For those of you who missed it... the following is my actual speech.. and if anyone has the full video for it, if you could share it with me, that would be great.. my grams couldn't make it... I also posted the introduction the provost read.
TMC Provost Allan Havast: "Our 2010 TMC Student Speaker, Sheena Marie Aquino, transferred from Los Angeles. Being raised on a U.S. Air Force base, she was taught to value the goodness in people and hard work. After 4 years of working full-time, while concurrently attending college, she decided to combine her love of people and fascination for business. She graduates today with her B.A. in Psychology, aiming to earn her MBA at graduate school, and ultimately becoming an Industrial/Organizational Psychologist. Please join me in welcoming Sheena Marie Aquino, this year's Thurgood Marshall College Student Speaker."
Me: "Welcome to the 2010 Thurgood Marshall College commencement ceremony. Looking across this field on this blessed day, I see all your eager faces, so excited to take on the world. Our years of perseverance have finally paid off, due in large part to those who have influenced our ambitious journey. To our educators for their wisdom, friends for their loyalty, families for their comfort and parents for their patience.
We've all chosen different paths leading to this day. Some chose to study really hard and have the privilege of wearing blue and gold cords for achieving high academic honors. Others, like our Student Council, chose to share with us their time and creativity to plan every semi-formal, Amazing Race to Sun God, Marshallpalooza, and senior class event. Some chose to share with us their athletic talents, earning themselves All-American, All-Conference or All-West Region honors. And lastly, we can't forget the amazing individuals who chose to make our OVT breakfast burritos, they have given us so much joy, yet they ask for nothing in return, so thanks. Whether we were involved in every activity or simply watching from the sidelines, the greatest privilege of college was the uniqueness of all our experiences.
As for me, these past 4 years I was a full-time student while working full-time. I chose to pay my way through college, so my mom didn't have to. She already had undergrad loans from my two older sisters who graduated from UCLA and UC Riverside, as well as both their med school fees, my baby brother's private school tuition, and my dad's hospital bills. There were times when working 40 to 50 hours a week, dealing with screaming customers, and studying before, during, and after my shifts became unbearable. But whenever I would doubt myself, I'd picture my mom standing in the audience with pride on her face and tears in her eyes as she watched me walk across this stage and it reassured my conviction for my actions. Though we can all relate to these moments of despair, what is most important is recognizing our resilience and what inspires us to keep going.
We are a class of survivors. We've overcome being homesick, pulling all-nighters in Geisel, missing the shuttle by only a few seconds, and having to run from Revelle to ERC with our 10 minute gap between classes. We were attacked by the Price Center Bird, victims of hate-crimes, traumatized by the effects of tsunamis, Hurricane Katrina, and earthquakes, and witnessed as bullies raised our tuition higher and higher. Yet we learned, as Ambrose Redmoon wrote that, "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear." By observing the PC bird we realized she was just a mother defending her nest. By using education instead of violence to combat hate, we were reminded of the importance for communication. By volunteering, we defined what it means to be human by empathizing for others. Finally, by marching to voice our grievances with our tuition, we expressed the importance of our education and how we deserve an opportunity to secure our future. May we remember every resistance that has stood in our paths, because great people emerge from difficult circumstances and great ideas form from uncomfortable situations.
The emphasis to 'empower the scholar and the citizen', has been instilled in us since our welcome orientation. As members of the Marshall family, we were given the opportunity to take three core classes stressing the importance of diversity, justice, and imagination. Justice Marshall said, "In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute." Let this be the day that we spread the message to live with integrity because by graduating today, as the UC San Diego, Thurgood Marshall College, Class of 2010 we have become scholars, and by accepting our responsibilities as human beings, we've become citizens. Thank you."
written by: Sheena Marie Aquino
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sheenas speechby stuano69 views
my sister recorded this for me, but unfortunately she cut off the first part and a little piece in the middle.. and she the one giving the commentary.. LoL.. thanks Nana.. Love you...
smaquin0 1 year ago