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.

Outlines

00:00

🎓 Commencement Address: Overcoming Challenges

The speaker begins by addressing the audience at a graduation ceremony, including the university president, officials, faculty, and fellow graduates. The speech reflects on the collective journey of students, marked by challenges and triumphs, particularly during the pandemic. The speaker recalls a specific memory from the first year, highlighting the pressures of academic life and the universal experience of self-doubt. The narrative emphasizes the importance of understanding that everyone has moments of uncertainty about their capabilities and worth. The speaker also touches on the theme of dreams turning into expectations, leading to comparisons that can be detrimental. The speech concludes with a reminder that life is not a race and that each individual's journey is unique, with its own set of hurdles.

05:01

🚀 Life's Journey: Embracing Mistakes and Building Relationships

In the second paragraph, the speaker likens life to a customized tour package, emphasizing the unpredictability and individuality of each person's path. The speaker shares three key lessons learned from personal experiences: the inevitability and value of mistakes and failures, the importance of cherishing connections with fellow travelers, and the need to appreciate the journey itself by 'sightseeing' along the way. The speaker encourages graduates to view setbacks as part of the tour experience, to appreciate the unique encounters with others, and to enjoy the present moment rather than solely focusing on future goals. The message is one of resilience, compassion, and mindfulness in navigating life's journey.

10:03

🌟 Charting the Future: Purpose and Service

The final paragraph serves as a call to action for graduates, urging them to make their life's journey meaningful by charting their paths with purpose. The speaker emphasizes the importance of carrying forward the values of honor, excellence, and service as they move into uncharted territories. The speech concludes with a toast to the future success of the graduates, celebrating the achievements of the class of 2023 and those who will follow. The speaker's words inspire a sense of unity and shared purpose, encouraging graduates to continue illuminating their own paths and those of others as they forge ahead.

Keywords

💡Customized Tour Package

The term 'customized tour package' is used metaphorically in the script to describe life as a unique and personal journey. It emphasizes that life is not a one-size-fits-all experience but rather a series of choices and paths that are tailored to each individual. In the script, the speaker likens life to a tour package where one cannot choose the starting point, predict the endpoint, or even know the exact route to take, which is a profound way to convey the unpredictability and personalization of life's journey.

💡Collective Struggles

The concept of 'collective struggles' refers to the shared difficulties and challenges faced by a group of people, in this case, the university community. The script mentions overcoming these struggles as a united force, highlighting the importance of camaraderie and solidarity in facing life's obstacles. It ties into the theme of resilience and the collective effort required to navigate through tough times, such as the pandemic mentioned in the script.

💡Pandemic

The 'pandemic' is a central theme in the script, referring to the global health crisis caused by COVID-19. It is used to describe how it 'turned our lives upside down' and 'froze' time, particularly for the graduates who started their university journey in 2019. The pandemic serves as a backdrop against which the speaker reflects on the altered experiences and the resilience demonstrated by the graduating class.

💡Mistakes and Failures

The script encourages the audience to view 'mistakes and failures' as integral parts of life's journey, akin to the bumps and detours on a tour. It challenges the fear and negative connotations associated with failure by suggesting that they are normal and should be embraced as learning opportunities. This concept is used to inspire a mindset shift, where setbacks are seen as valuable components of personal growth rather than as ends in themselves.

💡Fellow Tourists

The term 'fellow tourists' is used to describe the people we meet and interact with during our life's journey. The script emphasizes the importance of valuing these relationships, as everyone is on their own unique path. It suggests cherishing the time spent with others and practicing kindness and compassion, as these interactions are fleeting and precious. This concept underscores the social aspect of life and the significance of community and support.

💡Sightseeing

In the context of the script, 'sightseeing' is a metaphor for appreciating and enjoying the present moment, rather than solely focusing on future goals. The speaker regrets not experiencing college life to the fullest due to the pandemic and encourages others to 'go sightseeing,' meaning to take the time to appreciate the journey and the experiences it offers, not just the destination.

