Tag: motivate

How to deliver an inspirational speech in 1 minute

(Speech delivered on the occasion of my High School Reunion in 2011, *slightly revised)

Good afternoon classmates. I am so happy to see all of you after so many years. 

I am supposed to deliver an inspirational message. But what am I going to say that you do not already know?  I mean look around you. Each and every one of us is doing great in our own different ways. You do not need anyone to stand up here and talk about success, or life, or what we want to do with it. You already know that.

We all have gone a long way, made different choices, faced different battles. But whatever it is that you have chosen in life, as long as you’re happy with it, then that is all the inspiration that we need. There is no one in this room who can tell you that her life is more inspiring than yours.

My experience is as good as any of yours, and your success is as good as mine. Because today there are no sections, today there are no honour graduates. We all left that, 20 years ago, when we each faced the real world and carved our own paths. And today we are all here, because we have overcome our own battles, or still trying to, and ready to face everything else that will come our way. And for that, we should be proud.

So today, I want us to celebrate.

Today, I want each of us to be here, unhesitatingly, wholeheartedly, and yes, spectacularly. With no comparison, no regrets, no apologies.

So let’s all say this together (repeat after me). This is the life I have chosen. I make no apologies.

Cheers to all the members of the class of 1991, and here’s to the beautiful people that we have become and to the better persons we can still be. Cheers!

Some things I wish I had known in high school

( Excerpt from a speech delivered to high school students in Ilocos Norte, Philippines in 2017)

For the young ones.

I am by no means an expert on life, but I have the benefit of more than 40 years of experience and some beautiful life lessons that I wish someone would have told me when I was your age.  It would have benefited me a great deal if I had known these when I was younger. I summarize them in 3 points that I hope will help you as you navigate this increasingly chaotic world.

The first thing I want to say is this: always carry within your heart the conviction that you have the right to be here, to be who you are, and to be who you want to be. Never let anyone make you feel less of a human being just because you are different or you do not conform to the expectations of other people or of society. Whoever you are, whatever kind of family you come from, however you look like in the outside, whatever your gender preferences, each and every one of us has the right to be here and to be who we are and be proud of it.

Continue reading Some things I wish I had known in high school

You are awesome.

Friends, this is my wish for you. I wish for you to believe in your awesomeness, wherever you are, whatever you have become, whatever you want to be. I do not wish for all your days to be sunny, but for you to have the kind of inner sunshine that can see you through dark and gloomy days. I wish for you to have the kind of faith that keeps on pulling you up no matter how low your rock bottom is, and no matter how many times. Because you were made to rise, and to be the awesome beings that you were always meant to be.

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