Everest College Commencement Address

I did it!! This was one big growing edge.... and after I was done, wooohooo! It felt good.
So a little back story for the couple of enquiring minds who want to know why and how I would have such an honour bestowed to me.... my friend and colleague, Kari is the lead instructor of the Addictions and Community Service Worker program at Everest College. I supervise students from this and many college programs as a big part of my work. Well, this year, the student being honoured with the College's Dream Award was from the Addictions program. With this in mind, the director of the College asked Kari if she could recommend someone from the Addictions community that could impart a good message to the graduating class. And bless her little heart, Kari said she knew the perfect person. (humble pie please)
I was not immediately on board with the challenge... but am not one to turn away from these sorts of invites either... not every day we get the chance to do something like this, and with my friend's belief in me, I accepted.
I was introduced by Kari which was very moving, and then my 10 minutes arrived.
Here is what I had to say...

Wow. Thank you Kari for that beautiful introduction. May I begin by saying
thank you for believing in me and a very sincere thanks to the administration of Everest College for having faith in Kari's recommendation. Many congratulations to the Class of 2011 sitting before us today... look at all of you shiny happy people out there! Welcome all, and who could think of a better way to spend a Sunday afternoon!
I have to start, right off the top with a very significant pointer... as I am living it at this moment. I am a lover of quotes.. they inspire me and I use them often in my work as a tool to inspire others as well. There is one particular Eleanor Roosevelt quote that is speaking volumes for me right now and I have to share it...
"You must do the thing you think you cannot do".
Good one, eh. Yes, I am here to tell you... you must!! To give you a frame of reference since I have just jumped right in here... 16 years ago, I was graduating from the SSW program at that other College around the corner, I was heading out to the "front line" and while I was eager as anything, I was not entirely sure where my career path would take me... but I thought I knew one thing for certain. It would never include public speaking. Thanks for helping me as I continue to meet new challenges!! And I hope for you and for me, that the excitement of "new-ness" always finds us!
So, back a couple of steps... I am incredibly honoured to be a part of this amazing stepping stone in your lives. And I do not use that word lightly, it is amazing, isn't it?! Are you feeling it?? No, really, are you FEELING it? I will give you a minute to get in touch with that. Sometimes, we need to give ourselves permission to acknowledge and own the pride in these sorts of accomplishments, to celebrate ourselves, if you will. In life , we are given only a handful of these momentous occasions... so, go ahead and soak it in. The energy and pride I feel in the room is enough to light up every Christmas tree in the city... so Class of 2011... yay you!
Now, imma come back to you, because, I think you will agree that you did not do this alone, right?
I would love to give some recognition to the faculty. Administrators, instructors, teachers, support staff- what they teach, how they lead the way... goes hand in hand. Everyone seated on the stage behind me are the glue of Everest College, and no educational institution can run without this level of dedication shown. Your role is a crucial one, preparing and moulding new health care professionals and as a community representative, I thank you for the calibre of graduates we get to work with for years to come. I feel another quote coming on.... from Leo Buscaglia, "Maybe the essence of education is not to stuff you with facts but to help you discover your uniqueness, to develop it and then show you how to give it away."
As you head out into the field, graduates, I encourage you to continue to develop relationships with mentors and keep close the wisdom that these teachers have shared with you.
We cannot overlook the rows upon rows of smiling faces sitting behind you either. To all of the family and friends who have come here today, I am certain a ton of gratitude goes out to you. Your belief in your loved one has been the greatest gift you could offer. Truly, it touches upon the heart of the matter which is that we all need each other. The relationships we have in life are everything, they trump all else. The people we love are part of what defines us, more than any career, diploma or amount of money could. Family offers us a place to begin and end, a comfort and sense of belonging as well as motivating us and providing us with reflection. They love us and the beauty is... we can always reciprocate and the gifts go back and forth. I would like to see all of the proud family and friends give themselves a pat on the back for all of the support, patience and help you have offered your graduate these past months. I know last June when I sat at the highschool graduation of my oldest son, I wholeheartedly recognized his hard work and accomplishment but was also full of joy and felt that his feat had its own personal reward for me too.
And now to the beaming class of 2011- I am humbly standing at this podium after weeks of considering what would constitute a meaningful message to offer you, students from so many varied disciplines and so decided that I would offer some small sentiments to relate some of what has helped me to embark on a very meaningful and personally fulfilling career path.
