Valedictry Speech

A few folks who were not able to make it to the graduation wanted to read the speech I delivered. So here is a close transcript of my Valedictorian's speech, June 9, 2011

Good afternoon to our guests, Director Merkle, Dean Whatanberger, Chairs, and my fellow graduates.

I am honored to stand before you today as the class valedictorian. I am indebted to every instructor who stayed late, the classmates who helped me along, and way too many cups of Folger’s Dark Roast.

The first time I visited the campus, the admissions counselor said something that stuck out to me. She said that the next two years will come and pass whether or not you decide to get your degree. As well as being a great sales pitch, there is a lot of truth to that statement. The last two years have come and gone, just like the last ten years before that since I graduated high school.

If you have considered going back to school, I would encourage you to do so. You aren’t too old. You can find the time. You can make a difference for yourself and your family. I am glad that I decided to take the plunge. I have options and opportunities now that were not open to me before. But I know that this is only the first step in the right direction. It is up to me to keep going and pushing to make things better, to keep learning, always improving myself and the lifestyle I provide for my wife and daughter.

I have learned a lot at ITT. Some things I have learned: I learned a lot about taking a computer apart. And a little bit about putting it back together. I learned that being a mathematician is not a career I want to pursue. I learned that a lot of physics can be taught by referencing Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon cover art. I learned that the propensity of a computer to crash is directly proportional to the amount of time since you last saved the project. And apparently, consuming massive quantities of Hungry Howies pizza makes students more intellegent.

I would be remiss if I failed to acknowledge the incredible support I have received from my wife, family, and friends. This has been an interesting journey and they have put up with some crazy hours, a lot of stress, and finals week eight times. And they still love me.

In the words of the venerable Southern Statesman Mark Twain, There are basically two types of people. People who accomplish things and people who claim to have accomplished things. And the first group is a lot less crowded. I challenge you to make the most of the momentum. Never stop learning, never stop growing, and never stop reaching. Remember, it doesn’t matter if you are the lion or the gazelle, when the sun comes up, you better start running. May God bless each of you abundantly, thank you.