A. Jimenez, University of the Philippines Los Banos officials, faculty, staff, parents, relatives, friends, online audience, and fellow graduates.

What significant event is being discussed in the script?

The significant event being discussed is the graduation ceremony of the University of the Philippines Los Banos.

How does the speaker describe life in the context of the speech?

The speaker describes life as an 'exclusive fully customized tour package' where one does not choose the starting point, the end point is unknown, and the path is unclear.

What challenges does the speaker mention that the graduates have faced?

The speaker mentions that the graduates have faced challenges such as the pandemic, which turned their lives upside down and made the world seem nonsensical.

What memory from their university life does the speaker share?

The speaker shares a memory from their first year in university, studying for a difficult assessment in Math 27 in the main library.

What question did the speaker's friend ask that made them reflect on their dreams and capabilities?

The friend asked the speaker if they understood something, which led the speaker to reflect on their dreams and whether they were worthy or capable.

What three lessons does the speaker share from navigating their own 'tour package'?

The three lessons are: 1) Mistakes and failures are part of the tour experience. 2) Cherish your fellow tourists. 3) Remember to go sightseeing and enjoy the journey.

Why does the speaker emphasize the importance of cherishing fellow graduates?

The speaker emphasizes this because everyone is on their own unique journey with different goals and timelines, making the connections made during university particularly valuable and potentially fleeting.

What does the speaker suggest about the nature of progress and success?

The speaker suggests that progress is rarely linear and success is not a straightforward path, but rather a journey with slip-ups, mistakes, failures, and rejections.

What advice does the speaker give regarding the pursuit of goals?

The speaker advises not to live life solely for the sake of reaching goals, but to enjoy the moment and the journey, as missing out on life's experiences can lead to regrets.

What is the speaker's wish for the graduates as they move forward?

The speaker wishes for the graduates to remember the lessons learned, the friendships forged, and the dreams dared to dream, and to continue to strive for a brighter future with honor, excellence, and service.