Drafting Commencement Speech Introduction

For this exploratory writing assignment, I want you to write the introduction to your commencement speech. You do not have to use what you write in your rough draft! However, for this assignment, your introduction must include the following elements to receive full credit:
Use 1 semicolon
Use 1 colon
Have an identifiable thesis statement that makes a contestable claim about what success is (or how success should be defined) and that forecasts (or previews) the content of the speech without resorting to the dreaded "A, B, C".
The purpose of this written assignment is threefold: 1) to demonstrate your ability to use a semicolon properly; 2) to demonstrate your ability to use a colon properly; and 3) to receive feedback on your working thesis statement and your use of the aforementioned punctuation marks.
Responses must be at least one double-spaced page and include all three elements to receive full credit.