Nine years ago I graduated with my Doctorate of Psychology. It’s an honor and an accomplishment I don’t take lightly. And I was especially proud because I was chosen as the graduate speaker for that year after “auditioning” in front of a multi-person panel. I was beyond thrilled to give my speech in front of thousands of students, family, friends, and faculty.
I haven’t listened to this speech in years and honestly forgot it even existed on video, until today. It’s shaky and super poor quality (taken on an old camcorder). It was a 10 minute speech but I cut it down for you with the most important parts (you’re welcome) 😉
To view the video please visit my Instagram here!
It’s truly a message that stands the test of time, meant to inspire and provide hope. And now when I listen back, it’s not just for graduates, it’s for everyone overcoming adversity, new parents, and anyone who has a dream of a new beginning.
Many people view graduation as a completion and finish line, but in actuality, commencement is known to be a beginning of a new chapter.
”I am certain that all of us sitting here today have a story to share. We have each learned that we have to be patient for our new beginnings. We have learned that we have to trust ourselves in order to follow our intuition. We have learned we need to have strength to have persistence. And we have learned we need to have courage to follow our heart.
We were accepted into our programs by our professors who shared our hopefulness and optimism about our education, our career paths, and our personal journeys. And our university had faith in each and every one of us to succeed and accomplish our goals and our dreams. And I believe it is a safe assumption that each of us in this room had a goal that was accomplished or a dream that came true today.
This is not to say that life won’t throw us a curve ball once in a while. The gift of life does not come without adversity. Last year I was diagnosed with a non-invasive type of breast cancer. During this terrifying time of uncertainty and during my two surgeries, treatment and recovery, I had to resign from my role as a teacher/research assistant, put my dissertation on hold, and cut my hours at work. Life finally forced me to slow down and prioritize what was most important: my family and my health.
I learned through that experience to never let a moment pass you by without making the most of it. Each day was a new beginning for me and I was determined to live it to the fullest. So as the great Ferris Bueller once said, “life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while you could miss it.” So live in the moment. Live in this moment. Cherish everyone and everything around you. Don’t let another day pass you by that you don’t say the words thank you, I forgive you, I’m sorry, or I love you to someone you care about.
I will forever be grateful to this university for the opportunities that were provided to me. I am thankful to the professors who stood by me and believed in me. I am thankful to the students that supported and cared about me. And I am thankful to my parents who brought me into this world and instilled my desire for a higher level of education.
The opportunities that our degrees provide us are much more than a new beginning. Some of you will go on to be future graduate students. Others will become professors, business professionals, published authors or possibly researchers, educators, administrators, or successful therapists in private practice. President Abraham Lincoln once said, “whatever you are, be a good one.”
And no matter what path or adventure we choose, we will know that we all started together. We are no longer lost. We were given a gift of knowledge and experience. We were provided a stellar learning environment among diverse faculty, students, and courses. Here at this university, we have found our new beginning and our future.
So be hopeful, be optimistic, and have faith in yourselves. Know the future is yours and you can accomplish anything. Everything is possible and another new beginning is waiting for you. It may not have been easy, but we have all worked very hard…so be proud of your accomplishments and celebrate your new beginning and ask yourselves, what is the next dream I’m going to catch? What is the next goal I am going to achieve?
We have officially ended our time here as students, and with the Trustees, President, Faculty, family, friends and fellow graduates present, we will walk across this stage today with our degrees in our hands knowing we are on the verge of another new beginning. What will your new beginning look like and what story are you going to tell?
To the Class of 2013, here is to your future and your new beginning!”
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