Graduation Speech 2011
Thank you, Tony. Chancellor Steve Cram Distinguished guests Graduands Parents, Relatives and Friends of our Graduands Members of staff Members of the Media Ladies and gentlemen WELCOME Firstly, I would like to offer my heartfelt congratulations to all our graduands, as well, as their respective families and friends. Sir Issac Newton, perhaps the most preeminent Mathematician and Physicist the world has known once remarked: “If I have seen further than others, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants�
Office of the Executive Director | Date Released:04/19/10
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Graduation Speech 2011 Today we celebrate your success and though you alone will be venerated, and rightly so, please don’t ever forget that you owe your success to the efforts of numerous persons, please don’t ever forget the giants whose shoulders you were able to climb on, in order to reach this great height. Be proud of your accomplishment, however, guard against pride being turned into arrogance, as arrogance inexorably leads to unhappiness, and as with democracy, eternal vigilance must be practiced. Good Intentions.. Hard Work.. Success... Pride.. Arrogance. Remain humble, and work toward the improvement of humanity, and the universe will reward you bountifully, though not always on the schedule of your choosing. Some time ago I was asked to express in writing what type of graduate we at SBCS would like to produce and after much thought and consultation with colleagues, friends and relatives this is what we formulated: “Our primary objective at SBCS is to transform our students into ethical, innovative and creative lifelong learners, with a drive for excellence, and a passion for challenges, matched only by their desire to enrich humanity.” This simple statement encapsulates what we desire for our students/graduates/you: Ethical: at the very top of the list, examine each of your actions according to your conscience, as you will find that in this world there are many things that are not illegal but are unethical. To quote Mahatma Gandhi: There is a higher court than courts of justice and that is the court of conscience. It supersedes all other courts.
Office of the Executive Director | Date Released:04/19/10
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Graduation Speech 2011 The present global financial turmoil is as a direct result of the unethical actions of many who knew better, but allowed greed to trump ethics. Many years ago I studied American history and whenever I think of ethics I recall a quotation by one of their greatest Presidents, Thomas Jefferson: “In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock”. Innovative: Our buildings reflect the innovative spirit of SBCS, we are not afraid to do things differently and we hope that all who attend SBCS are touched by our spirit of innovation; many institutions preach and write about innovation, but at SBCS we walk the talk. ACTA NON VERBA; our newest facility in Trinicity is mostly underground. I say no more! Creative Lifelong learners: Over the past two decades and more that I have been involved in education I have witnessed a distinct shift in Education, the pendulum has moved away from teaching to that of Learning, a movement away from creating credentialed graduates to that of creating credentialed learners. Graduands the world we live in will turn over many times during your lifetime and the only way for you to be successful is to be a learner and a lifelong one at that. Be a learner and evolve with the world, and change when it comes will be embraced as a friend. To not be a learner is to be like the Giraffe (Trapped in Space and Time). Drive for Excellence: SBCS’ Corporate Mantra states: “At SBCS we promise to deliver an excellent service, At a profit if we can,
Office of the Executive Director | Date Released:04/19/10
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Graduation Speech 2011 At a loss if we must, But always excellence.” No matter what don’t settle for mediocrity, keep pushing, keep trying, and keep evolving. Demand excellence of yourself first and then that of others. A passion for challenges: Graduands, organizations the world over are searching for people who are not afraid of challenges, no matter the size or complexity. Without tough challenges there can be no growth, no evolution. A student of mathematics, who solves each day the same simple problems will after 10 years, not be a better student. Challenges are critical for growth and solving hard problems is the only path to greatness. A desire to enrich humanity: Graduands, whatever you do, do it with well and do it such that your name will live on gloriously long after you have departed this plane of existence. Let history be you teacher, those that have lived selfishly are rarely remembered and of those that are remembered, only their ignoble actions and existence are recalled. Be a force for good in this universe; leave it better than you found it. Tom Nitze, one of America’s foremost foreign policy strategists said it best in a book titled the “The Hawk and the Dove” by Nicholas Thompson: “Each one of us has been entrusted with one life to do with as he thinks best. If he makes the most of his life, he may accomplish things which will not only bring him his reward but which will give him an infinite amount of happiness and comfort to the rest of the world.”
Office of the Executive Director | Date Released:04/19/10
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Graduation Speech 2011 And remember to have fun, enjoy what you do. Dr. Albert Schweitzer, humanitarian, theologian, missionary, organist, and medical doctor, said it best: “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful.” I would like to conveyMy thanks to the Government of Trinidad and Tobago for the introduction of the GATE and HELP programmes, which have substantially eased the financial burden for countless students pursuing studies at the tertiary level, at both Public and Private institutions. I trust that whatever the outcome of the impending election that both these programmes will continue. SBCS’ excellent physical facilities (taken as a whole) are one of our greatest assets, however, not our greatest asset. The greatest asset we have at SBCS, is our over 300 members of staff, both full time and part time. It is largely because of the tireless efforts of our members of staff that we celebrate today the success of over 600 graduands at the bachelor’s and Master’s levels . Were we to include our graduands from our professional programmes such as: ACCA, CAT, ABE, CIPS, CIM, EDEXCEL, etc., the number would be over a thousand, and we would need to have two ceremonies. Members of staff, thank you for playing a truly pivotal role in “shaping minds and creating futures” for the peoples of our region.
Office of the Executive Director | Date Released:04/19/10
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Graduation Speech 2011 My sincere thanks to all our UK university partners. One of the truly great human beings of our time and I dare say of all times, Nelson Mandela in the very last paragraph of his autobiography “Long walk to freedom, states and I quote: “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. I have taken a moment here to rest, to steal a view of the glorious vista that surrounds me, to look back on the distance I have come. But I can rest only for a moment, for with freedom comes responsibilities, and I dare not linger, for my long walk is not yet ended� Close quote Graduands, today is your day to pause, rest and reflect on your accomplishments, but only for a moment, for your journey has only just begun. Ladies and Gentlemen, I thank for your kind attention. God Bless and Good Evening.
Office of the Executive Director | Date Released:04/19/10
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