A Valedictory Address
It's been 4 weeks since school began and surely the amount of assigned school work has been increasing at a steady pace.
When things get tough, it's always best to understand how hard work can drive us to succeed.
Need some inspiration? Read the words of our 2015 High School Valedictorian, Adrian Yue.
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Delivered during Commencement Exercises 2015
Our dear parents, guests, teachers, school personnel, and my fellow graduates, Good Afternoon!
How was your journey towards this momentous event? We are closing one chapter of our lives as we are about to open a new one. It had not been an easy ride. Personally speaking... Mine was a roller coaster ride. Scary, nerve wrecking, bumpy, exciting but ultimately fulfilling.
From Kindergarten up to this very moment, I've gone to 7 schools in 15 years. I’ve moved to places that are barely visible in the world map. I commuted between two islands by a six-seat plane to go to school on weekdays and back to spend the weekend with our Dad. It was tough... but I am not complaining. As a matter of fact I consider myself privileged. I was able to live in places that some never knew existed. I have experienced a different way of life and became a part of diverse cultures. I learned from various ways of teachings, from different types of educators with mixed nationalities. How many kids do you know grew up living in a hotel? My siblings and I had the entire hotel lobby as our living room, and it seemed like we never ran out of visitors. Because of our commute, I was able to fly an airplane even though I was too short then, to see the runway. I had reached a point where I fully embraced the island life, for it was a place that I considered home.
One day, our Dad told us that we were moving back to Manila. That was bad news for us. Manila, to me at the time, was just a place to go on vacation and for visiting relatives during summer, but it was not home. We attended a new school filled with new people, and somehow my grades plummeted and I managed to fail music class, due to the fact that the music teacher would not teach. It was a struggle trying to be a part of the school. It had come to the point where I was too lethargic to even care for my grades. I have continued that behavior 'till I enrolled in MITIS.
In MITIS, I put more effort in my work, and although I struggled in some subjects, I was still determined. I had a goal to get good grades, becoming Valedictorian was never my goal, yet, thanks to the learning environment created by the teachers, students, and faculty of MITIS, I was able to surpass the goal I’ve set for myself.
You see graduates, in life, it's not all about achievements. Life is about getting out of your comfort zone and preparing yourself to adapt to a different environment so that you can survive. We have to learn to embrace failure and learn from it. But with every up and every down, let us not forget the people who have reached out and touched our lives and made us grow. And in return let us continue the cycle and help others grow. It need not be grandiose for even the littlest thing makes a big impact in other people’s lives--even a simple smile. Take that advice from a person who is famous for not smiling. That simple smile might just save a person’s life. You never know what kind of impact you'll have when you reach out to others. Keep on striving for excellence even if confronted with failure. When you open that new chapter of your life roar like a tiger but never forget to be smart and good.
With all of the commotion in my life, there were people I met along the way who've reached out to me and made a difference in my life. They are loving, caring, understanding, and nurturing people who made me who I am today.
First and foremost, I thank Jehovah God for constantly providing and protecting my family.
To my parents: Dad, thank you for always supporting me and being a good provider to our family, for sacrificing to be away from us just to make sure that we have the best in life. I hope that one day I'll be just like you. Mom, thank you for your guidance and love, for making sure we have good food, for always being there for us, and for being a stage mother. I love you both.
For my friends, you know who you are, because I don’t. Thank you for listening even though I don't talk. Hope that we will see each other again someday.
For my classmates, although we may not be close, you have made MITIS a great environment to be in. I can positively say that not once did I think that I hated the school.
For all my Teachers, thank you, thank you, and of thank you.
And of course thank you Dr. Santos for reaching out to my Mom; you've touched our lives and hopefully I've grown to what you have envisioned your students to be. Sadly, you are not here...but I thank you for telling me that yes, this is the right school for me.
Again a pleasant afternoon everyone!
