Good afternoon, President Tang, teachers, fellow graduates, distinguished guests, and families,
I am Peng Siying from Applied Economics Programme. It is my great honor to stand before you today as an FBM graduate to celebrate the fruits of our labor.
Let us first express our gratitude towards those who have supported us along the way. Our teachers, family, friends, and faculty members have been our pillars of strength, providing us with the encouragement and guidance.
Our achievements are inseparable from their support. Of course they are also the results of the countless hours we spend studying and preparing for exams, group projects and business competitions. We now have the analytical tools, critical thinking and interpersonal skills to solve real-life problems.
But, the more important and valuable “fruit” in our college life is knowing our inner self better and finding out what we can’t stop pursuing. We are so lucky to take our undergraduate journey in UIC where we can take any types of activities and courses we are interested in to find our passions, not caring too much about the results.
Of course, what we find are different for each of us. What I want to say to those who already find their love is - please keep devoting yourself to the thing you love, you look amazing when you fight for that, I believe one day you will reach the big stage you aspire to and remove the doubts about you. And to those who haven’t been so clear about their future, I really want to say, it’s ok. It’s ok to be confused, worried, or afraid. We still have a lot of time to discover our passions and we have enough confidence and abilities to embrace the unknown.
For me personally, I have learned 3 key things in the last four years: the ability to multitask, the ability to cope with anxiety, and the knowledge of what I am good at. These things will play a vital role in pursuing what I love and contribute greatly to my success.
Now, we are going to the next journey of our lives which is either continuing education or joining the workforce. But in my humble opinion, we can travel around the world, join voluntary activities, or just spend more time with our family. We can all have different directions. Our destinations cannot be limited by standards others define. We just need to walk on our own paths and live within our own happiness.
In closing, I want to congratulate my fellow graduates. I believe each of us will learn, grow, and become better versions of ourselves. Thank you.
