speech

commencement
Originally uploaded by jfravel.

I decided to post my valedictorian speech. So here it is in all its unedited glory.

Thank you all. Tonight has been a great night. It has been a celebration of the year and a celebration of the students. To truly keep this a celebration I will keep this brief. I just recently attended the Pharmacy graduation and hooding ceremony where the commencement speaker a young distinguished alumni noted that she herself could not remember the speech or the speaker at her ceremony and wished to keep it brief yet meaningful. I too will try this.

First thank you all for being here. You have come because you have been integral to this program in some way shape or form. Thank you all for making this event possible. Thank you to those who have come before me for this opportunity I am forever grateful.

I would like to thank my fellow students. We have made it through this program. Through both the academics and the service. We have challenged each other throughout this program but we have all made it thus far. We have made it through a very distinguished program. We made it through cadaver anatomy a class very few undergrads in the nation ever had the opportunity to take. A class that make us what we are today and a class whose exams still strike fear in us all. And I know Dr. Pizzimenti and Dr. Maynard aren’t here, but thanks, thanks a lot.

In turn I would like to thank the faculty, staff, and graduate assistants. We have a great thing going at the University of Iowa. We are surrounded by some of the greatest minds in sports medicine. We have the opportunity to be touched by great athletic trainers, physical therapists, physicians, physicians’ assistants, and orthopaedic surgeons. This opportunity does not go unnoticed and we thank you all for your time. There is a varied background, a varied style, and a varied methodology through out all that are here . But one things is true about all of you, you are all Hawkeyes and the compassion and sense of commitment to us as students and individuals is extremely strong. Thank you all. you have been integral to our development and we will be forever grateful. All the long hours, the hydration duties, and the small tasks all have made us what we are today so thank you. Thank you.

Lastly, I would like to thank my parents. I was going to thank my parents first, but I didn’t know if I was going to make it through this part. My parents are both educators. One a 1st grade teacher and the other a high school science teacher and soon to be vice principal, I actually took an honors chemistry course from him. I have always had the world of academia around me. From an early age my parents taught me to read and write and to love learning. I always had books read to me and was given guidance on all sorts of science experiments. They taught me to be honest to myself and to others. With this honesty and hard work you can accomplish anything. In today’s society of it’s not what you know it’s who you know, they instilled the idea that you must know before you truly can accomplish. My parents have continued to learn throughout their lives both continuing and getting their master’s degrees. They have also continued to enjoy life and live it to its fullest. I look to them as an inspiration and as mentors. Thank you.

I came to Iowa interested in health sciences. I took the long road to get to where I am but have truly learned along the way. I have tried to challenge myself along the way taking unique courses and trying to find people who can really challenge me. I looked to Faye Thompson a people person for a 3rd year preceptor, who takes a systems approach to people and their injuries, a far cry to the scientific ideals I started with coming from my fathers chemistry courses. So I thank you all. Thank you all for coming. I challenge my classmates and the others in the program to follow a quote by Adlai Stevenson who said “When you leave here don’t forget why you came.” Everyone have a great night. Younger students, please challenge yourself and take the opportunities to learn and experience athletic training, you have opportunities here that very few will ever have the chance to experience. And 1st years good luck this summer cadaver anatomy is only a couple weeks away.