Example of graduation speech (valedictorian) essay

Philosophy and Number

President of (Name of School), (Dr./Mr./Mrs.) (Name of the School President), (Dean/Director/Directress) (Name of the Dean/Director/Directress), other deans/directors/directresses, distinguished faculty and staff, honored guest (Title Plus Full Name), fellow students, beloved parents, guardians and family members, dear friends, ladies and gentlemen, a pleasant moment to all.
In behalf of my fellow graduates, we may have reminisced today our past journeys. We may have asked ourselves what did we learn after years of studies. Did we simply regurgirated facts or placed utmost value even to the least of our experiences to become truly educated persons? To put it lightly, as Anatole France said: ” An education isn’t how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It’s being able to differentiate between what you do know and what you don’t.” And may I add that it is not mostly knwoledge, but also attitude, character, and skills –the right kind stuff of a balanced life, which will ably define our future.
I remember it well: When I started college in Summer of 2011, I know I am going to complete this race. Even though I met trying times along the way, such as my husband being in and out of the hospital, I learned to adjust well. It really wasn’t easy first considering that I have to study and concentrate while working. Nonetheless, I learned to gather strength, courage, hope and faith until such time everything is second nature to me. Just like with math, I really don’t like it because I am not good at numbers. Yet, my wonderful instructors told me that I can do it and my morally supportive husband also inspired me to study harder – and I made it.
I know you also have your own stories to share should you also have been given the chance to speak in front of an audience like this. Whatever your stories, I can relate with you. But I am not sure how more beautiful, more challenging, etc. your own stories are to you and to the people you love. It could at the very most, life changing. No matter what your stories, I hope it made you a better person, able to cope up with life’s fickle moments.
After our own flashbacks, we have learned better how to confront challenges with smile in our heart, hardships with a never quit attitude, and success with humility. Also, because of those who have been kind to us all throughout our college years that made us contented but not complacent to keep going and prove our worth, not only to them, but to the world. Yet, despite anything to what we have learned and experienced so far, we continue to aspire, dream big, and work our way. We became better than we previously were. It is really good to reminisce our past vicarious experiences because they reminde us to continually become more mature, more adaptive, and better persons.
I wish you goodluck. Today is just the beginning. The door is open wide for us all to explore other life’s chances. I strongly believe that we will all be invaluable in our own special way. No matter what the future holds for us, we will never quit. We will remain
Again, in behalf of my batchmates, have many more wonderful days ahead of us all. Thank you, (Name of School)!

Reference

Moncur, M. (2013). Anatole France. Retrieved from Quotation #31753 from Michael Moncur’s (Cynical) Quotations: http://www. quotationspage. com/quote/31753. html