Graduation Speech 2012
Thank you Eminent guests Graduands Family Members and Friends Members of staff Members of the Media Distinguished Ladies and gentlemen WELCOME Decisions, so much of who we are at present is as a direct result of the decisions that we made at key moments in our lives. I think Robert Frost’s immortal poem “The Road Not Taken”, best expresses this, particularly in my opinion the following lines: “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.” For each of our graduands the reality of today is inextricably linked to a courageous decision that was made ages ago when you chose to study for a degree with SBCS and one of its academic partners. This decision was, to borrow a phrase
Office of the Executive Director | Date Released: 04/21/12
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Graduation Speech 2012 from Pandit Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, your personal tryst with destiny. And tonight we salute and celebrate with you, your families and friends the fruit of that brave decision.
That decision was but only the first step in a long journey that would have demanded numerous sacrifices, especially for those of you who pursued your studies part-time, on evenings, Saturdays and Sundays. Your presence here tonight in this place and time signifies that you have stayed the course, you faced the challenges head on, you survived all the ups and downs, and while at various points in your journey you may have contemplated quitting, you did not and today you are a Champion. Tonight we honor all 740 of our champions - many of whom are here to celebrate their great achievements. You are the living proof that a dream can indeed become a reality. That a personal tryst with destiny can lead to a feeling of tremendous selfrealization – and that hose with vision, courage and perseverance can achieve whatever they set their minds to. I would also like to take this time to wish each and every one of you the happiness of a productive life, the respect of your fellow human beings, and the love of your family. I would also like to take this opportunity to convey my sincere thanks to all of our UK academic partners, for without them this graduation ceremony would not have been possible. SBCS deeply values the strong bonds we have forged over the years with the Edinburgh Business School, Heriot-Watt University, and the Universities of Greenwich, Sunderland, London, Leicester and Dundee. SBCS in collaboration with our distinguished academic partners offers the people of Trinidad and Tobago and the wider region a unique educational experience, one
Office of the Executive Director | Date Released: 04/21/12
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Graduation Speech 2012 that serves to inspire our students to work towards not just at improving their lives but also the lives of those around them. To our dedicated faculty and members of staff, please accept my heartfelt appreciation for the role you play in transforming our region’s human capital into its most valuable natural resource. Today’s function holds a special significance for us at SBCS, as we achieved a significant milestone on February 13, 2012 when we celebrated our 25th anniversary. We are proud of our accomplishments over the last 25 years and we are excited by what we can achieve in the next 25 years. An ancient Chinese proverb states: If you want 1 year of prosperity, grow grain. If you want 10 years of prosperity, grow trees. If you want 100 years of prosperity, grow people. Ladies and gentlemen, over the past 25 years SBCS has been “growing people”, “inspiring minds and enriching lives “ and what a wonderful journey it has been and continues to be. Our message to our students is clear - aspire to be the best that you can be, but never forget that you belong to the body of man, and that unbridled ambition must always be tempered with sincere altruism, for as one of mankind’s holy books state: What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul? At SBCS our unique architecture sends a message that is as loud and clear as the natural beauty of the people of Trinidad and Tobago. We are different, we are here to make a difference, and we do not conform to the belief that the status quo must remain unchallenged. Rather we subscribe to the ethos of the great Greek philosopher Socrates, who as reported by Plato said: The unexamined life is not worth living. Office of the Executive Director | Date Released: 04/21/12
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Graduation Speech 2012 Of course with questioning comes resistance, the journey of an institution or individual who questions and challenges is fraught with danger, as a brave new world frightens many, however, in order for humanity to progress we need you – our newly minted graduands - to play your part by always having faith in the power of righteous action, even when the odds are overwhelmingly against you. As one of my favorite poets, Rabindranath Tagore, after whom I was named, said, “Faith is the bird that feels the light and sings when the dawn is still dark.” Graduands today is your day to pause, to rest and reflect on your accomplishments, but only for a moment, for your quest has only just begun. In his auto-biography “Long Walk To Freedom” the great man Nelson Mandela observed, “I have walked that long road to freedom. I have tried not to falter; I have made. Missteps along the way. But I have discovered the secret that after climbing a great hill, one only finds that there are many more hills to climb.” Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank you for your kind attention.
Office of the Executive Director | Date Released: 04/21/12
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