This is a speech I wrote and delivered at my Graduation Ceremony in 2017 in front of nearly 1,000 guests. I thought I’d share it on my website as I think it is still as relevant today and helps me gain perspective.
The personal side of success
Looking back on the past 4 years, University has been a time of immense growth. For those who don’t know, I have had a medical condition since I was 13 that in some respects made me different. I was not allowed to drink, or learn to drive, continue playing sport or be an independent teenager exploring the world with friends like so many of my peers.
Despite not immediately seeing it however, I soon realised that everybody has aspects of their life they wish they never had to deal with. Yet, we all grow stronger, more resilient and learn from others how they coped with the cards life dealt them.
What does success mean to me?
I came to University, four years ago, a shy teenager, still living at home desperately trying to figure out who I was. Unfortunately, Porter, Hofstede and Ted Levitt never thought to write a paper entitled “Who is Emily Jeffreys?” or any of us for that matter. Soon enough, I realised not everything I needed to learn could be taught. It was my personal development I needed a first in.
When I think about where I want to be in 5-10 years, I just want to be successful. But what is success? It’s often attributed it to money. Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, Richard Branson, James Dyson – they all have an enormous amount of money, and are all considered successful. But does that mean that if you don’t have the finances to buy your own group of Islands, that you haven’t been successful in life? No, because I now know success is a feeling. It’s the feeling you get when you have achieved something you never thought you would, and I’m going to push the boat out, and say that the feeling Richard Branson had waking up for the first time on Necker Island, is the same feeling that we have right now. Achievement.
It’s ironic that success is attributed to money, because it’s definitely something money cannot buy.
It’s a feeling…
Although we are all part of the human race, life is not a race. It’s not about who can get the best job first, or who will be the first to suggest a reunion on board their luxury yacht moored off the coast of Monaco. In the words of Bob Marley “The day you stop racing, is the day you win the race”. You may not have a plan right now, and that’s ok. Plans sometimes only limit your potential success.
Fast forward four years, and here I am, a graduate talking in front of 950 people, recently passed my driving test, gained independence and finally enjoying sport again.
As the saying goes, “The world is your Oyster”. And now armed with our pearls of wisdom of both knowledge and experience we are ready to embark on the degree of life. There is no graduation date, and only one assignment – to never give up.