How I graduated your university. The motivational speech
I have recently read an interesting topic about a preparation of a motivational speech for a graduation ceremony and I was full of desire to prepare my own speech. Since I don’t have any great achievements I am not sure that I have rights to give motivational speeches on the public, but nobody can hold me from making a post in my blog. I just want you to know that this post will be quite university-specific, and people-specific, and … Argh, read it yourself!
Every year, thousands of young British people collect their degrees and head into the world in a dangerously uninspired state — not knowing, for example, whether or not they should say ‘yes’ to life, or follow their hearts, or dare to be different
Oliver Burkeman
Unfortunately (or hopefully) we don’t have the tradition of motivational speeches here in Ukraine. I decided to change this huge injustice!
Small intro: I entered my university in 2010. And, apparently, these 5 years have gone very fast. Really! I do remember the first few days when I was getting to know the whole system and my new classmates.
Talking about the university as a system: it’s awful. Honestly, during my study there I have faced the redundant burocracy thousand times. It’s not cool, especially while you’re preparing for the next competition because you have to waste a few hours signing some papers, standing in the queues and waiting for the “big bosses”. But now, when this all is behind my back, I can say that this stuff made me stronger. I learned a lot of real-life stuff, and I think all these issues gave me a valuable experience in dealing with people. The only thing that makes me upset — this is not the part of the educational process and there were only a few people who were ready to help.
Talking about the educational process: it was even worse than the whole system. But this is not the place to talk about bad teachers. I just want to say that I can count the number of the teachers who like their work using only fingers on my hands. I wish this number was higher. Talking about the rest of the teachers — the only thing I am grateful for is that they didn’t waste our time and gave us the opportunity to learn something useful on our own at home. And I met only one person in the whole university who truly loves students. I want to say a huge thank you (and I will repeat it in person as I am 99% sure she doesn’t read my blog) to O. P. Gnatyshyn for her constant interest in student’s life and for her regular attempts to make us smarter and better. Her quote became my life motto:
Knock on the door and somebody eventually will open
And now I want to talk about the most important aspect of the university — about the people there, about the students!
I have met the enormous number of people out there, and I believe that everyone is awesome and special!
During our unofficial part of the graduation ceremony, my ex-course-mate Oles was regularly talking about the importance of the friendship. I do share Oles’ thoughts on this topic and just want to add that our connections within the university were establishing for almost 5 years. It’s ~25% of our actual time on the Earth and this is not a small number. I mean I have only a few friends whom I know more than 5 years. So, I believe we should value this time and those people (:
No matter how often we will meet each other. I mean — whether this is a weeks’, months’ or even a years’ time. It doesn’t matter. The point it that we should stand for each other when it’s needed. We must be there in the time of need.
Oles
I completely support you, Oles! But the only one thing I want to add — we should get together often. Why not? (:
To sum up, I don’t say that I wait for a call from my classmate to hear that he is in the big trouble. I just want you all to know that I will do my best to be in the right place in case it happens. And this applies not only to Oles, but to everyone from my lovely group! Love you guys, you are awesome!
If you remember the beginning of my post you may remind that this supposed to be a motivational speech. I have made a few large steps away from that format, but I will try to fix it right now, when all my classmates know that they are awesome and that I love them, and so on…
To summarize everything I wrote before, I want to say that no matter what is going on during your education you should appreciate the people around and all the effort they do for you. As for me, this is the main part of the university. For everything else we have Coursera (:
Also, I want to cheer you up with some quotes, which inspired me a lot and shape me as a person:
Five frogs are sitting on a log. Four decide to jump off. How many are left? Five, because deciding is different than doing.
I don’t know the author of these words of wisdom, but those words really drive me through life. I don’t know how possible is to misunderstand those words, but I will try to make the main meaning even simpler: just stop deciding. Highly probably, that all decisions are already made. Just get your hands dirty. Go do it!
And the last one:
If you are looking for an opportunity, you’re really looking for a person.
Reid Hoffman
I truly believe that everything you need is the right person near you. No matter what is the issue. Just build your connections, be polite and search for an opportunity within the right people.
Who knows, maybe I am the person who will help you achieve what you want. Or you are that person for me.
Stay in touch and attract interesting and influencing people!
As a friendly reminder: update your social networks (no, I am not talking about Facebook, I am about Upwork/LinkedIn/etc.) with your education status. Congratulations again!
And for those who haven’t graduated yet — don’t make a large expectation from this event. See the illustration below with expectation vs. reality of graduating from the university :/
