WORDS ARE SO STRONG

I've got to take me 2 minutes to unravel my story so that you have an idea of who I am and why I speak with such passion.
I go through hard times and dark places. I grew up without my father in my life because he died before I could speak the
word 'papa.' My mom was not beside me growing up because she needed to go abroad to supply our needs. Growing up
was never easy for me. I need to learn how to wash my clothes, do dishes, and learn how to cook food. Learning those
alone was never easy for me. But, instead of locking and crying myself in my room, I strive to go out of my comfort zone
because I realize I don't want to live a life of survival. I have to be ready for change.
I focus on my studies, and on graduation day, I receive all the fruits of my hardships and struggles. And finally, I can say
that despite all the times I've thought of running away- I am nowhere in my last semester of high school. There have been
four years of agony, suffering, and pain in high school. But of course, I also had a lot of good times here. Looking back, it
sometimes seems it was only yesterday I were tiny freshmen like you who were crowded around our locks, trying to
figure out where our next class was and looking generally clueless to all the upperclassmen. Well, I can't say I walked this
4-year-journey on my own. Honestly, I appreciate the friends I've made here. They've helped me grow as a person and
made me realize the kind of people I need in my life. I became the class valedictorian of our class. Going to the stage, I
felt emptiness, and I was not fully happy because the person I wanted to put those medals in my chest was not here
because she was in another place working and crying. After all, she was not able to celebrate with her daughter.
You know what, I came to tell you that life can be challenging, life can be rough, but there's something special, and there's
something powerful about the human mind and the human spirit and the human will. When you tell yourself, I won't give
up, and I won't surrender. I won't quit. I will show up every day and do the best that I can. And here's the beautiful thing
about you is while you're trying to navigate these waters, and while you're still, you know, trying to tweak some stiff
within yourself. You still got the power to speak up for others. You've got the power to be the voice of reason for
someone who might be on the verge of doing something they shouldn't do. You have the power to brighten somebody's
day. Your words are powerful. Your energy is powerful, so I don't want you all to think that you have to have it all
together, and everything for you has to be perfect for you to be a leader. NO. You can make an impact and make a
difference, you can save somebody's life now by you just being unapologetically you and you walking in that calling, and
you speak life and you were affirmed and you the others know. I see you, and I'm with you, and I got your back, and
you're not by yourself, and I will hold your hand as you go throughout this journey, and even if I'm having trouble, I'm
willing to fight on your behalf, and we'll solve this out together.
We will come together as a people, come together as a nation, and come together as a class and value each other. We will
speak life to one another, and we will help each other go to that next level.
Now, you will tell yourself, I'm going to show up every single day of my school, and I'm going to go above and beyond
because there are some kids in some different countries and some different places that wish they had the opportunity to be
at my school, to have floors and lights and screens and technology while we are so privileged. What do we do with this
opportunity that we have?
I want to challenge you to make the most of it, speak life, love, and encourage. To wrap your arms around those who are
struggling, and you let them know, you know where you're not in this by yourself. What we're not going to do is we're not
going to quit. What we're not going to do is we're not going to surrender. What we're not going to do is we're going to stay
in this place. We knew that eventually, things would change. Like eventually, it's going to turn around for my good, and
we'll be stronger from it and better equipped, which will make us better people. Now you can't always control what
happens to you—my friends. But you can control how you respond to it.
I want to close with a quotation from Steve Jobs. "Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to
be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you
haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it."
I wish you all a great future.
WORDS ARE SO STRONG
I've got to take me 2 minutes to unravel my story so that you have an idea of who I am and why I speak with such passion.
I go through hard times and dark places. I grew up without my father in my life because he died before I could speak the
word 'papa.' My mom was not beside me growing up because she needed to go abroad to supply our needs. Growing up
was never easy for me. I need to learn how to wash my clothes, do dishes, and learn how to cook food. Learning those
alone was never easy for me. But, instead of locking and crying myself in my room, I strive to go out of my comfort zone
because I realize I don't want to live a life of survival. I have to be ready for change.
