AN OPENING REMARK PRESENTED BY THE DIRECTOR, ENGR. E. · ONUMAH ON THE 2021 GRADUATION CEREMONY OF 24TH SS 3 GRADUATING CLASS HELD ON OCTOBER 23RD, 2021.
The Guest Speaker,
Our wonderful parents,
Our diligent graduating SS 3 class of 2021
Distinguished guest,
Our hardworking staff Ladies and gentlemen,
Today marks the end of an era for all the graduating Dority International Early Learning School Students sitting here–the end of a compulsory school for all of you and your last day at Dority International Early Learning School.
As you all say farewell to your friends, teachers, coordinators, staff and the school administrations and close the door on your high school,you also will be opening another door to your future.
A future we do not know much about now.
You all are today standing at the brink of your future.
Some of you are wondering how your lives are going to turn out.
It is okay to wonder but I think it is more important to realize that your future is not just something that happens to you; it is what you create.
The question is how do you get started with this journey of life when you have no idea of where you are going?
The answers reside within one of the grander fundamental principles of physics, the first law of motion: An object at rest tends to stay at rest unless acted upon by an outside force to get started.
You need to become the outside force that starts the mental and physical ball rolling which overcomes the inertia of inaction and indecision and begins the development of real creative momentum (your life journey).
The strength to move and keep moving must come from within you.
The key to making progress is to realize how to take that first step.
Analysis of yourself is essential to an understanding of how you tailor the knowledge you have acquired in this school to your future desires and goals in this journey.
ln this journey grab hold of the things you are interested in, that fascinate you and dive deeper into them to see where they lead you.
It will really help you to uncover the secrets about yourself and about the world around you.
You should keep your curiosity aimed at something constructive, something other than mischief.
Let those feelings be your guide in this journey.
The ultimate aim is to rise above the whims of fortune not to control your faith but to choose meaningful achievable goals and forge life free of regrets.
When people who have achieved public successes write about their lives, often their experiences get chatted like a purposeful lineal climb up a mountain towards a summit of achievements.
Life journey is not a straight line; it is a path that has many turns.
Some turns are wrong, some turns are right, some turns are wearied but then become right with time.
Wrong turns are part of your life journey.
Everyone of you needs to give yourselves the space to screw up in pursuit of perfection in your life journey.
Screwing up is learning.
The trip down any path of creation is not A to B, that will be so boring because that is predictable.
It is A to somewhere beyond zebra.
That is where the interesting stuff happens, the stuff that changes us.
We pursue the things we do, precisely because, we can’t know the outcomes ahead of time, if we know exactly what the outcome will be, why would we proceed?
What would be the point?
One sets out with an intention, but what really happens comes about with working hard effectively.
You all must loosen your tolerance with yourself to make mistakes in this journey.
It is the only way you will learn, the only way you will grow, the only way you will make anything truly great out of this journey, for mistakes are the pillars of success if well taken.
Try to be the best you can be; never seize trying to be the best you can be.
That is in your power.
The toughest part about trying is to appreciate failure and how to use it to continuously keep trying.
Never feel ashamed for trying and failing for he who has never failed is he who has never tried.
In fearing to fail, we fail to try.
Persistence, persistence is the key.
If you are not failing, you are not pushing your limits and you are not maximizing your potentials.
Your ships of life are safe in harbour.
But that is not what ships are for, so set sail on the stormy sea of life.
Failure will not overtake you if your determination to evolve as effectively as possible is strong enough.
Failure is inevitable in this journey of life but let its inevitability shape your lives and inform your future actions.
Ignore all obstacles at your feet.
There are bound to be hiccups here and here but don’t worry about failure, rather worry about the chances you missed when you did not even try.
Keep your eyes on the goals in front of you for where dry desert ends; green grass grows.
Each obstacle should be considered as mere detours to your goals.
Obstacles are necessary for success.
Victory comes only after many struggles and countless defeats.
Each struggle, each defeat sharpens your skills and strengthens your courage and your endurance, your ability and your confidence.
Obstacle is a comrade-in-arms forcing you to become better.
Always look up in the light when all you can see is darkness.
Focus on what you have and what you could do with it.
Do not allow lack of resources to stop you from achieving your goals in life.
Let every tool in your “tool bag of life” be a hammer.
Success is a state of mind.
We are what we think.
All that we are, arises from the thoughts we make of the world.
The difference between those who succeed and those who fail lies in differences of habit.
Good habits are key to success.
Bad habits are the unlocked doors to failure.
We sabotage our own endeavours with negative reinforcement: – “I am useless at this”, ‘no one is interested in my opinion” and so we need to change the way we think.
Take initiative to always try to see the hidden positive depth in everyone you will meet and everything that you ventured to do.
Hidden beauty lies beneath the most mundane hills that you transverse everyday.
There is more to anything that you can see let not the surface define you or anything.
But you have to decide to step out to discover those hidden beauties.
Find the list of interesting things that will send you deep down various rabbit holes for exploration.
Your budding obsession is a thing of value not a trifling thing to be dismissed. Paying heed to your secret thrills will be the thread that will continue to positively weave together your life journey.
Take risks, not avoiding but embracing change and realizing that life is a much more enjoyable experience with an adventurous mindset.
Do not lose focus and never derail from your goals, continue to seek knowledge with diligence and signifying attitudes. Shun every distraction.
Please my flowering Doritians do not be in a hurry to succeed.
Do not barrel through life virtually unaware of what is going on around you.
Practice the art of patience for nature does not act in a hurry.
You need to take time each day to slow down and be people of grace and gratitude.
Sharing an attitude of gratitude not only makes for a nicer world but also makes for a happier, healthier and more successful life.
You all should build your life castles one brick at a time for small attempts repeated, will complete any undertaking successfully.
What is more essential is learning the rudiments of whatever you have decided to do.
Passing the earlier stage of life is like climbing a ladder.
It requires a lot of courage and determination.
Dream big and explore all available opportunities to actualize your dream.
As you all walk through the school gate the last time as students of Dority International Early Learning School be grateful for what you have.
Share it with generosity and continue to replenish it.
Look up to the future.
Do not dwell on past successes and failures .
Successful people focus on those few goals that will make them better in the future.
Practice continuous learning.
People with a positive attitude of learning stay on top of what is going on in their field of interest.
They recognize that they cannot remain successful without learning about new developments for nothing is immune to the process of change.
Everyone of you has something valuable to contribute to Nigeria and the world.
Each of you will climb your separate mountain to reach your own extended view.
Believe in yourself.
Self-confidence and determination are the keys to attaining greater heights in life.
The world is full of possibilities.
In conclusion, graduating class of 2020/2021, I wish you all the best for the future.
Congratulations!
Farewell!
Represent us well.
Network with other alumni and give back to your community.
Come back and mentor the students you are leaving behind.
To our supportive parents, we are giving you back your children.
The same children you entrusted in our care.
We give these children back much taller and much older and a whole lot smarter.
It has been our pleasure to watch them grow and learn day by day.
We have all become family members.
The school will always be interested in these children, their future, wherever they may be and whatever they may do and whoever they may be.
We look forward to the day we will hear their names linked with great accomplishments.
Thank you for sharing such wonderful children with us and thank you for your encouragement and support.
Thank you all.
