 Gradwyr yn 2019. Gratulatio. I had 15 months to write this, and yet I sat on Monday night and contemplated my time at Sirass, thinking of the advice I could give to you all. It turns out, a year after graduating, I'm no more qualified to tell you about the world. I'd be lying if I told you piles of wisdom, quoted what a lecturer once said to me, or told you my first impression of Sirass was when I felt at home here. When I sat in your position a year ago, I look forward to imparting my perceived wisdom a year later. I relished, somewhat naively, the thought of standing up and conveying the answer to adulthood. I thought about giving you my top advice for my four years here at Sirass, and I realised it may not be so applicable to you all. Don't date someone because their backpack matches yours. Don't become co-sports officer with the guy you fancy. And definitely don't date someone for their palmerjana-making abilities. A less-than-useful list began to form on my page. And then I realised, not only have I not left the bubble, but that I don't think you ever feel wise that piles of wisdom are perceived by the listener, not the speaker. I even googled some piles of wisdom to impart upon you all. The success in life is not for those who run fast, but for those who keep running and are always on the move. That there is a difference between an open mind and an empty head, and that life is 10% what happens to us, and 90% how we react to it. It was upon this hopeless Google search that I realised. It is not what we have learnt, but it how we have learnt it. How we adapted to our environment, overcame barriers, and engaged with the subject. Though Sirass didn't try to give us the answers, but it taught us the tools to succeed. I chose these words carefully. Sirass did not hand us these tools. They were not uploaded on the Moodle page, or piled into our ever-increasing student email inboxes. These tools were nurtured, developed, and grown. There are interactions with academia, parents, families and friends wondering what this mysterious place is all about. Let me try to tell you. I attempted this very feat in November when welcoming prospective students into our community. I told them that Sirass is more than what you learn in the classroom. That whether you're in the JCR, on the fourth quadrant, or in the Harry-Kissner queue, you'll be challenging the status quo. That Sirass is a place of critical thinking, a place where ideas escape their Eurocentric roots, and a place to meet the world. I preached that over 250 societies and a democratic union were the hub of life at Sirass, that the parties will be big and the essay cramming will be worth it. But what I didn't tell them is it's not the tutorials, it's not the lectures, and it's certainly not the union that makes Sirass a place we all call home. Sirass is what it is because of you all. Because of the conversations you have, the questions you ask, and more importantly, the answers you give. It is this that has prepared you far more than you may ever know or feel to leave Sirass. Walking out of graduation today adds one line to your CV. But walking out of Sirass gives you the skills and perspective needed to change the ever challenging world we live in. But you didn't get here alone. You didn't get here because of the countless pages you read, the hours you spent in the library, or the espressos that got you through dissertation season. You got here because of those sat beside you and those sat behind you. Graduins of 2019, I invite you to stand up, turn around, and thank those who supported you to be here today. But this morning I panicked about your shoe choice. Would the stairs prove too much? Would you fall over before or after the handshake? But with that dreaded part over, today is a perfect representation of your time at Sirass. In this room alone we have international relations students, music, politics, Southeast Asian studies, Vietnamese, Pacific Asian studies, African politics, Asian politics, Middle Eastern politics, and comparative political thought to name a few. As students, you are the centre of the Sirass bubble. The world really does revolve around you. As a graduate, I feel proud to see that student excellence is centred on days like today. I'd like to extend my deepest congratulations and invite you all to give one more round of applause to your fellow graduates, Yija and Pada for their exceptional performance this afternoon. Last of 2019, you were joining a group of esteemed graduates who have gone out to shape the world to be a better place. But I urge you to remember, the future is not 9-5. Your value cannot be ascribed to an hourly wage or a monthly paycheck. And your mind is powerful and your thoughts are unique. When you step out of the Sirass bubble, you will discover a world far bigger, far more diverse, believe it or not, and with far more ignorant people in it than those you have grown close to. Do not assume knowledge, do not hesitate to stand up for you believe in, and do not hesitate to be an ally. So, I can't tell you how to be prepared for what lies ahead or how to get back at your job. But I can assure you, the experiences you have had here, the things you have witnessed, the debates you have engaged in, the campaigns you have spearheaded and the people you have met are worth far more than any CV. Gradions of 2019, it has been a privilege to be in your students union this year. I have learnt more about myself than I ever expected, and I value both the praise and criticisms we received. I wish you the best of luck as you step out of the bubble.