TO THE GRADUATES OF '08

For this year’s graduates who will again take another leap toward the fulfillment of their dreams, congratulations. This year you will be part of the thousands who are lucky enough to stride out of the confines of the academe and face the real world you were long prepared to confront.

You should be aware that the world you will face is much worse than what you expect it to be and much less tolerant than what you hope it to be. On the positive note, the life ahead of you is full of nice people you can be friends with. A life that offers more opportunity to grab and more chances to excel.

You may have a hard time looking for a job and you may never find one for at least for a couple of months or even years if you’re not so lucky. You may decide to accept a job that you don’t really like for the sake of having a job but even so be sure you won’t stop pursuing the professional you wanted to be. Whether the job you get is a stepping stone to a greater career or a profession you want to have for the rest of your life, you need to do your best at it. If you are not successful the first time, try again and don’t give up. Rest if you must but don’t you quit. Success takes time to achieve. There may be others who may hit it big the first time but the majority of successful people took the hard path.

Some people may try to pull you down and some might even bully you but don’t mind them. Just look at the people who can be an inspiration to you and just do what you have to do. Learn to fight for what you believe is right and say no to things you don’t agree. Don’t be too much of an instigator at work but don’t kiss your boss’s ass either. Stand up for what is right even if it is against the belief of the majority of your seniors. Standing for what is right doesn’t necessarily mean being insubordinate and being young doesn’t mean being wrong.

As a new graduate with new ideas and idealistic views you can always bring the change needed in the workplace, bureaucracy and in the entire society you will belong. Bring the fresh air for the world to breathe and be a person of example even for the people who have been ahead of you. Be an inspiration as well to the young hopefuls that will soon be the next ones to fill in the shoes of being a new graduate. Whatever lies ahead of your life, be thankful all the time. To God as always and to the people who in one way or another helped you to get where you are. Believe in your dreams and believe in the dreams of the people who are expecting a lot from you. Whatever you do give it your best shot always that as if that chance will never come again. As Barack Obama says, be the change you can always believe in.