Drafting Your Commencement Speech Introduction

Drafting Your Commencement Speech Introduction
Exploratory Writing: Drafting Your Commencement Speech Introduction (Thesis, Semicolon, And Colon Practice)
Thank you (the person who introduced me). It's my honor today to welcome all students, family, and friends to this commencement address and, more importantly, to thank everyone for making these four years of legacy a success. I remember my first semester in college: I was afraid of fitting in, but that fear turned out to be unfounded as I interacted with my peers and tutors. Everything started to figure itself out; the puzzle pieces began to fit together. Many of my college experiences are indelibly etched in my mind and heart. I will pull out these treasures long after college: the long hours of classroom discussion, lectures, and group study; the exciting times at club gatherings, volunteer activities, and group travels; as well as the fun-filled weekends with college friends and acquaintances.
I believe that we are all better people for such college experiences: “A college degree is not a sign that one is a finished product but an indication a person is prepared for life” (The Quotations Page). This quote by Edward A. Mallow brings me to the theme of this commencement address: success. Success is difficult to define; moreover, it is relative to each person's goals and desires. This is why I strongly believe that success is setting concrete goals in life, having the self-belief that you can achieve those goals, and doing your best to make them a reality, even when all your best efforts do not result in outstanding results. Success is remaining firm in the face of adversity and believing in what you are doing. Many will not agree with your goals, but allowing no one or nothing to hold you back and celebrating the small victories is what makes one a successful person.
More important than persevering or celebrating one’s small victories is setting goals: setting goals facilitates new behaviors, helps narrow down your focus, and sustains your momentum in life. After all, you cannot persevere or appreciate the small strides in your success journey if you are not sure where you are going – you cannot work consistently on something you have not clearly defined. Goals help one align their efforts and sense of self-efficacy to achieve greater performance and success. It is easier to mobilize one’s energy and stay motivated in the face of challenges if one has a goal in mind as opposed to doing things on the fly. However, the goals we set must be founded on things that actually matter to us. It is best to set concrete goals that embrace our own unique strengths and not those that pitch us against our social circle. There are no absolute goals because everything and everyone is relative. While comparing ourselves with our peers, friends, role models, relatives, colleagues, influencers, or actors is natural, setting a high bar for ourselves based on other people’s aspirations can lead to a self-esteem spiral.
Even if we were to achieve these goals, there is no guarantee that they would make us happy; keeping up with the Joneses is leaving one’s sense of happiness in the hands of people who are vastly dissimilar from us. Besides, it is impossi...