I'm not the selected one to give the speech on graduation's day. So as I promised, this is my speech...
When I decided to take this course – the Diploma in Professional Chef Training, there were many raised eyebrows because it is non-conforming for someone who was a science student. Taking a course that is not a norm and dealing with something like “cooking”, is not well perceived by people who regard doctors, lawyers and architects having better careers.
As for me, I perceive it differently. I used to be a computer science student who had to deal with binary codes, zeros and ones. These two numbers are the possibilities that we will never know. It all depends on how you arrange and execute it, which will bring the difference and results that you wanted. It may take some time to program it, but at the end, we may achieve the result according to our objectives. It’s almost the same with our journey in this life. There are a lot of possibilities and opportunities that we will never know. All we have to do is to explore them. Take the risks with all the guts and if we ever stumble some uncertainties, bear in mind that someone will be there if you need any help. This is how I feel for the past few years. All the impossible thoughts that I had faded away gradually. I have gained new knowledge and a new spirit that has brought me here where I am standing. To me impossible means nothing. Impossible is just a negative thought that holds back our dreams.
During my years in local university, all I knew was about going to the classes, doing all the projects and getting good grades. This just wasn’t me. I became tired and lost my affection towards it. I had lost, not only the direction but in my battle without not even knowing what is it all about. Then, I had to make drastic changes. Changing the path of my life – to do something that I am really fond of - so I decided to pursue my study to become a chef. Studying in KDU, I had achieved something that is not only academic achievement but personal rewarding experiences. It’s like a part of my dream has come true. I could see myself changing. I have gained confidence that I had lost during my studies in the local university. I learned to motivate myself here in KDU.
Motivation is the key of changing yourself to be better that you used to be. I motivated myself to be a competitor, competing with myself. It’s the only way for me to prove that in all I have done, I have tried my best. I motivate to see the changes in myself. I motivate to get good grades. After I had done with the motivation, I have to develop it as a habit. Because there’s a phrase saying that ‘Motivation is what you get started, habit is what keeps you going’. A’s is not something that I can get easily, but it’s something that I earned with the hard work I have put in. Getting good grades is not all of it. I still enjoy the everyday life here and have fun doing it with all my beloved friends. I live to the max everyday, because I know if I ever hold it back, tomorrow would not be the same as today. I will not get the same opportunity again.
After this graduation, we are going to be disconnected from the familiar surrounding – we will be venturing to another milieu that makes us feel that we are aliens. It will give us the greatest challenge. It will be totally different from the college life that we used to. We have to re-adjust to fit in. We have to apply what we have learned in KDU – be resourceful, be independent and create opportunities for ourselves. Believe me, it is a cruel, cruel world out there. Just be ready for the challenges. But it should give us a new spirit to believe in yourself and to be strong. Because someone who is strong mentally and emotionally, has a different attitude towards life and the people around him. Someone who is strong thinks positively even at the bleakest hours! Someone who is strong will not blame or complain, but will find a solution to problems instead of moan and groan.
Don’t get intimidated with future colleagues because if we show any weakness, they will take advantage over us. Show them that you have the capabilities of doing the same things and even much better; you just need time to be polished. Don’t despair if what you plan did not work out well, because failure does not mean to stop trying, it is just a reminder that we are human. We have limited capabilities and it is alright to fail, but it does not mean we should stop trying; in fact, it should awaken us to be more patient and to be more resilient. This is a process of learning. Many times we think that we know so much just because we have a paper or a position to justify how much we know. But in actual fact, the learning process never stops. Even at the lowest point, we’ll never stop learning.
Today, we have managed to set our foot to be in this ceremony, but the journey has just begun - the journey of pursing our dreams which we have conceived in our mind. Show the world what we are made of, because nobody in this world can hold us from reaching our dreams. KDU has provided us with the platform, and I know that all of us can make the difference to realise our dreams.
Before I end this speech, I would like to say my gratitude towards the people who have guided me, helped me and be present around me; to the lecturers, thank you for your constant guide and support and let me be a part of the KDU family. To my friends, thanks for every sweet moment that we had shared together and last but most importantly to my beloved parents and family, without their unconditional support and love, I don’t think I would even be standing here. Thank you.
By the way... This is my 50th post...
@ 23:32| 
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