[My speech as Guest Speaker of the 2009 Honors Day celebrations of Jose Rizal Memorial State College (JRMSC, formerly Zamboanga del Norte School of Arts and Trades/ZNSAT; now Jose Rizal Memorial State University/JRMSU) where I graduated Valedictorian of Batch '95, on the Theme: Sustaining Academic Excellence in the Youth's Preparation for Life]
I am here today as your invited Guest Speaker, but I will be the first one to admit that I stand before all of you, most especially the honorees and awardees, as a mere equal. Just like you, I also have been a student--- of the classroom and of life. In fact, for the major portion of my life so far, I have always been a student: racking up one degree after another, and then another.
Although your equal, I will have to qualify and say that I am what you will call "a first among equals." In legal parlance primus inter pares: primus inter pares or first among equals because I have journeyed ahead of you.
Having started my journey earlier than you have, I can share to you a story and a few lessons I have learned along the way.
As honorees and awardees, this awarding ceremony is an affirmation of your hard work and excellence. Life, however, will teach you that despite all the awards and accolades, there will be many who will believe in you---and many who won't. That is my first lesson for you.
Value those who believe in you--- your family, some relatives, friends and classmates, and some, if not most, of your teachers. Ignore those who don't.
What you shouldn't ignore is this next life lesson: excellence means constantly striving to do your best. Excellence doesn't mean being perfect. Neither does it mean being at the top all the time.
Being at the top all the time was what I have been used to: as valedictorian of my elementary and high school batch, and as one of the top entrance scholars at the University of the Philippines-Diliman. While at the UP and even in law school at the Far Eastern University, I couldn't anymore replicate the academic performance I have been accustomed to. There were many others way, way better than I was. Not only many of my classmates more intellectually superior, they also had the means and resources. It was not uncommon for me to have a classmate or schoolmate who is the son or daughter of this and that Senator or Court Justice , Cum Laude standing and driving a BMW. Not measuring up to others as much as I want to was extremely frustrating and depressing.
Alas, I came to an epiphany that what is more important is striving for excellence, always doing your very best, and being better today than you were yesterday.
What should make you the most proud is not the actual honor itself, but what you had to do to get it. Famous author Ralph Waldo Emerson said, "The reward of a thing well done is to have done it. " Any recognition is just icing on the cake, which must be enjoyed but not expected.
What you should expect, though, is that there will always be others who have more than you have in some aspects or another. You may have excelled academically because you are compensating for it for having less financially or materially, just as an example. As they say, insecurity can breed greatness. To those who have felt that way at one point or another, I offer you another life lesson: Knowledge is power; knowledge is wealth. You can use what you learn to your advantage and to improve you status in life. And being awardees and honorees today means that you have learned more, you have learned better than some of your colleagues. Use what you have learned to your advantage; for your improvement whether personally and materially and financially. The knowledge you have learned and acquired is your internal wealth. What's more amazing is that is the kind of wealth that cannot be stolen, unlike having a fancy car, or the latest cellphone or having loads of cash.
I will not anymore overburden you with additional life lessons. You are in this excellent institution Jose Rizal Memorial State College, and being taught by excellent teachers.
Learn from your teachers. know and learn from yourself, always strive for excellence---and you will be well prepared in life.
With that I say Congratulations and Godspeed!
Win---Brian McKnight
1 comment:
hello my dear,
it is amazing how you still have this piece.
It is very inspiring indeed.
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