Sammie's Graduation Speech

While waiting for the graduation procession to begin I daydreamed about grandmom and the time we stood at the edge of the Grand Canyon. She told me that's the size of my dreams for you, hon. The only thing that will hold you back is the lack of imagination. Dream big, think big and fear no challenge. I looked out into the crowd of hundreds of people trying to spot my mom and grandmom.

The music begins as the procession headed to the stage where I was seated beside the Dean of my college. He introduced me to the graduating class. I adjusted the microphone and began my speech.

"Hello and welcome. Dean Perry, esteemed faculty and fellow graduates; I stand here today --- I paused for a moment as something caught my eye. I saw my mom and grandmom who was dressed in a beautiful white blouse and long skirt with her silver squash blossom necklace that she'd brought on one of our trips to New Mexico, walking towards the stage. They sat up front both with huge teary smile. I looked at grandmom and could barely hear her whisper," speak from your heart Sammie. Forget the speech and speak from your heart." It seemed an odd request seeing that I'd worked on the speech for weeks but I always trusted grandmom and I wasn't about to stop now. So I put my speech down and restarted:

"I know a commencement speech is supposed to inspire all of us to go out into the world, become successful and to make our professors proud. Now don't get me wrong I am very proud of my accomplishments here at the university, but I'm also very proud of the inspirational people in my life, my mom, my pop-pop and last but not least my grandmom. They always reminded me that life is a fantastic journey and everyone has the ability to make a difference in the world -- no matter how small the contribution. As a very young child I was taught to appreciate the simplicities of life -- to gaze at the stars and know that they were never out of reach -- to dream, to inspire, to enjoy, to love life, to embrace, and to learn.

My grandmom was instrumental in instilling these values in me. She once told me "if you truly know who you are, you will never grow up to be who you think you should be." At the time it these words were confusing and cryptic. I never understood them, until now. I know who I am. I've learned how to continue being who I am. I will always be who I am. I am a child of wonder and exploration. I am that five year old child, who lives in all of us, if we choose to acknowledge them.

My grandmom has an affirmation she always say when she feels defeated, "I am courageous women; compassionately understanding; loving myself, always!"

I now know that if you tell yourself you are courageous and strong, you will be. My grandmom is also an artist. She taught me to see past the obvious and appreciate the hidden beauty in life; to fear no art! Now, I've never been able to create images like her but she encouraged me to create my own beauty, to never lose that sense of awe, to believe the "what if" in life! So fellow class mates, future alumni I challenge you to go out and find the "what ifs" in your life. I ask you to never lose that sense of child-like vision and to embrace the pure joy in life -- to extend collegial and artistic fellowship amongst the people of the world. Never stop learning, never stop questioning, never take life so seriously that you are afraid to laugh at yourself and in closing -remember,

I paused a moment as it began to rain. As the rain drops fell and the audience began to cover themselves and put up their umbrellas.

In conclusion I'd like to end with a quote my pop-pop always says to me, "Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain."

So dance graduating class, dance and be the people you know you are! Thank you.

The crowd rose from their chairs and applauded for what seemed like hours. As I walked back to my chair on stage my grandmom walked up onto the stage and hugged me.

She said, "You are a blessing to the world and I'm a better person for having been blessed with you as my granddaughter."

The Dean stood up and gave my grandmom his seat and announced to the audience that he was going to give his speech, but there was nothing he could say that could top mine.

He turned to me and said, "You are our future young lady you'll make us all proud!"

Source(s)
Deb Martin-Webster, Author
of A Hot Dog Stand in the Himalayas