💡Honour and Excellence

The script speaks of 'honour and excellence' as guiding principles for the graduates as they move forward. These terms are used to inspire a commitment to high standards of personal conduct and achievement. They are presented as the compass that will guide the graduates through their future endeavors, emphasizing the values instilled in them during their university years.

💡Service

The concept of 'service' is introduced as a call to action for the graduates, urging them to give back to their community. It is portrayed as an essential part of their journey, suggesting that their education and experiences should be used to contribute positively to society. This keyword ties into the broader message of the script, which encourages graduates to lead meaningful lives that benefit others.

💡Stress and Pressure

The script acknowledges the 'stress and pressure' that graduates may feel as they transition into the next phase of their lives. It uses this term to remind them that life is a journey with its ups and downs, and it's okay to take a break and not always be in a rush to reach the next milestone. This keyword serves to normalize the challenges faced by young adults and to encourage a balanced approach to life's challenges.

💡Brighter Tomorrows

The phrase 'brighter tomorrows' is used to convey optimism and hope for the future. It is a motivational term that encapsulates the script's overall message of resilience and the potential for a positive future. The speaker uses this phrase to toast the graduates, suggesting that despite the challenges they have faced, they have the ability to shape a brighter future for themselves and others.

Highlights

Life described as an exclusive fully customized tour package

Addressing the challenges conquered together as a United Force

The culmination of years of efforts with highs and lows

Impact of the pandemic on the world and personal lives

Memory of studying for a difficult assessment in the main library

The importance of acknowledging personal doubts and self-worth

The realization that life is not a race or marathon

Life as a journey without a map, with unknown paths and destinations

Mistakes and failures as part of the tour experience

The idea that setbacks are part of the journey, not the end

Cherishing fellow tourists and the unique moments shared

The importance of kindness and compassion in daily interactions

Encouragement to enjoy the present moment and not just focus on goals

The significance of experiencing college life beyond just graduation

The call to make life meaningful and to contribute to the community

Carrying the torch of Honor, Excellence, and Service into the future

Congratulating the graduates and expressing confidence in their future success

Toasting to brighter tomorrows and future success

Transcripts

life is what I like to call it an

exclusive fully customized tour package

[Music]

[Applause]

to our esteemed guest speaker honorable

arsenium

up president honorable Angelo a Jimenez

University of the Philippines Los Banos

officials led by Chancellor Jose V

Camacho Jr

members of the Board of Regents the

respective deans of the colleges

faculty and staff members

parents relatives friends and to our

online audience and of course to my

fellow graduates good evening

I stand before you to reminisce the

challenges we've conquered together as a

United Force

overcoming our Collective struggles

today marks the culmination of years of

our efforts

encompassing both the highest and lows

we've encountered along the way

somehow at least four years have already

passed since the day we first stood on

this grounds

with the pandemic turning our lives

upside down the world we once knew

suddenly stopped making sense

as most of us remain Frozen in Time

stuck in 2019 allow me to share a memory

that felt like it was just this morning

this happened in my very first year in

the university the very first sem

September of 2019

we were in the main library

studying for one of the hardest

assessments a computer science freshman

would inevitably encounter

if I were to describe it I'd call it

deadly it was a Make It or Break It

requirement it was a past this or pass

away type of thing

it was none other than a five item quiz

for math 27.

