Resilience, Agency, and Grit (Sample Graduation Speech)

[Introduction]
To you all who have gathered and who have been gathered here today by will and
interest, by duty and responsibility, and by invitation and tradition, good morning.
When you get a chance to take a peek at a master script of a graduation ceremony, you
will see an important note that calls for compliance, a note that the master of ceremony
and all organizers are well briefed about, and a note that reads and so brings our index
fingers close to our lips — keep it formal and solemn. 
Keeping this ceremony formal and solemn freezes the precious moment in time, brings us
back the memories of yesterday when we had all the big and small sacrifices and when
we were about to give up but we didn’t, and then allows us a glimpse of the reality that
awaits us after we take off our ceremonial robes. And this may happen just once, just
today.

Good morning to everyone who has gathered and come together here today by
desire and interest, by duty and responsibility, by invitation and tradition.

When you take a look at the master script for a graduation ceremony, you will
notice an important note that demands compliance, a note that the master of
ceremony and all event organizers have been briefed on, and a note that reads
and so brings our index fingers close to our lips — keep it formal and solemn.

Keeping this ceremony formal and solemn freezes the precious moment in time,
reminds us of the sacrifices we made yesterday and the times when we almost
gave up but didn't, and then gives us a glimpse of the reality that awaits us after
we remove our ceremonial robes. And this may only occur once, today.

[Body]
More than honored and dignified, I stand here before you to represent the graduating
class, every warrior and every victor, who has won the battles for quality education and
for a better life, and so are deserving today of the highest recognitions and resounding
greetings of congratulations. 
I am more than humbled and privileged to appear here before you as a
representative of the graduating class, each and every one of whom has fought
for and gained the right to receive a decent education and a better life, and who
is therefore entitled to the highest accolades and heartiest of congratulations
today.
I am also bound by will and by tradition to give a powerful and lasting speech to all, and
there are just three things I believe are worth sharing, three things that doubtlessly
define and describe this year’s graduates, and three things that we did and so we always
do to win school and soon life — we rise up, we reach out our arms farther, and we move
forward.
There are just three things that I believe are worth sharing, three things that
undoubtedly define and describe this year's graduates, and three things that we
did and so we always do to win school and soon life — we rise up, we reach out
our arms farther, and we move forward. I am also bound by will and by tradition
to give a powerful and lasting speech to all of you, and there are just three things
that I believe are worth sharing.

I feel obligated by both custom and my own desire to deliver a memorable

address to the graduating class of 2018, and my speech will revolve around the
three themes that I believe best characterize and define this year's graduates: we
rise up, we reach out our arms farther, and we move forward.
[Resilience] We rise up. We rise up from every stumble and fall. We rise up and adapt.
Yes, we are resilient, but time and again, this resilience is tested. 
We ascend. We recover from every misstep and collapse. We adapt and ascend.
Yes, we are resilient, but this resilience is repeatedly tested.
In our gradual transition from the onslaught of the coronavirus to the post-pandemic
new normal amidst the heavy emotional baggage of losses, sufferings, and missed
opportunities, the Filipino brand of resilience takes centerstage. 
In classrooms filled with lukewarm air of academic tension and pressure, it is resilience
that makes us breathe courage and confidence, stand, and talk once more every after a
bad experience. We know deep inside us and in the mutters of our ego that bad
experience is an understatement, but surrender is never ever an option.
It is also resilience that makes the family’s catering or RTW shop creep back to business
operations and profitability after months of sudden closure and incurred losses. It is
resilience that makes many schools, cafés, and recreational hubs open their doors again.
Yes, we Filipinos are branded with a distinct capability to recover quickly from
calamities and disasters. We are capable of bouncing back and adapting in the face of
these challenging circumstances while maintaining stable mental well-being. 
That is no doubt resilience. But resilience alone is not enough, and glorifying it with just
sorry admission of our weaknesses and vulnerabilities as a developing country, as human
beings, and as mediocre students, is even worse. 

Filipino resilience shines as we adjust to the post-pandemic new normal while

grappling with losses, pain, and wasted chances.
Resilience gives us bravery and confidence to stand and talk again after a
negative experience in lukewarm classrooms full of academic anxiety and
pressure. Bad experience is an understatement, but surrender is never an option.

After months of closure and losses, the family's catering or RTW shop recovers
through tenacity. Resilience reopens several schools, cafés, and recreational
centers.

Filipinos can recover rapidly from disasters. We can overcome these challenges
and retain mental health.