I focus on my studies, and on graduation day, I receive all the fruits of my hardships and struggles. And finally, I can say
that despite all the times I've thought of running away- I am nowhere in my last semester of high school. There have been
four years of agony, suffering, and pain in high school. But of course, I also had a lot of good times here. Looking back, it
sometimes seems it was only yesterday I were tiny freshmen like you who were crowded around our locks, trying to
figure out where our next class was and looking generally clueless to all the upperclassmen. Well, I can't say I walked this
4-year-journey on my own. Honestly, I appreciate the friends I've made here. They've helped me grow as a person and
made me realize the kind of people I need in my life. I became the class valedictorian of our class. Going to the stage, I
felt emptiness, and I was not fully happy because the person I wanted to put those medals in my chest was not here
because she was in another place working and crying. After all, she was not able to celebrate with her daughter.
You know what, I came to tell you that life can be challenging, life can be rough, but there's something special, and there's
something powerful about the human mind and the human spirit and the human will. When you tell yourself, I won't give
up, and I won't surrender. I won't quit. I will show up every day and do the best that I can. And here's the beautiful thing
about you is while you're trying to navigate these waters, and while you're still, you know, trying to tweak some stiff
within yourself. You still got the power to speak up for others. You've got the power to be the voice of reason for
someone who might be on the verge of doing something they shouldn't do. You have the power to brighten somebody's
day. Your words are powerful. Your energy is powerful, so I don't want you all to think that you have to have it all
together, and everything for you has to be perfect for you to be a leader. NO. You can make an impact and make a
difference, you can save somebody's life now by you just being unapologetically you and you walking in that calling, and
you speak life and you were affirmed and you the others know. I see you, and I'm with you, and I got your back, and
you're not by yourself, and I will hold your hand as you go throughout this journey, and even though I'm struggling, I
don't mind fighting on behalf of you, and we're going to figure this thing out together.
We will come together as a people, come together as a nation, and come together as a class and value each other. We will
speak life to one another, and we will help each other go to that next level.
Now, you will tell yourself, I'm going to show up every single day of my school, and I'm going to go above and beyond
because there are some kids in some different countries and some different places that wish they had the opportunity to be
at my school, to have floors and lights and screens and technology while we are so privileged. What do we do with this
opportunity that we have?
I want to challenge you to make the most of it, speak life, love, and encourage. To wrap your arms around those who are
struggling, and you let them know, you know where you're not in this by yourself. What we're not going to do is we're not
going to quit. What we're not going to do is we're not going to surrender. What we're not going to do is we're going to stay
in this place. We knew that eventually, things would change. Like eventually, it's going to turn around for my good, and
we'll be stronger from it, and we'll be better equipped, and this will make us better people. Now you can't always control
what happens to you—my friends. But you can control how you respond to it.
I want to close with a quotation from Steve Jobs. "Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to
be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you
haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it."
I wish you all a great future.
WORDS ARE SO STRONG
I’ve got to just take me 2 minutes to kind of just unpack my story, so that you have an idea of who I am and why I speak
with passion that I speak with.
There was a time when I was in a really dark place. I grew up without my father in my life because he died before I can
speak the word ‘papa’. My mom was not beside me growing up because she needs to go abroad just to supply our needs.
Growing up was never easy for me. I need to learn how to wash my own clothes, doing dishes, and learn how to cook
food, learning those alone was never easy for me. But, instead of locking and crying myself in my room, I strive to go out
or my comfort zone because I realize I don’t want to live a life of survival. I have to be ready for change.
I focus on my studies, and on the graduation day I receive all the fruits of my hardships and struggles. And finally, I can
say that despite all the times I’ve thought of running away- I am nowhere, on my last semester of high school. There have
been four years of agony, suffering, and pain in high school. But of course, I also had a lot of good times here. Looking
back, it sometimes seems it was only yesterday I were small freshmen like you who were crowded around our locks,
trying to figure out where our next class was and looking generally clueless to all the upperclassmen. Well, I can't say I
walked this 4-year-journey on my own. Honestly, I appreciate the friends I've made here. They've helped me grow as a
person and made me realize the kind of people I need in my life. I became the class valedictorian of our class. Going to
stage I felt emptiness and I am not fully happy because the person I want to put those medals in my chest was not here
because she is in another place working and crying because she was not able to celebrate with her daughter.