as we were in the middle of our quote

unquote studies a friend of mine

suddenly asked me a question a question

I wasn't prepared to answer he asked are

you understand

just kidding he asked me

foreign

if it wasn't obvious my response was an

exaggeration a joke but my intent behind

it wasn't

see I was sincere in thought at least

but I couldn't verbalize it I wasn't

sure if I could live up to it I wasn't

sure if I was worthy of dreaming such

dreams

and unfortunately I am not alone in this

everyone in gymnasium has at least one

moment in their lives where they doubted

whether they were capable or Worthy and

the thing about dreams is

the dreams turned into expectations fast

and with expectations come comparisons

o

graduate now

we judge ourselves harshly against

criteria personal to others yet foreign

to our own

we weren't cast in the same mood nor

were we cut from the same cloth we did

not share the same circumstances nor

were we granted equal privileges so to

measure our success relative to that of

others is not only inaccurate but also

harmful besides life is not a race nor

is it a marathon although it certainly

seems like one with life being hurdles

after hurdles obstacles after obstacles

life is what I like to call it an

exclusive fully customized tour package

you don't get to select where you start

you won't know where you'll end up

and you have absolutely no clue which

path to take

sounds perfectly like life to me it is a

journey to a destination without so much

as a map to navigate

with this allow me to share three things

I learned from navigating my own tour

package

number one

mistakes and failures are part of the

tour experience

despite knowing that mistakes and

failures are normal

unavoidable even we can't help but fear

them

as humans we tend to Envision a

straightforward path to success aligned

with two endpoints stating us from start

to finish however progress is almost

always never linear there will always be

slip ups and mistakes

failures and rejections but if we

consider these setbacks as part of the

tour it becomes easier to come to terms

with our vulnerabilities

you are an athlete

you simply took the scenic route

you are not mistaken

you simply explored an Uncharted path

you are not lacking you were simply in

the wrong place at the wrong time

whatever it was

you've done enough

you are enough

you're doing great

if you look at it this way mistakes

don't seem as bad nor are scary

number two cherish your fellow tourists

we are all charting our own exclusive

fully customized store package and the

schedule of events the whose wins and

wears rarely overlap so the once in a

lifetime chance you got to meet the

people around you now is priceless hold

it dear for your goal will always be

ahead of you

people around you

may not be

in the end we all have our own

destinations our own goals we're all

charting different tours so cherish the

time you have with those around you you

never know when your itineraries will

ever overlap again

additionally let us take care of one

another in our day-to-day interactions

choose kindness as compassion goes a

long way check up on others occasionally

ask them

you'll be surprised to see how far

simple efforts can go we're all fighting

battles it never hurts to be game

and number three

remember to go sightseeing

oftentimes we are so focused on getting

to our next destination that we forget

this is a torer my biggest regret as I

leave UB is that I'm already leaving up

four years has passed quickly with the

pandemic of taking its majority so much

so that I barely experienced what it

felt like to actually live a college

life

see graduation is not the only goal it

is a product of us learning failing

crying trying failing again barely

passing socializing stress eating and

celebrating if we live our lives solely

for the sake of reaching our goals we'll

be surprised to see that we've already

reached our goal but miss the

opportunity to live our lives so enjoy

the moment

remember the next time you walk around

the uplb campus it's not simply point A

to point B it is passing through the

carabaos in C part the ever agent quack

quack Tower the awe-inspiring oblation

statue and of course

uplb's most famous matcha Lake

it is more than okay to take a break

relax and enjoy the view

with this my sincerest wish is that the

next time you're feeling stressed or

pressured know that you could never go

wrong

for life is a tour package when you make

on your own

fellow graduates from here we're

entering uncharted waters and as we

embark on our individual Journeys let us

remember the lessons we learned the

friendships we forged and the dreams we

dared to dream

a spearless explorers let us tread our

tours when a wavering honor and

Excellence as our Compass let us respond

to the calls per Service as we give back

to our community

as much as we must enjoy our tours let

us make them meaningful chart your tours

with purpose together we will Forge

ahead as we strive for a brighter future

for ourselves and for those who will

follow in our footsteps

we shall carry the torch of Honor

excellence and Service as we continue to

illuminate our paths and the paths of

others

to the graduates of match 2023 and to

those who will follow soon after

congratulations for reaching this far

and I am confident will go even further

we got this

so let us raise our glasses and toast to

The Brighter tomorrows waiting for us

cheers to our future success or in true

lb fashion

[Applause]