College of Communication Graduate Convocation Student Speaker 2016: Xiaoyang Wang

Summary

This heartfelt speech reflects on a transformative two-year journey, celebrating personal growth and breaking cultural barriers. The speaker, Sunny Wang, shares her experiences as a woman from a traditional, conservative background, breaking free from societal expectations. She highlights her growth at Cal, where she overcame fears, took on leadership roles, and found her voice. The speech emphasizes the idea that anyone, regardless of background, can achieve anything with the right opportunities and support, leaving a message of empowerment and gratitude for the faculty, classmates, and family who contributed to her success.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker reflects on the end of a transformative 2-year journey and the beginning of a new chapter in life.
• 😀 The speech is not about future success but rather about expressing gratitude for the experiences gained during the past two years.
• 😀 The speaker, Wang Xang (Sunny), comes from a traditional and conservative family in China, which has influenced her life choices.
• 😀 In her culture, being 24 and unmarried is seen as undesirable, and she is considered a 'leftover,' a term for women who are perceived as too old to be single.
• 😀 The speaker challenges the traditional rules imposed on women in her culture, asserting that women don't have to follow restrictive societal expectations.
• 😀 She reflects on her personal growth and how the program (referred to as 'Calm') has helped her believe in herself and her potential.
• 😀 Sunny acknowledges the opportunity to work at PR Lab, where she initially felt insecure but eventually rose from Account Executive to Director, overseeing operations.
• 😀 The speaker was given the chance to serve as an ambassador for international students, a role that helped her realize how much she had achieved in the past two years.
• 😀 Sunny emphasizes that at Calm, anyone can become anything, and that the program nurtures diverse talents, whether in public relations, journalism, film, or other fields.
• 😀 She expresses deep gratitude to her family, friends, and everyone who supported her during this journey, concluding with a message of empowerment for others: 'Anyone can be anything.'

Q & A

What is the speaker's name, and how does she prefer to be called?

The speaker's name is Wang Xang, and she prefers to be called Sunny.

Where is the speaker from, and how does she describe her background?

The speaker is from a not-so-famous city in China called Guango. She describes her background as coming from a traditional and conservative family.

What cultural pressure does the speaker mention in relation to her personal life?

The speaker mentions the cultural pressure of being 24 years old, not married, and considered a 'leftover,' a term used for women who are deemed too old to be single in her culture.

How did the speaker's family react to her journey abroad?

Her parents were upset when she left for Boston, as they were concerned about her not being married and the cultural expectations around it.

What role did the speaker take on at PR Lab, and what challenges did she face initially?

The speaker took on the role of an account executive at PR Lab. She initially struggled with fear, avoided offering her own ideas, and was nervous about her accent affecting her communication.

How did the speaker's experience at Cal help her grow?

The speaker credits Cal for helping her believe that anyone can be anything, nurturing her growth, and giving her opportunities to lead, learn, and overcome her fears.

What role did the speaker serve in relation to incoming international students?

The speaker served as an ambassador to incoming international students at the Communication Immersion Program (ATC), helping them navigate their journey and share her experiences.

How did the speaker reflect on her personal growth during her time at Cal?

The speaker reflects on how much she has achieved since coming to Cal, realizing how valuable her experience was and how far she has come, from a shy account executive to a director.

What message does the speaker give to international students from different cultures?

The speaker reassures international students from different cultures that they should not worry, as Cal offers an environment where anyone can be anything, regardless of background.

What does the speaker mean by the phrase 'Anyone can be anything' in the context of her speech?

The phrase 'Anyone can be anything' reflects the speaker's belief that at Cal, with the skills and knowledge gained, students are empowered to pursue their passions, whether it’s in journalism, film, television, or even overcoming cultural expectations like hers.