Commencement
Student Speaker: James Flahaven
Welcome, class of 2005. Today I'm earning my Associate of Science degree [and let me tell you it feels great]. This fall I'll be studying physics at the University of Washington.
I'm so proud to be graduating with you here at Edmonds Community College. Tonight, we're here to celebrate our accomplishments [and you know we deserve it!] May we not forget how far we have come, and let us look to the future and continue to push ourselves to reach for our dreams and goals.
Some time ago we took that all so important first step. We recognized the VALUE and significance of our educations and determined to better ourselves, and today each one of us has achieved an important goal. Congratulations to all of you.
I know that it was not easy.
Many of us had our doubts when we came to this campus. We worried that we were too young or too old. We may have been afraid because it was the first time we'd ever been on a college campus. Maybe we didn't think we could handle the math, or the writing or the computers or what ever it was we told ourselves we could not do.
However, we took the first step and came here to Edmonds Community College because we saw an opportunity: to learn, to grow, to stretch ourselves in order to improve upon our abilities and rise to that next level. Today, Edmonds will award approximately 1900 degrees or certificates. These students reflect a great diversity, something we should be very proud of here at Edmonds. We have students graduating tonight that represent many different cultures, and the one thing we all have in common is that we all had hopes of a better life for ourselves and our families and we knew that self-improvement was the only way to achieve this goal. And we stuck with it. We overcame; we soldiered on into a brighter future, and we sit here tonight that much closer to our dreams. Again, congratulations to all of you.
Some of the most important things many of us learned here at Edmonds were the things we learned about ourselves, things that no book could ever teach us. One of the most important things I learned is:
Do not let fear or self-doubt stop you from pursuing your dreams.
Ever since I was a boy, I have wanted to know how everything works. I can remember asking my mother difficult questions that were impossible to answer and then getting very upset because I didn't understand. I wanted to know when, why, and how it all began, and how it interacts to form our universe. This is my passion and has been as long as I can remember. I was born to be a scientist.
I only wish I would have realized it sooner.
Before I came to this college, after dropping out of high school, I was digging ditches to pay the bills, and I had little or no hope of finding a meaningful career. I was stuck in the mud, and that is not a figure of speech; I was up to my knees in it. I had no idea what I wanted to do for a career, but I knew that a shovel had nothing at all to do with it. So I took that first step and came to the college where I received my GED and soon after registered for some basic core classes.
I didn't decide to study science right away. My insecurities were telling me I could not do it, I was not smart enough, and I should get a more reasonable degree. But my insecurities were just holding me back, my instructors were right, I had what it took.
Earning my Associate of Science degree was incredibly challenging. And on more than one occasion I needed their encouragement.
But, finally, I have done it. When I started, I could not do fractions but I went on to advanced calculus. And look at me now, graduating with a very respectable GPA and a NASA space grant scholarship to the UW.
Among all the things I have learned from this experience, learning to believe in myself is by far the most valuable.
So, let me say again: Do not let fear or self doubt stop YOU from pursuing YOUR dreams.
Let's take this with us as we go on to our next goal. And let's have the courage to follow our heart's passion.
For me, this passion is physics. Pure science, and learning for learning's sake, is what excites me. This love of learning is what makes me a scientist. I am fascinated by space exploration and String Theory and am considering graduate school. Yes, I'm still worried about having what it takes to be a physicist. And, maybe I'm in way over my head.
However, I know now, that I will regret not trying much more than I will regret failing.
This has not always been the case though.
When I came to Edmonds Community College, I was motivated by money, and not my heart's passion. I was pursuing a practical degree and I knew I could find work and make decent money. However, I had no driving interest in that field. The homework was harder than physics or calculus. Why? Because I dreaded it, because it wasn't something I was passionate about.
It was like I was there again peering up out of a ditch with that shovel in my hand. I eventually came to this conclusion:
You have to follow your heart's passion; don't make the mistake of chasing after that mighty dollar or you'll end up spending countless hours working on something you don't care about.
All the money in the world is not worth your precious time to do what you love.
So what is it that you're passionate about? Are you pursuing your passions? Are you passionate about what the future holds for you in your new career? Only you can answer this question. I have agonized for quite some time over this and have concluded that I will NEVER, ever, regret following my heart.
In closing, I want to acknowledge that we could not have done this without the instructors and staff here at Edmonds Community College or our family and friends.
I would like to thank all the people who helped give us the courage to meet our goals and follow our dreams. Each one of us had mentors, people who guided us to our success. I would like to take a second and thank some of the people that helped me during my journey.
First off, I have to say
Rock On to my lord and savior Jesus Christ.
Thank you lord.
Thank you Amanda, Mom, Mary and Bob, Grandma and Grandpa and all my other friends and family here with me tonight.
I would also like to thank some of my instructors -
- Jadwiga Weyant
- Dr. Wayne Neidhardt
- Dr. Karen Kurt Teal
- Jacqueline Kulbel
- Jill Davishahl
- David Adams
- Charles Ardary
And last but not least, Mary OBrien, who encouraged me many a time and whom I will never forget. [You are one class act Mary.]
But I know each one of you had your own special mentors here,
So, thank you to all those people on campus who gave us their time.
Thank you to friends who believed in us.
Thank you to family members who encouraged us.
Thank you to community members who supported us with scholarships and other opportunities.
Thank you all!
Again, Congratulations to the 2005 Graduating Class of Edmonds Community College!
As we look to the future, may we not let fear hinder our progress, and may we have the courage to follow our heart's passion!
Thank you.
