The speech i delivered for convocation :)
kind of a bad recording... will replace if i can find a better copy...
President Toope, honoured members of the convocation, faculty, fellow graduates, family & friends, it is a great honour to be speaking before you today.
Today marks the end of a long journey and looking back, it is truly amazing how far we have come. When we first started here at UBC, we were with our MUG groups, getting lost in buildings, and finding out at the most inconvenient times that labs do not run on the first week of class. Now, after 4 or 5 years, 120 or so credits, and six trillion copies of the Computer Science Department Current Events printout distributed to every class at the beginning of every term, here we stand, hats, robes and all.
The truth is that when I started here I, perhaps like some of you out there, came to university not really knowing what to expect. I was told it was a good place to go and so I strived to come without really understanding to what end. I was told I would have a good future, I would be attractive to employers, I would be smarter, I would make money, friends, have fun, it slices, it dices, it sorts your mail. So after four or five easy payments of $4999.99, we can safely say: it does all that and more.
We have indeed learned much: some of us may have learned various programming languages to various degrees of frustration. Some of us may now know how to design a better user interface. Some of us may know about algorithms, runtimes, sorting. Several of us might be shifting uncomfortably right now at our vague recollection of these terms.
Beyond classroom topics though, we have also grown by the connections weve made here, and also the paths chose to take from today, many of which were influenced by being at UBC. While we might not want to admit it when were up at 4 AM studying for an exam, the university has sparked curiousities, ignited passions, and opened doors for us that we did not know existed. Our past and our futures are a testament that UBC has not just taught us, it has shaped us. We are now not only more capable, but more purposeful. We are not only more learned, but more understanding. We are not only more perceptive, but more insightful. And as we step forward into the next phase of our lives, UBC leaves us with two gifts, roots and wings.
As the beneficiaries of such a wealth of opportunity, I am proud to announce the gift to the university from the graduating class of 2009: A $8800 donation to the UBC Centre of International Health, a $4700 donation to the UBC Global Health initiative, and a $6600 donation to the UBC Agape street mission club so that others may also be given the opportunities that we have been blessed with.
And blessed we are, to be surrounded by the people who have made all of this possible. We must thank the faculty who have taught us, and the TAs who we ran to immediately after, the staff who work behind the scenes and of course our friends and family, who supported us every step of the way. I would like to personally thank my mom and dad, who have worked unbelievably hard to see this day.
To my fellow graduates today is about beginnings as much as it is about ends and I have no doubts that we will go on to many great things in many places. I came to UBC with uncertain expectations other than a vague hope for a good future. Now I leave it understanding the words of computer scientist Alan Kay: the best way to predict the future, is to invent it. Indeed, the future is uncertain, but we will meet tomorrows challenges with the same tenacity, passion, and brilliance that brought us together today. I wish you all success in inventing your own futures and it has been an honour to call you all my colleagues.
Ladies and Gentlemen: the graduating class of 2009. Thank you.
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UBC International Week - International Learningby ubciweek620 views
good speech, altho imo, the whole culture of giving speeches from students are totally not necessary. When i attended my graduation, all i want is get my degree, and get the hell out of there so i can actually spend time + take pics with my family!
Casshyr 3 months ago
You've made a great speech sir. I've just finished my 1st year engineering studies at UBC and yes it "felt" a lot tougher than high school due to several factors. I started to feel (some point in 1st year til 5 mins ago) that university life is just like another high school. If what you've said are true, then I certainly can't wait for the future. Thank you and good luck to you sir, and the rest of the computer science grads!
Justice4x 2 years ago