RedGage

Valedictory Address

By: Michael Cobilla
41st Graduation Exercises

My fellow graduates, honorees, teachers, our beloved principal, Mrs. Gundelina B. Obias, non-teaching personnel, guests, friends, ladies and gentlemen, good evening!
As one of the batch valedictorians, I am here to bid you farewell. It is a time that pleasure and sorrow walk hand in hand; every joy has a tinge of sadness. This is graduation- a great event in our lives, for it is the beginning of a voyage into an unknown sea, the future.
The journey through life is one that nobody goes through alone. Whatever people may accomplish, those accomplishments were achieved only through the combination of their own personal drive and motivation and the love and support given to them from the people around them. Therefore, I must begin acknowledging all those who have been so instrumental, in bringing to where I am today. First of all, I have to thank God, who guided us into a right path. I would like to extend my sincerest gratitude to my parents. I could not have done anything without your teaching and the support given me. I always remember the line that almost repeated by my mother, “The only treasure that you can receive from us is education”. I know that my family did not belong to a rich family. So I put it into reality, I strive hard so that I can prove that poverty is not a hindrance in achieving our dreams but it should serve as a motivating factor. I want to thank to all hard working teachers and staff who have invested so much to all of us. You molded us into what we are now- an educated person.
I can say that our past four years in our Alma Mater is so memorable. One of the very important knowledge’s that I gained was how to become a better leader. Being the Supreme Student Government President in this institution it never gave me an alternative but to excel. It had contributed to me a lot especially the respect I gained around the campus at a young age. It was not easy for me to balance academic aspects, my duties and responsibilities that I pledged. It was also difficult fighting and conquering my insecurities and inadequacies that mark ordinary persons like me. I promised to myself that I need to excel. It ever required me to do more. It gave me a confidence. It showed me the path that I need to take in the future, defining my real purpose of being here in this world. It well clearly elaborate the reason for my existence. Although, there are some pressures, still on my mind I need to keep moving on. I love SSG. I will never forget the wonderful experiences that brought to my life. Thank you to my fellow SSG officers, especially, Herson Perez, for helping me to achieve the goals of our organization. My term as SSG President ended, back to zero in college. I know, no matter how much I excelled in the past four years, situations will most likely turn me away from excellence. But I believe that I can do it, the same what I have done. I already keep to my mind that I will forever carry the experiences I had including the learning I gained with the people around, who inspired me to have this ability to lead and serve.
To our dynamic principal, Mrs. Gundelina B. Obias and teachers, thank you for guiding and supporting us. To all my friends, you have really made these years so enjoyable and memorable.
High school will always have been a very unique period in our lives; a period where our physical, mental, emotional and social aspects of our life developed. We learned how to make better decisions in our lives. The success and failures are the fruits of our decisions. If we choose the right thing we will reach our goals but if we choose the wrong one we will encounter difficulties in achieving our dreams.
I was only an ordinary boy who dreamed simple things. Things that will help my family from poverty. I didn’t imagine that I will stand and share my experiences in front of you. Do you want to know what I felt during the announcement of honor students? I only remembered that I was only waiting and expecting for something to happen, I didn’t ever know what that “ something “ was I only wish that I can escape from jittery feeling that consumed my whole system. And as I sat there beside another brilliant classmate, I was starting to loose my thoughts only to wake up to the moment when the chairman hailed the valedictorians. I was slapped to my face. That was the moment that sparked everything. I was the dreamer and that was the dream I reached to help others reach theirs. Behind the unexpected moment, I understand the reason for what I am now. I DID MY BEST!

I hope that all of us be an asset of our country not a liability.

My fellow graduates, time flies so fast and we are about to depart. Although there may be some of us who will yet be together as we go through college, I feel that for most of us it is indeed a parting world. I encourage of you to set goals for yourself and to strongly stand for something that can give your life direction and purpose. As one of the graduates of 2012, I love you all and wishing you the best luck.

Thank you and good evening.