SPEECH Taylor Graduation Ceremony 2009 Feb

Good afternoon, and welcome to the Taylor’s University College Graduation Ceremony 2009.

This is indeed a memorable and auspicious occasion which marks an important threshold in the lives of TAYLOR’S GRADUANDS as they embark upon the next phase of their life’s journey.

As I stand before you today, I can feel the joy and excitement in this hall and I am reminded of this comment from a renowned human rights activist Malcolm X who said, “Education is our passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to the people who prepare for it today.”

These words are personified in each and every one of you who will be proudly graduating today, whether you venture into the challenging workplace or decide to seek further education.

On a yearly basis, we see thousands of graduates being churned out by the many educational establishments. Yet each CONVOCATION is truly special in its own way. You are representatives of your family, your university and your lecturers and finally of our nation as a whole. You will become great contributors, in your respective field, to the society you live in and to the Nation as a whole. Thus today’s occasion is one to be remembered and cherished by all.

All the late nights of studying, the high doses of caffeine and the nerve-wracking moments on results day, have all finally paid off. This is your moment of accomplishment. I extend my sincere congratulations to each and everyone.

As you cross the threshold, from child to adult, student to employee, dependence to self-reliance, you will find a jarring difference between the life you are used to and the life that’s in store for you.

You are graduating at a time when our nation is being confronted by numerous challenges which will have an important bearing on your job prospects and your future.

You descend upon the job market at a distressing time. There is no skirting around this fact. In light of the current global economic downturn, the world is becoming an unfriendly place to graduates. Where obtaining the right job may have been a challenge before, getting any job is not easy now.

With companies retrenching employees by the thousands, there is no longer much impetus to hiring fresh graduates. Although this may be the current scenario, there is no need to be discouraged. You have not come to the end of the road. There are still companies with job vacancies awaiting to be taken up provided you are not selective.

Part of being employable is looking for the right job. A problem with many individuals is that their key focus when seeking job opportunities center on the remuneration package offered. While it is important not be undervalued, this should not be your focus in difficult times like this. Instead, look to the jobs that provide you with the most enriching experience. Learn and produce the very best that you can, and the rewards will follow suit. The more job experience you gain, the more employable you become but at the same time you must avoid being a rolling stone which gathers no moss.

Additionally, jobs in other sectors outside of your field of study should not be discounted either. Granted you may have studied for a specific job, and doing something else may not be much of a lucrative option. However, in today’s world and for your generation, there are infinite possibilities.

There are no longer the limitations that there used to be. Skills, knowledge and experience have become transferable between professions. Therefore, if you have interests other than your designated field of study, explore them. Exposure to alternative industries will not only make you a well-rounded individual, but will also encourage employers wanting to offer you employment.

In today’s world, although higher education is still recognized as an essential prerequisite to attaining a job in the first place, it is no longer the only thing that you need. The job market has become increasingly competitive, with hundreds and sometimes even thousands of graduates having to vie for a single place in a prestigious multi-national, all of them about as equally educated as the next.

What employers are looking for nowadays, go beyond just mere grades. They look for candidates who are unique who not only possess skills but also character and integrity. How do you create a spark of interest in the minds of your potential employers? How do you make them pick you over everyone else?

One criteria is the educational establishment you derive from. This is something that should not weigh on your mind as Taylor’s University College and Taylor’s College have a track record of producing a truly excellent class of students, who have been recognized and complimented by employers for a number of years.

By creating students who are able to consistently and autonomously learn and utilize their knowledge, accompanied by their nurturing of communication, interpersonal and intrapersonal skills, Taylor’s gears its graduates to become effective attributes to any company.

As you prepare to leave Taylor’s University College it is of paramount importance that you embrace the CORE VALUES of Taylor’s which are Excellence, Integrity, Passion, Mutual Respect, Openness in communication and creating enjoyable Environment.

Challenging Times Are Transient But Values Stand The Test Of Time

To the graduands who will be our future nation builders, my advice to you is to put into practice these important values, irrespective of what profession you are in.

Please bear in mind that we must not be a society of selfishness, of greed madly pursuing material wealth but a caring one. We should build a community imbued with cooperation and a caring spirit, moral awareness, social consciousness, psychological balance, spiritual enlightenment and integrity.

Looking at the multiple issues and challenges facing Malaysian youths today I am more convinced that it is essential to reemphasize character-building on the Agenda of what it takes to bring up children in current times.

Many a time, in the name of progress, we as parents, teachers, community leaders or the Government concentrate too much on imparting hard skills at the expense of neglecting one of the most important ingredients in the moulding of young minds – the development of one’s character.

Character is the real standard bearer of what it takes for both children and adults alike to succeed in life and to pave the way for the next generation to prepare themselves successfully for the world.

Civilisation and progress are not to be measured only by the gross national product and technological capacity.

They are also measured by the development of the human conscience and its response when faced by the facts of human sufferings.

A caring society, in my view, is one, which attaches great importance to the development of the human being – the human being who is imbued with compassion, understanding, a sense of justice and a generous attitude.

In the pursuit of success in your respective fields, you must not lose the human touch and forget about helping the needy and the poor.

You must never become so caught up in the race for success that you lose all interest beyond your personal interests and rewards.

No amount of money can substitute this essential human touch, without which progress and prosperity become meaningless.

I need to emphasise here that the progress and maturity of a society is not measured by the GDP ringgit and technological wizardry alone, but also by its sense of responsibility, spirit of generosity and the importance it places on the dignity and well-being of its less fortunate members.

In conclusion let me state that today is the first step into the rest of your life. It is but the landing for a long flight of stairs leading into the future. Be the beacon of light which shines through these darker times we face. Excel at everything you do, and leave a path of greatness for others to follow. I congratulate you all once again, for achieving the first of many milestones to come. I wish you all the best in all future endeavours.

Thank you.