Graduation Speech :: Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

I feel overwhelmed with emotions standing here before you this evening. It was only two years ago I remember sitting in this hot gym, on the hard bleachers, as many of you are tonight watching commencement. I was a newly single mother with three children. I had been homeless, had little education and did not have much self-esteem. Ron Wales, an attorney spoke at that commencement. Four months later he was shot and killed. I will always remember his enthusiasm and energetic presence when he spoke here that evening. It touched me deeply. He sent a strong message to "have a voice, take a stand in life, NOT letting life happen to you, but instead to be present in our lives." I took this message to heart. It gave me courage to NOT let the sadness of my divorce and loss of my home destroy my life. I now stand before you in my cap and gown, waiting to receive my Associate of Arts diploma and on my way to my next goal: earning a Master's degree in Social Work. All of us here this evening come from different backgrounds and will take different paths. Some of us will go on to a four-year college, for others we start new jobs, while some us will look for a new job. Whatever your circumstance, whatever your degree, remember YOU have a voice that no other has in this world. Your voice is important, and it needs to be heard. During my time, many students inspired and encouraged me to keep going in the midst of adversity. These students were international students, immigrants, single parents, families, young running start students and people retraining for new jobs. I wish I could share all their inspirational stories. What I can say now is, your lives speak volumes and I won't forget you. One particular student who stands out in my mind was a young blind man in my chemistry class. He put forth an incredible effort each day to get an education. I watched him learn molecular structures. I watched him labor over the assignments with a tutor. I saw him earn an A in the class. After the quarter ended, he told me he was taking a break from school because of the chronic pain he suffered from his eyes. A few months later, while I was with my daughter shopping in the University District, I saw him walking alone with a cane in the midst of traffic and crowds.