The Day I Became a Speaker

This is a long overdue post actually. I delivered a speech to the graduates of my High School alma mater last April 15, 2005. It was my first. Astonishingly, I was not nervous. I was very confident. Maybe because I have to be self-assured as I could be. Maybe because that's the image I wanted to portray infront of my audience.

Well, this post is not about my experience. I'd like to post the speech I delivered.

Here it is.

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Cadaratan National High School
Commencement Exercises
April 15, 2005

Guests, parents, members of the faculty and especially the graduates, good day to one and all.

Before I proceed, I would like to extend my congratulations to all the graduates for a job well done, as well as to the members of the faculty for their never ending commitment of shaping the young minds and to all the parents who are here today whose support for their children never ceases. Can we please give ourselves a round of applause.

Moving along, to tell you honestly, the task to be your guest speaker is a huge pressure on my part. I know that being a guest speaker is a huge responsibility. It is not a contest nor to let everyone know that you can speak well in front of an audience. It is a major task to reach out to the minds of the people whom you are addressing your thoughts and insights on certain matters, which would help them be motivated as a by-product.

To my fellow alumnae, let me ask you a simple question. What’s next after this?

When all the feasts and celebrations are over and you are back in reality, what now?

“It’s too early to ask” you may say, but I believe that things are never too early or too late. We manage our own time and it is up to us how and when to use it.

To the dear parents of the graduates, I hope you won’t mind me asking, what’s in store for your children?

Mind you, the question is straightforward, but I know that the answer is complicated. Do you know why I would say that the answer could be complex? It is because it’s every graduate’s future that we are discussing here. Our every decision will shape their life and their future. Quite scary, isn’t it? But life is never easy. These are the things that make our life interesting.

On that note, I will leave that thought for you to ponder on.

Have you ever wondered why successful people keep on thriving? Have you ever wondered what keeps them going? Have you ever wonder why a person is happy even for small things?

Frankly, I wonder.

These questions allowed me to dwell in deep thoughts. Is it a mystery? What are their secrets? Or are there any secrets for success?

Success. Such a sweet word, isn’t it? Everybody is rooting for it. Some captures it but it’s a question why is it elusive to some.

A simple click on the computer tells you that being successful is having obtained something desired or intended.

So as the description implies, do you think it is easy to be one?

Be aware that success is something that we can not attain overnight nor can be achieve in a bed of roses. There are so many obstacles along the way. But do you think that because of these hindrances, successful people abandoned and gave up their goals, for them to reach what they are now? I don’t think so! You should never fret and give up. Pick up from where you stumble and continue striving for your goals.

You should remember that successful people treat wrong directions as valuable experiences while those who are not regard wrong directions as failure.

Goals and success are like twins. Do you agree? And like twins, one comes first before the other. There will never be an instance where twins are born at exactly the same time.

And in this case, GOALS come first before success.

How can you be successful if you don’t have goals in the first place?

By now, I know that most of you graduates already have goals or plans for your future. If you don’t have it now, I believe you better start thinking for one.

Everyone has a goal in life. Agree? I for one have still a lot of goals.

My parents worked so hard for them to achieve their objectives. That is why I am here today standing and talking in front of you.

You have to understand that it is not important how huge or small our goals are. What’s important is for us to have one because of the main reason that goals keep us moving, goals keep us going.

Our everyday life always consists of goals. Going to the market is a goal. Getting a high score in an exam is a goal. Even trying to look handsome and beautiful for our crushes is a goal. Every little thing that we do are bits and pieces of achieving these objectives.

You have to know your goals. To start with, if you have many, write it down. Making a list always work. Don’t we list down all the things we need when doing a project or say when going to the market or when organizing a party? It does work all the time and It will in achieving your goals. Looking at the list will motivate us in accomplishing these goals. You may not be able to achieve it at the same time; at least you will have something to keep holding on to.

More importantly, lists give us a method and structure of achieving what we want out of life.

But life is a joker sometimes. At times, in fulfilling our goals, the end results vary, the end results differ.

But it is normal to be sad when we don’t get what we’ve planned. What matters is we tried.

Let me share to you what my favorite author, Andrew Matthews, said in his book.

“Goals are the vehicles whereby we can become someone more than we already are. We need goals, not for what they get for us but for what they do for us.”

If for example I aimed to be in higher position in my company and somehow, I got hard time achieving it, I should not say, “It’s just a waste of time and energy.” I have to understand that what important are the things I learned while taking that journey. I may not be a manager but I should be thankful for the people I met, for acquiring other knowledge while going through the process, for the opportunities to travel and meeting other races and learning new cultures.

As Mr. Matthews said, “What you get in pursuit of your goals is of lesser importance. The real question is, “What will you become?”

In ending, I dare you to have goals. It is normal and it is a human nature to have one. You might fall once or twice, but I say not to be afraid to stand up when you fall. Keep you heads up. You have to understand that things happen for a reason.

Again, congratulations and God bless.
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Did I made sense? Only my listeners can answer me with that question. After the speech, I was relieved that it was over. I heard a loud applause and I could do is smile.