As mentioned, I graduated in 1995, a young single Mom, hoping mostly to make a better life for my son and I. The thought of working with people was intriguing... but I was pretty open as far as direction. I was one of the lucky ones. The hire came at the end of my exams, from the agency where I had just completed my clinical placement. And that very first lesson came quick. This was a casual position and the pay rate was minimum wage. Lesson being... Laurel, no job is beneath you. You start where you start... and that is generally right at the bottom. I did not expect to be this far at the bottom with a college diploma in hand... but took it nonetheless. I readjusted the dollar signs I had envisioned and learned in those early years that passion was really not in money. I loved my job. Probably more than I ever have since then. I loved the personal development opportunities, the sense of self that was coming alive... and it was the work I was doing... not the pay cheque that was at play.
Time went on and I came to my full time position. At this point, I was working with a small but very seasoned team of counsellors. They had years of experience, finely tuned in their craft. I was a keener but stumbled over myself in comparisons to the expertise I felt I was up against. (turns out it was totally MY stuff, by the way) One of these counsellors, who was frankly so good at her job she terrified me opened the window for me to see Lesson number two. (and I will quote Judy Garland here) "Always be a first rate version of yourself, instead of a second rate version of someone else." So... be yourself. No matter what. When we are not authentic, others can see it anyways. When you are new to your field, you bring so much with you that is as beneficial as experience. Your fresh ideas, creative thinking and boundless energy is so valuable... any team of seasoned employees will be lucky to have you.
Over the years, I managed to remain at one job. I guess I could sum it up best by saying that I never really felt that urge to move on. I do recognize that while staying put... all facets of my job, role, and even agency changed constantly and considerably. (Thanks for that, otherwise I could still be waiting for call in shifts and making $6.85/hour) Well, for a great many of us change is not something we invite easily. Over the years, with much internal resistance, I have learned to roll with it. I have even acquired an appreciation for it. Consider lesson number three. "Change is the essence of life. You must be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become." I believe this to be true in our work life... but just life in general as well. Accept change as an opportunity to challenge yourself and when you meet those challenges, up goes the confidence and you do it all again. Do not be afraid to make mistakes, fear of failure need never hold us back. And with change there are risks... please remember that it is NOT taking risks in life that can lead to more regret than taking them.
When working with a great deal of human interaction, this is one great challenge... Let people surprise you. No matter how much we have learned, read or experienced first hand, no matter how much we think we know... every person we encounter is unique and has individual needs and in each person... unknown territory to discover. Let's commit to taking expectations and preconceived notions and throwing them out the window. Be in the moment, hear what people are saying... and what they are not saying... and your work will never be monotonous.
I read a quote this week that said "The only thing between a graduate and the top of the ladder is the ladder". And what do I think this means?? Well, let me say first that your passion may not be at the top of the ladder. You may find your fulfillment a few rungs up... and that to me is okay. But what the quote says to me is that as graduates you need to find your way onto that ladder- get to climbing to wherever you find your spot. And there are no easy solutions or how to's however here are just a couple of ideas I have... 1. Remember you sell yourself with the very first interaction and every encounter with potential employers. Pay attention to the details, integrity, sound ethical practice and professionalism... you bet they matter! 2. Networking really does pay off. Leave those good impressions and if you do not get a good job from them, some word of mouth or a solid reference could help you. Networking involves carving out places to begin making a difference. We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give. Which ties in to 3. Service to your community is worth it. The payoffs can be numerous. Consider volunteering as a way of breaking in, gaining experience and showing employers what you are made of.
My last offer for consideration is this- you go out to the world today as graduates- you are educated and that is fabulous, please appreciate as I have learned to... that you can serve yourself and the world best if you are always a student and a teacher. As a student of life we have the beautiful gift of learning from everyone! I learn from the people who went before me in life, but I can learn as much from the client I work with. I can learn about my thoughts and beliefs and things I have never considered when choosing to be open. For the record, my 5 year old is an amazing teacher. Looking through life with his lens is refreshing... and frankly, necessary to me. When we continue to be students of life, the growth never has to stop, it goes on and on and just when we think something is figured out, it can shift and change again.
Be a student... and then also choose to embrace the role of teacher with an open heart. I have found profound meaning in the close work I am involved in with students. Providing clinical supervision to the students of Everest College for the past 11 years has been the privilege and honour that helped me to feel a part of this occasion today. I know for a fact, from experience that top notch graduates come out of this school- quality career readiness and a capacity to learn quickly. Intensive training and practical knowledge are evident. Many of my colleagues hold an Everest diploma and it is represented well, let me tell you. I feel very excited for each of you graduating today- you are containers of hope, vessels of dreams- you have the ability to get out there and do something remarkable. I challenge you to nurture your spirit in the process and officially congratulate you and welcome you to your next chapter... may it be fantastic!