Opening Remarks (Grad)

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Some of the key takeaways from the commencement speech include congratulating the graduates on their accomplishments, discussing the challenges facing the world like climate change, and expressing confidence in the graduates to make positive change.

The commencement speaker discussed the challenge of climate change and how the average daily carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere exceeded 400 parts per million, a level not seen since the Pliocene era when temperatures were warmer and sea levels higher.

The graduation speaker advised the graduates that they have brains in their heads, feet in their shoes, and can steer themselves in any direction they choose in life.

Opening Remarks - President David Angel

Distinguished guests, trustees, graduates and their families, faculty and staff, alumni and friends: On behalf of everyone at Clark University, I am pleased to welcome all of you to our 2013 commencement ceremonies. Most especially, welcome and congratulations to our graduates. This is a wonderful moment of celebration for everyone here today, but above all, for you our graduates. Through your talent, hard work, accomplishment, and determination, you have earned this day of recognition, reflection, and celebration. This is your day. So, sit back, take a deep breath, look around at your friends and family, and enjoy every minute of this very special commencement day. I have had the honor and privilege of working with many of you throughout your academic career and time at Clark. From academic spree day to Fall Fest, the graduate student conference, mock trial and the model UN, from the Daniels Theater stage to the basketball court, the diving board and the soccer field, from Relay for Life and Food Truth and mentoring students in the Worcester Schools, from the classroom to the laboratory, you have worked to advance your education and define your path at Clark and in the world. You have done this with passion, a commitment to excellence, and a caring spirit that makes all of us proud. You have questioned and learned from each other, from our faculty, and from alumni and community members both on and off campus. Over the years, many of you have participated in research. Others of you have ventured forth to volunteer, launch new clubs and organizations, do internships, and study abroad. All of you have left your mark on Clark, on our local community, and on others near and far. We know that the difficult challenges facing our world today require courage, creativity, determination, partnership, and vision. This month, for example, we learned that the average daily carbon dioxide concentration in our atmosphere exceeded 400 parts per million. This is a level that is not thought to have occurred on a recurring basis since at least the Pliocene era, when temperatures were much warmer, the ice caps much smaller, and sea levels perhaps as much as 50 feet higher than they are today. Our response to the challenge of climate change has to date fallen short. While some are pessimistic about what lies ahead for our country and our world, those of us who have spent time with Clark graduates are optimistic about our common future. The difference you have made on our campus inspires us. We are confident that youour graduateswill challenge convention and change our world for the better. This morning at Honors Convocation, we recognized many examples of individual academic achievement. We recognized the newest members of Phi Beta Kappa and those invited to join university and department honor societies. Earlier this month, we recognized other individual achievements in athletics and in service. Congratulations to all these awardees. You and we have much to celebrate. As a springtime ritual, Commencement brings meaning and life to your years of study. It also serves as areminder to each of us to focus anew on the energies, expectations, aspirations, and dreams that we all nurture. We celebrate the legacy of Clark as an historic institution and diverse community of scholars and learners who are committed to excellence and to making a difference in the world. As our new graduates move on to the world of work or advanced degrees, I would also like to acknowledge and honor all of the professors who have played a large part in their growth. Clark has a world-renowned faculty, and the connections between these faculty members and the students are what make this place sing. I especially commend one faculty member whose official service as teacherscholar ends this year, although we know that she will remain actively engaged as a scholar for years to come. We thank Ginger Vaughan for her many years of service to our students. I would now like to welcome and introduce our commencement speaker Carolyn Mugar. Carolyn is the executive director of Farm Aid and founder of the Armenia Tree Project. She is here representing these organizations today. Both are dedicated to protecting the environment and investing in strong economically viable communities. With her support, they have touched the lives of many people around the world an have been instrumental in working towar a sustainable future for all of us. Their mission and values resonate with those of us at Clark where we seek to challenge convention and change our world Carolyn, the 2013 graduates are looking forward to your remarks.

Welcoming Remarks: Genna Ghaul 13


Family, friends, professors, and fellow graduates, welcome to the Columbia Law School Class of 2013 Graduation!

Although today is not the first graduation for any of us, it is more than likely to be the wettest, and it is more likely than not to be our last. Despite its finality, today is not the last day that we will spend celebrating each others lives together. The bonds we developed during our time at Columbia Law School are some of the deepest many of us have ever known, and it is without a doubt in my mind that we will continue to see a lot of each other over the next few decadesnot to mention over the next two months at our respective bar review courses. Finally, on behalf of all of the graduates, I send out our heartfelt thanks to those of you who traveled from near and far to join us here today. Not only do we appreciate your presence at this ceremony, but also your endless guidance and support over the past three, and often more, years. We could not have done it without you, and to that end this graduation ceremony commemorates our joint achievement. Fellow graduates, lets take a moment to applaud those who have helped us to reach this monumental point in our lives.

