April 5, 2018
We stand here today on the precipice of the future. It’s not a distant reality anymore. It begins here. It begins today.

We began high school as children, but we’re leaving here as adults. We’ve completed a basic education that will serve as the platform we use to launch ourselves into our futures. Some of us will go on to college, others will go straight into the workforce, but each of us will travel our own path. To those who will continue their college, go on.

No matter where we go or what we do, there are challenges ahead of us. What I’m asking from each you and from myself, is to meet those challenges straight on with your head held high and your heart wide open. It’s not enough to simply try to get by in life. That doesn’t move the world forward. You must try to excel in everything you do; strive for excellence in every task, large or small.

As the theme speaks, “K to 12 Learners: Ready to Face Life’s Challenges.” Yes, we are now ready to face life’s challenges because we are already equipped with the necessary learnings and skills that we must acquire, and those are because of the collaborative efforts and dedication of our teachers and the administration. We, the graduates of Caridad B. Trinidad National High School are now ready to compete with others in looking for a job in line with our developed skills here in our country and abroad.

Although it may not be easy to see, every accomplishment you achieve is added to the world’s accomplishments. Your individual successes benefit society as a whole because when you succeed, you lighten the burden on your fellow man. When you succeed, you are in a position to give rather than take.

Imagine if every individual lived up to his or her own potential. Think about how amazing that would be, and how much better off the world would be. Now imagine if just half of those individuals lived up to their potential. The world would still be an awesome place. If even one-fourth of those individuals worked to make their lives successful, they could still make some amazing contributions to society.

Well, we may not have the power to inspire the entire world to strive for success, but we do have the power to try to achieve it for ourselves. My challenge to each of you, and to myself, is to do all that you can do to reach your full potential. If each of the students in this graduating class is able to do that, just imagine the effect that would have. The future is truly in our hands, so let’s make the most of it.

So whether you go for college or you go for work, good luck and God bless us all.

Thank you.

END