Definitely resilience. Resilience alone is not enough, and praising it with a terrible
admission of our weaknesses and vulnerabilities as a developing country,
humans, and mediocre learners is worse.

[Agency] So, we also reach out our arms farther. We reach out and take control over our
volitional actions and their consequences. We reach out to develop our sense of agency.
Filipino resilience is sometimes questioned and doubted because we tend to just accept
and get used to the vicious cycle of loss and suffering. We fail to turn this resilience into
viable systems and mechanisms of mitigation and prevention.
On many occasions, it is not a matter of if, but when. So, there is no such thing as a
surprise quiz or a surprise recitation for a student who reviews his lessons after a
thorough lecture.
Life is predictably unpredictable, but it does not always happen just by accident. We also
make it out of our choices. We’re here not by accident, and not because we don’t have
any other choice. We, graduates, won’t be wearing these robes and caps without
choosing hard work and dedication. 
I won’t be here speaking before you without accepting the personal challenge, going
through sleepless nights, and complying with nearly impossible academic requirements. I
just did it. I did it by making good choices and doing a lot of work for such choices.
When we voluntarily take actions and take a sense of agency, we don’t feel as though
they simply happen to us, instead, we feel as though we are in charge of them and so our
life.

Thus, we extend our arms. We take charge of our volitional activities and their
results. Reaching out builds agency.

Filipino perseverance is often questioned because we accept the terrible cycle of

loss and suffering. We fail to turn resilience into mitigation and preventative
systems.
Often, it's when, not if. After a lengthy lecture, a student won't get a surprise quiz
or recitation.

Life is unpredictable but not random. We choose too. We're here by choice, not
necessity. Graduating requires hard effort and dedication.

Without overcoming personal challenges, long nights, and practically impossible

academic requirements, I would not be here speaking to you. Just did it. Good
choices and hard effort got me there.

We feel in control of our life and activities when we take them voluntarily.

[Grit] Then, we move forward. We move forward toward the achievement of our short-
term goals, the puzzle pieces of one big and ultimate goal. We move forward with
physical, mental, and emotional stamina.
People call it grit, and it comes with a simple two-ingredient formula: passion plus
perseverance. Without passion, perseverance leads to burnout. Without perseverance, we
give up.
The la crème de la crème or the cream of the crop just received the top recognitions and
maybe the loudest applause. I also got this medal. Today, I let it hang around my neck
and make myself proud of it. Tomorrow, I might spend a day staring at it. The next day,
I’ll keep it somewhere safe. In the next months and years, I hope it’ll still matter.
Many say, and so the theory gets more real that the best and strongest performers in
their respective fields are not always those with the highest IQs, but those with the most
grit — the ones who are passionate, the ones who keep pushing themselves until
achieving their ultimate goals. So, we should be rooting for not just the top students
among the graduates but for all.
Grit grounded on ethical principles will feed the hunger of the world for innovation and
change. Grit with a noble purpose will quench the thirst for social development. And grit
with conscience and compassion will heal conflicts and build better communities. For
now, this four-letter word – grit – will make these graduates take their first step and keep
them moving forward.

The next step is to proceed. Our progress is being measured against the
completion of intermediate objectives, which form the building blocks for the
final objective. With strength of body, mind, and spirit, we press on.

Grit is a quality that can be developed with just two ingredients: dedication and
desire. Without enthusiasm, persistence becomes tedious and tiring. If we don't
keep trying, we'll never succeed.
The most prestigious awards and possibly the loudest applause were just given
to the cream of the crop. This medal is mine, too. This is the day I wear it around
my neck with pride. Maybe I'll just stare at it all day tomorrow. I plan to store it
away securely tomorrow. I pray it will be significant in the next months and years.

Many people believe, and this belief is gaining ground, that it is not necessarily
those with the highest IQs who are the finest and strongest performers, but
rather those who are the most tenacious and driven to succeed. As a result, we
shouldn't simply cheer for the best grads, but for all of them.

The world's need for innovation and change can be satisfied by perseverance
based on ethical ideals. Determined effort that serves a higher good will quench
the hunger for progress in society. And perseverance combined with morality and
empathy can resolve problems and make communities stronger. For the time
being, this four-letter word — grit — is what will propel these grads ahead.

Conclusion]
Once again, my fellow graduates, let us rise up from every stumble and fall, reach out
our arms farther, and keep moving forward. Congratulations!
My fellow alums, let us, once again, dust ourselves off, stretch our grasp
even more, and go onward. Congratulations!