Reflection Speech on the occasion of the Graduation Ceremony of
A PREPARATORY SCHOOL - Class of 2001
27 July, 2009 ,The Hilton Hotel, Addis Ababa
Dear Principal and members of the school community
Dear Fellow Parents and Invited Guests
Dear Graduates
I am very pleased, touched and honored to be invited to present a short reflection speech in the name of the esteemed and noble parents of the school at this momentous and enjoyable occasion and function to celebrate the graduation of the students of the this Preparatory school- the class of 2001.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
First of all, I would like to congratulate the Graduates on their successes and fellow parents for the joy thereof.
Dear the school community members, and participants
Education is what shapes our thoughts beliefs, and the way & how we do things and live life and above all what shapes how we interact with the outside environment: the world.
Education is a key for development, economic growth and prosperity-getting yourself and your family out of poverty in our case.Nonetheless it is a long term and requires strength and commitment. Our experience in this country for the most is to opt for the short cut by-pass thought of chances and external factors like a mother thinking of her daughter or son winning a DV immigrant lottery or somehow get out of this country and work in the middle east for example and send back some, support the family and bring some hope out of poverty. I am sure you will not fall for this twilight and day dream, but rather take the long road –the right path of Education. As the Swahili saying goes “With patience you can even cook stones!!!”
Education is a key for development, economic growth and prosperity-getting yourself and your family out of poverty in our case.Nonetheless it is a long term and requires strength and commitment. Our experience in this country for the most is to opt for the short cut by-pass thought of chances and external factors like a mother thinking of her daughter or son winning a DV immigrant lottery or somehow get out of this country and work in the middle east for example and send back some, support the family and bring some hope out of poverty. I am sure you will not fall for this twilight and day dream, but rather take the long road –the right path of Education. As the Swahili saying goes “With patience you can even cook stones!!!”
Education which is systematic teaching & learning is a process, if rightfully done, resulting in producing a thinking man with skills and knowledge to be used in making self dependant ,responsible and logical decisions in life.
As a consequence, the results of your efforts and the domino effect /outcomes of the school management and teachers is probed by whether you are changed?: in how you think, internalize ,and view this world: to what extent logical and rational your decisions are..
Dear beloved Graduates,
Nature and the ultimate governance in the setting at its most will only provide you with equal opportunities…”Equal opportunities For all!!!”. Therefore, the choices and the decisions you make determine your destiny.In this era of uncountable choices in front of you, never run (boldly), but hasten. Stop…Examine and Choose for all that glitters is not gold.
Please, think globally- no problem about it; but act locally/nationally/individually. It is what we are that makes the building blocks of a just and fair world setting.
Dear Graduates
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There are certain things which should not be compromised or sold. Your principles, your beliefs and above all your dignity. If you abandon yourself and your roots and copy and paste, remember that you queue from behind – you are a follower. You, in almost all cases, will never win.
Be aware of the excessive individualism, greed and consumerism of parts of this world.I urge you to be your self and only bite what you can chew.Remember that We are Africans. (Most of Us…),where the norm is that" Each of us exists because we all exist". The philosophy is I am because we are. We are a group – a community- as society -a country….. Every one of us exists within this web. Within this wholesome set, the situation of yours is not enjoyed by many of the children of this country. We all know what we are. A lot is expected from you.
Therefore be kind and payback for your community. As the oromo saying goes”Liqiin galshaa beekaa“ - which is if roughly translated reads as –“Debt knows only repayment”
In addition, whilst congratulating you on your successes and feeling good about your past achievements this should not derail you from the upcoming challenges and difficulties as though this is the end of the road. May be for others, but no no not for graduates of this school-our school. A delivery is likely from the best, from our creams. I am sure you will keep it up and keep the promise alive; and the momentum going.
Furthermore, thanking the school for acting as a second home and family, I request the school management not to abandon its peculiar social values and high standards of enforcements of self-discipline of the school.
Dear Participants,
I assure you that I have not at the beginning and since then hesitated to send my children to this school. And this is more so now.
I pledge and reassure that we will make it our school for the years to come.
Thank you all!!