You know what, I came to tell you that life can be hard, life can be rough, but there’s something special and there’s
something powerful about the human mind and about the human spirit and about the human will. When you tell yourself,
I won’t give up, I won’t surrender. I won’t quit. I am going to show up every single day and do the best that I can. And
here’s the beautiful thing about you is while you’re trying to navigate these waters, and while you’re still, you know
trying to tweak some stiff within yourself. You still got the power to save somebody else’s life. You got the power to
speak up for others. You’ve got the power to be the voice of reason for someone who might be on the verge of doing
something they shouldn’t do. You have the power brighten somebody’s day. Your words are powerful. Your energy is
powerful, and so I don’t want you all think that you have to have it all together and everything for you has to be perfect in
order for you to be a leader. NO. You can make an impact. You can make a difference, you can save somebody’s life now
by you just being unapologetically you and you walking in that calling, and you speak life and you were affirmed and you
the others know. I see you and I’m with you and I got your back and you’re not by yourself and I will hold your hand as
you go throughout this journey and even though I’m struggling, I don’t mind fighting on behalf of you and we’re going to
figure this thing out together. Key word TOGETHER.
We will come together as a people. We will come together as a nation, we will come together as a people. We will come
together as a class and we will value each other. we will speak life to one another and we will help each other go to that
next level.
I you will tell yourself, I’m going to show up every single day of my school and I’m going to go above and beyond
because there are some kids in some different countries and some different places that wish they had the opportunity to be
at my school, to have floors and lights and screens and technology. While we are so privileged. What do we do with this
opportunity that we have?
I want to challenge you to make the most of it, to speak life, to love, to encourage. To wrap your arms around those who
are struggling and you let them know, you know where you’re not in this by yourself. What we’re not going to do is we’re
not going to quit. What we’re not going to do is we’re not going to surrender. What we’re not going to do is we’re going
to just stay in this place. We knew that eventually things would change. Like eventually its going to turn around for my
good and we’ll be stronger from it and we’ll be better equipped and this will make us better people. Now you can’t always
control what happens to you. My friends. But you can control how you respond to it.
I want to close with a quotation from Steve Jobs. “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to
be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you
haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle. As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it."
I wish you all a great future.
Congratulations class!
You have survived - despite all the times you've thought of running away- you are nowhere, finally on your last semester
of high school. There have been four years of agony, suffering, and pain in high school. But of course, you also had a lot
of good times here. Looking back, it sometimes seems it was only yesterday you were small freshmen who were crowded
around your locks, trying to figure out where your next class was and looking generally clueless to all the upperclassmen.
One thing that you are not going to miss is all the tests, assignments, all the hours studying late at night. Well, you can't
say you walked this 4-year-journey on your own. Honestly, you appreciate the friends you've made here.
They've helped you grow as a person and made you realize the kind of people you need in your life. People you can
complain about and relate with and most of all be yourself.
I'm sure many of you, like me, have benefited from the friendships you've created here.

I have never been a party girl, I'm more the type who hangs out with my closest friends, but now I'm learning to be a good
friend to others who have the energy to go out every weekend. I enjoy being in my comfort zone, and I'm sure you do as
well. Let me try to be a little more encouraging and cliché. I know you all heard this before, but it needs to be reminded of
you. Assume you're 35 years old right now. Most of you will probably have a home, a vehicle payment, a 9-to-5 job,
children, and a partner or wife. We will all have a lot more holding us back, as you can see.
You could see that it is quite difficult taking risks and chances, compared with where you are now, soon in your 20's. So
what does that tell us? Today, you should take risks and chances to go after your dreams and pursue your ideal life fully. It
is the perfect moment to tour the world, move overseas, or volunteer. It is the time to start a business or create an app if
you desire to do so. If you want to write a book, this is the time to do it. It's not the time to be safe and stay in your
comfort zone, and it's not the time to allow other people's opinions to drown out your own. What is it that you truly
desire? If you don't know your passion or what it is to make you feel alive, well, you need to find it. Start exploring and
trying new things today, and you'll find your passion sooner or later. Quitting school brings up different emotions. To
some, it comes as a welcome relief. To others, it is accompanied by a feeling of nostalgia, looking back at all the
memories you've made. Many of you are looking into the future with anticipation but maybe also with apprehension.
You are concerned about what to do with your life. But I'm sure it will work out for every one of you.

I want to close with a quotation from Steve Jobs.