High School Graduation Welcome Speech

Saturday, 05 February 2011 15:07 Catherine Dalton Hits: 14785

Mahtomedi High School / Catherine Dalton, Independent School District 832 Board of Education Treasurer / June 6, 2009
Good evening everyone. I would like to extend a warm welcome to Parents, Families and friends of the graduates, the Board of Education, Administration, Teachers and Support staff of the Mahtomedi Area Public Schools, and finally to the graduates themselves. Congratulations! Just think, it was only 13 short years ago that you walked into that Kindergarten classroom. And now here you are today, ... Graduates of the class of 2009. From this point onward, I believe, your life will change in one very important way. Up to this point you have had a lot of people making decisions for you. Now, it's up to you. I understand that you have already made many decisions about your life. I also understand that there are still a lot of hoops that you have to jump through to reach your goals, and that those hoops do not necessarily represent options to you. However, compared with your life up to this point, you will be making more decisions. How you will determine what those decisions are, and how you will make them will matter. Poet Mary Oliver writes, "Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me, What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" "What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?"

That is quite a question. One I would suggest is worth remembering every minute of every day. How is this moment best spent and this moment and so on as the moments lead to days, and then to years, and together they make up your life. But how to choose. T.S. Eliot provides one possible answer to this question: "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out just how far one can go." "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out just how far one can go." Now, I would like to go on record here that I am not advocating what I might call life threatening risks or not-verysmart risks. I am talking about risks that encourage you to step outside your comfort zone and help you grow an an individual or as a contributor to society. For example: Even though you may be headed into the field of engineering, don't forget that you always wanted to write that book. Or, even though you going to school to be a graphic artist, don't forget your fascination with mysteries of quantum physics. Yes, you plan to be an auto mechanic, a pilot, a doctor. But what about your dream to to be in that play. Even within the boundaries of your job, keep in mind that every moment is an opportunity to open doors that appear to be sealed shut. Take a chance that what is on the other side is where you need to go. It is very likely that you will change your job several times and that your life will take unexpected turns: Remember, Every moment counts, Keep the doors open, Go too far. Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life? Thank you and congratulations.

To our ever supportive and honorable DepEd representatives, to our inventive and resourceful staffs of Mount Carmel College, teachers, spectators, friends, ladies and gentlemen, my fellow graduands, a warm and productive morn to all. First of all, I know how most of us hate long and boring speeches as I myself hated it, so I'm going to cut this short. But do, listen if you may. I may be able to offer insights and valuable knowledge and information to all of you. A momentous occasion for every high school student's life is naturally, his graduation day. It is the height of his success, the product of his sweat and blood, and the many sleepless nights of anticipation and preparation for the daily challenges that life has to offer. It streams not from any other third party sources but it is an achievement that comes from within. It signifies maturity, the ability to cross multitudes of obstacles and reach a goal of unprecedented possibility. It is in this moment that his long, tiresome journey of oppressive studies, laborious projects, irritating and pesky homework, uncomfortable atmosphere, moody teachers, unusual tasks, shaky relationships with others, and high school drama culminates into one big fruit of crossroad. It is a crossroad that marked a milestone of success- a milestone of immense growth and changes. It is an introduction to a broader arena of life- an arena with even bigger challenge to come and bigger ponds to conquer with bigger fishes to oppose. And for this reason, we have come to this very day in this very place as graduands, awaiting the

