Simple and Warm Graduation Message Invited Guest Speaker

Thank you for that kind introduction and thank you for inviting me to speak today. I’m very pleased to be here to join you in celebrating this wonderful occasion.

(Greetings to VIPs)

First of all, congratulations to all of you. You should be very, very proud of yourselves for accomplishing this goal. Well done. I know you must all be excited to get your hands on your diplomas and run out into the world.

To the families of those graduating and earning recognition and award, congratulations to you and you should know that your support through this process made an enormous impact. I’m sure you’re very proud of your graduates as they close this portion of their lives and prepare for their next steps into the real world and pursue a career.

Graduation is one of those steps in life that defines a coming of age – the ending of one era of life, as a student or the one being shown the ropes, and moving on to a new stage in which you are a leader, a do-er and an achiever in the wider world. I’m sure many of you have firm plans and have a good idea of what’s coming next, some of you have a pretty good idea of what you want to do next, a dream and a lot of hope to get you there, and some of you are just amazed that you got to this graduation point at all! Well the coming times will be exciting, they will be trying but they will be all dependent on you and your determination.

I myself have big plans for myself when I graduated in High School, I planned to be a _________ in the future, have a stable career and have a family of my own.

Life doesn’t usually follow the plans you lay out for yourself. You will all experience the highs and lows of life, the difficult and the easy and unfortunately, there may sometimes be times of too many difficulties and just not enough smooth sailing. Your true success will be defined by how you handle both of these times.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail.”

My dear graduates, going into college is one of the toughest challenges you will have, but nevertheless, making it to college will open great opportunities for you.

Yes, you will experience hardships, will even stumble along the way but remember that you will learn something valuable from every trip you take, so don’t be afraid to make mistakes.

Mary Rothman once said that Life can be unfair at times, and those are the times when you must maintain faith, perseverance and never let go. Ika nga “Hindi Natitinag ang Pusong Pilipino.” It is especially during the difficult times that you must live your life to its fullest potential and triumph over circumstances with hope and courage. Kapag sinabi ba nating triumph, nagpatalo ba tayo o nanalo? Ofcourse, naipanalo natin ang laban. Life isn’t always easy, but if you keep going and persevere to the very best of your ability, you will gain strength to manage the new challenges ahead. Each goal that you reach is another important step forward.

Sabi nga ng anak ko, ang paborito n’yang motto: “Always aim for the moon, for even if you fail, you will land among the stars.” Anong ibig sabihin nito? Kung tayo raw ay mangangarap, dapat ‘yung pinaka mataas na, kung may hangarin tayo ‘yung the best kaagad, para kung hindi man natin ito marating andun pa rin tayo sa malapit.

Huwag nating kakalimutan ang ating mga kaibigan. Buti ngayon may facebook na may connection pa rin tayo sa mga kaibigan natin. (Talk about experience reconnecting with HS classmates thru FB) Make friends who respect your true self, no pretentions, don’t ever forget that you are special.. Ano nga ‘yung kanta ni Bruno Mars? I love you just… (the way you are) Please don’t ever forget that.

Huwag din nating kakalimutan ang ating pinanggalingan, tayo man ay maging matagumpay, lagi nating tandaan ang mga taong tumulong sa atin upang makarating tayo sa ating kinalalagyan, tulad n gating mga guro, mga kaibigan at ang ating paaralan, tulungan rin natin ang mga susunod na mga magiging estudyante ng ating paaralan.

Dear graduates, you’re now armed with one of the most important tools needed to forge your path ahead. It’s not the diploma itself that counts – it’s about what you’ve learned along the way and what you do with the education you’ve gotten in your journey to graduation today. Your future is in your hands – no one else’s. Seize this opportunity. Huwag tayong magmadali, don’t hurry through this time – slow down, make the most of it, enjoy and savor the memories.

Graduates, your life holds unlimited potential and wonderful dreams!

Ladies and gentlemen, good afternoon and best of luck in all your future endeavors.