Unspoken Speech
I remember getting invited for two occasions already by my high school Alma Matter to give an inspirational speech to the graduating high school students. It’s really sad that I had to decline twice due to unmatched availabilities.
Looking back, I wondered what I would have said. I wondered how the school would have reacted if I did away with the usual litany of how I climbed up the ladder (if the thing really did exist) in my career and instead, leave that to the one making the introductions?
I wondered how my speech is going to sound like? I’d probably zero in on sharing to them, from the bottom of my heart, just exactly what I have come to learn between then and now.
They are too many to mention, as I expected. The words I’d be saying would probably be said earlier by someone else for all I know. And yet, if I really have to tell them what I have come to realize about success in education and career between then and now, it would certainly include the following:
- Education isn’t everything. A job or career isn’t everything. Money isn’t everything. Even family isn’t everything. Almighty Heavenly Father Yahweh is everything. Put Him first in your life and everything will follow.
- Always give more than what is expected of you. That extra mile you take spells all the difference.
- In most cases, you do not need a contest to know if you have won or lost.
- Do not compare yourself with others and resist the urge to go with the trend just because people around you say so. Only you know what fits. Go for your dreams no matter how impossible nor unpopular they seem. If you really have to, compete only with yourself and no one else. If you really have to know how you are faring as a person, check out the Bible.
- When the time comes and you have to choose between a career and family, choose family without blinking. On the other hand, note that “work-life” balance do exist.
Share your blessings whenever you can and no matter how small they seem. I believe this is one of the most important measures of success —- how many lives you have touched and how many times you have become a blessing to others. Do your share to make this place called Earth a better place to live in because of you.
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