confirmation to be recognized as a fully equipped graduate whose knowledge and experiences which he gained deemed him responsible and well-capable enough of making it into what we call "The World of the Adults". And this very notion is even more emphasized by the theme: Carmelite Education, Catapult for Changing Lives, A Catalyst for Future's Success. The knowledge embedded on us through years in this institution, although inadequate in most aspects are enough to equip us with the most basic of weapons to enable us to fend for ourselves in our lives as adults. And although it doesn't necessarily change lives because theoretically, there are many more factors involve for changes and a single factor would never affect something without collaborating with other factors to produce dramatic results, but it is enough to give us something to work with to prepare us in becoming the pillars of tomorrow. That's right. If the knowledge we acquired is used right, we can orchestrate changes that would ultimately serve to unite the interwoven strings of fate into a melodic performance to achieve that bright shining future that most of our ancestors has dreamed but failed to achieve. But of course, we must realize now, that this graduation day of ours, is nothing but a mere bump in the road. It is a simple pause, a reminder so to say. It is a reminder that in our pursuit for knowledge and selfempowerment, now is the time to think collectively-- and reflect of what we have achieved. Now is the time for bigger decisions and now is the time for independence- independence from self-imposed limitations and irrational fears that will surely pave the way for a straighter road amidst life's unpleasant turbulent and chaotic nature. We have big plans and ambitious desires, we have to admit that. But don't think even for a moment that just because we have graduated today, that we are already fully prepared. No my dear friends. As I said, this day is nothing but a bump on the road, a simple reminder. The pursuit for knowledge is a lifelong process- a never ending pursuit of enlightenment. Do remember, that what we have acquired in our high school lives are nothing but basic necessities and it is up to us to improvise, to formulate our own strategic plans and to pursue even higher learning. We must therefore quest for more knowledge. This graduation day that is still to come is nothing but a bump on the road. It is a simple diversion that calls for our attention. And we must treat it as one. And avoid the danger of falling for the trap of complacency. And that is why in this graduation day, it is the highest and most honorable time to rejoice. For this not only mark our qualifications and maturity as students but it equally imprints an indelible mark of adulthood into the very core of our being. It is a confirmation that we are qualified to conquer bigger arenas and to pursue greater ambitions. Thus I say so my dear friends, let us not stop gaining knowledge. If we have done all that we could in high school, let us further our study by putting even more effort into our own chosen paths. For our knowledge is yet to grow into true maturity. But for now, let us sit back, think and reflect. As we go on with our graduation rites today, it is time to gather all that we have learned and think about them. And celebrate for all our efforts in making it into this level. For surely, we would not have achieved a great feat such as this without the wits, the power, the strength, the brains and the dedication that would usher us into further development. So for now, let us congratulate ourselves. And as we enter a bigger arena ahead, whether you choose to proceed to college or start building your own life right away, it's all the same and for all of us, I would like to say Good Luck, Good Luck, Good Luck, and C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S

High school graduation is a seminal event in the life of a teenager, and often marks the period in his life when he begins the process of maturing into an adult with a heightened sense of responsibility. High school graduation ceremonies often feature a speaker who delivers the commencement address. This speaker may be a student with an outstanding academic record such as as a class valedictorian, a graduating student body president or a distinguished alumnus of the school. If you've been asked to give the commencement address, a strong opening will set the tone for an effective speech.

CLOSING REMARKS (GRADUATION)

SPEECH OF GRATITUDE
delivered by: Rae Margaret Go Graduation, March 17, 2001 written by: Gigi Go To our honorable guest speaker, Dr. Joanna B. Cuenca, Commission on Higher Education Region VI director, our school director, Sr. Ma. Felicina Gubuan, SPC and the sisters, members the Board of Trustees and Administration, members of the faculty, our beloved parents, friends, guests, fellow graduates, good afternoon. It was not so long ago when our journey began. For most of us, we entered SPCI with nothing more than a dream, and today, March 17, 2001, together we stand as survivors armed with knowledge, skills and values to bring this dream closer to reality. To others, graduation may simply be equated as the end of the tunnel, or a breath of relief, or an exultation over freedom, but after years under the nurture of our alma mater, we know it is much more than any of these. Life is an open road, and though weve studied its highways and byways, we were never left without a roadmap. Our mentors, parents and colleagues have constantly been our guide. All paths, all encounters lead here an ultimate direction, a bend on the road. To all the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres, you have enkindled our spirits with your love. Thank you for allowing us to grow in your homes and develop into the principled individuals we have become today. You have truly been reflections of God and we shall forever treasure our short yet enriching stay here in SPCI. To our dearest instructors, you have done more than words can express. We understand we were far from perfect students, and that more than once, we have brought you much pain, frustrations, and even rage. Today we show you our sincerest gratitude for molding our characters and for showing us that there is still much to learn. Your firm guidance will always be appreciated, for we now realize that like greatness, nothing grows well under the shade of a large tree. To our beloved parents and families, the true foundations of who and what we have become, you deserve to share every honor we receive today. You have continuously strengthened and inspired us, without which we would have never come to reach this moment. You have all given much to see this day, and we hope that in some way we have made you proud. To the office staff and the maintenance personnel, thank you for the years Your silent presence and love will always make you a part of our memories. To our classmates, our colleagues, our friends, who have grown with us and in us, you have colored this journey with laughter, pains, joys and conflicts. Time has come and gone swiftly, and when one glances back at the past that belongs to you that are you-, its a blessing that we have shared a few of the most memorable years of life together. These ties shall remain strong wherever life may lead us. And to our almighty Father, the beginning and end of all things, we only stand here today because You called us to enter and guided us on our way. Thank you for the blessings and the opportunities. All the glory is offered back in Your name. Rehearsals are over and the show is about to begin. As we part, we do not know where life shall take us, but we steer behind the wheel, and just as St. Paul College has become our home, she shall forever remain our lighthouse. It is and always will be an honor and joy to have been part of this family. Thank you, and good afternoon.

Graduation marks a remarkable day in the chapter of a young persons life. It is not only the culmination of many years of study, but is a coming-of-age, a moment when a the person is no longer a child and is now a fully-fledged adult. For the parent, there are probably mixed emotions. There will be feelings of great pride, joy and thankfulnessin their son or daughter and their achievements. There may also be thoughts of the future and their precious one spreading their wings, leaving the nest and finding a life independent of them. If that's you, and it's something you fear, you might want to take a moment to seek God's peace first. Further down on this page you'll find a modern high school graduation prayer, prayers from the anglican andcatholic traditions, some good graduation quotes, and two videos - one a song and another a prayer blessing God for graduation day.

High School Graduation Prayer


Father, we thank you so much for our time here together For all the friends we have made For all the days of laughter and fun And for all the times of great discovery and learning. We thank You for all who have given of their energy and skill So that we can graduate today. Our teachers and mentors Our family and loved ones We thank You for them and give them all to You in prayer. As this chapter on our lives closes, so a new one begins. We present ourselves like an open book before You. Come and scribe Your words of life into our lives Fill our minds with Your thoughts Fill our bodies with Your strength Fill our hearts with Your dreams That we might eternally love and serve You This day and every day. We ask all this in the glorious name of Jesus Who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit World without end. Amen.

Catholic Graduation Prayer


Father, I have knowledge, so will You show me now, How to use it wisely and find a way somehow To make the world I live in a little better place, And make life with its problems a little bit easier to face. Grant me faith and courage and put purpose in my days, And show me how to serve Thee in effective ways. So my education, my knowledge and my skill May find their true fulfillment as I learn to do Thy will. And may I ever be aware in everything I do, That knowledge comes from learning, and wisdom comes from You.

Amen.

"The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark." "All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible." Do not follow where the path may lead. Go, instead, where there is no path and leave a trail. "The man who graduates today and stops learning tomorrow is uneducated the day after.

SPEECH OF GRATITUDE
delivered by: Rae Margaret Go Graduation, March 17, 2001 written by: Gigi Go

To our honorable guest speaker, Dr. Joanna B. Cuenca, Commission on Higher Education Region VI director, our school director, Sr. Ma. Felicina Gubuan, SPC and the sisters, members the Board of Trustees and Administration, members of the faculty, our beloved parents, friends, guests, fellow graduates, good afternoon. It was not so long ago when our journey began. For most of us, we entered SPCI with nothing more than a dream, and today, March 17, 2001, together we stand as survivors armed with knowledge, skills and values to bring this dream closer to reality. To others, graduation may simply be equated as the end of the tunnel, or a breath of relief, or an exultation over freedom, but after years under the nurture of our alma mater, we know it is much more than any of these. Life is an open road, and though weve studied its highways and byways, we were never left without a roadmap. Our mentors, parents and colleagues have constantly been our guide. All paths, all encounters lead here an ultimate direction, a bend on the road. To all the Sisters of St. Paul of Chartres, you have enkindled our spirits with your love. Thank you for allowing us to grow in your homes and develop into the principled individuals we have become today. You have truly been reflections of God and we shall forever treasure our short yet enriching stay here in SPCI. To our dearest instructors, you have done more than words can express. We understand we were far from perfect students, and that more than once, we have brought you much pain, frustrations, and even rage. Today we show you our sincerest gratitude for molding our characters and for showing us that there is still much to learn. Your firm guidance will always be appreciated, for we now realize that like greatness, nothing grows well under the shade of a large tree. To our beloved parents and families, the true foundations of who and what we have become, you deserve to share every honor we receive today. You have continuously strengthened and inspired us, without which we would have never come to reach this moment. You have all given much to see this day, and we hope that in some way we have made you proud. To the office staff and the maintenance personnel, thank you for the years of patience when we were annoying, for the support when we were struggling. Your silent presence and love will always make you a part of our memories. To our classmates, our colleagues, our friends, who have grown with us and in us, you have colored this journey with laughter, pains, joys and conflicts. Time has come and gone swiftly, and when one glances back at the past that belongs to you that are you-, its a blessing that we have shared a few of the most memorable years of life together. These ties shall remain strong wherever life may lead us. And to our almighty Father, the beginning and end of all things, we only stand here today because You called us to enter and guided us on our way. Thank you for the blessings and the opportunities. All the glory is offered back in Your name. Rehearsals are over and the show is about to begin. As we part, we do not know where life shall take us, but we steer behind the wheel, and just as St. Paul College has become our home, she shall forever remain our lighthouse. It is and always will be an honor and joy to have been part of this family. Thank you, and good afternoon.

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know.

You are the guy who'll decide where to go. ~ Dr. Seuss

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