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hello

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again I've returned as promised um so

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we're going to begin good evening and

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welcome to the 22nd last lecture

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event um my name is Jen Durst and I work

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in the department of student experience

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so to begin with this evening I'd like

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to acknowledge that the main campus of

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the University of galf resides on the

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ancestral lands of the adaw wanderon

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people and the treaty lands and

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territories of the msaga of the

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credit I also recognize that anishnabe

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and hodon peoples have long-standing and

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ongoing relationships with this land and

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that wherever you are joining us from

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today Canada is home to many First

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Nations Inuit and mate

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people I also recognize the signific

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ific of the dish with one spoon Covenant

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and the significance that it holds

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particularly within this space and

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within this

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territory so I'd like to pause for a

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moment to share gratitude and to think

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about the responsibility within the

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context of this evening and this

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event tonight you are going to be asked

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to reflect on different aspects of

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yourself and how you've received

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nourishment in different ways during

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your time studying here you'll be asked

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to think about learning person personal

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development connections and friendship

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My Hope Is that you are also able to

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pause to appreciate these memories and

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while you think of what you have gained

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by being part of this community my ask

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is that you also think about how you are

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able to share this moving

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forward this institution like many other

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universities is a colonial structure it

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is also a place that encourages critical

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thinking the exploration of the past and

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the generation of new ideas so I'm going

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to leave you with a

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question what sense of stewardship do

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you hold as you think about sharing what

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you have learned or unlearned during

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your time here at the University of

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galf so welcome to the students faculty

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senior administrators staff friends

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family community members and alumni who

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have gathered virtually and in person

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with us

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today wherever you are in the world

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whatever time zone or geographical

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location we're so glad that you're

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joining us and most importantly a very

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special Welcome to our amazing lecturers

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this evening and to you who have brought

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us all together this evening the class

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of

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2024 so before we begin our first

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lecture I'd like to invite Dr Gwen

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Chapman our Provost and vice president

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academic to officially welcome you on

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behalf of the University of gual

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[Music]

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[Applause]

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hello and welcome uh welcome to the 2024

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last lecture um you know I was thinking

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this morning about attending the event

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today uh celebrating the achievements of

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the class of 2024 the journey that

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you've been on here at the University of

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gal for the last 4ish years uh and how

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you're about to embark on a new the next

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stage of your life journey and as I

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thought about that I thought there are

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actually some parallels uh between your

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journey here and my journey as Provost

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and vice president academic at the

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University like many of you the summer

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of 2020 was a summer of transition uh

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that's the summer that I transitioned

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into the provos role from my previous

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role as dean of the College of Social

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and applied human

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sciences and like you I'm going to be

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moving on to the next phase of my

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journey this summer uh as I leave the

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provos role and and start to transition

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into retirement so I was reflecting a

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little bit on life Journeys on

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transitions um and and I think for you

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this is certainly a very exciting time

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um a momentous time uh but also maybe a

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reminder when I draw those parallels of

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how this is one of many transitions this

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is ending one chapter of your life

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Journey but there are certainly many

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more to come back to so when I when I

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think back to 2020 what a time of

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transition that was that was the

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lockdowns remote learning working

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studying from home um and like my

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transition to a new job your transition

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to being a student at University of gal

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did not necessarily didn't involve a

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change of location or being physically

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introduced to new people and new roles

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but you did make that transition you

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surprised yourselves with resilience

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adaptability and determination as you

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navigated your way through the next year

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or two and you persevered you

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demonstrated a commitment to your

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education a willingness to embrace new

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ways of learning and connecting with

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others and now here we are today uh

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reflecting on your journey over the last

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four or more years the challenges the

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achievements the fun you've had the

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friends you've made uh the chapter of

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your life story that you've written here

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at the University of galf and as you

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prepare to graduate and move on to new

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adventures I encourage you to take the

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lessons that you've learned during your

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time here apply them to the new

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challenges that lie head and there will

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certainly be many of those Embrace

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change seek out new opportunities uh and

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never lose sight of the incredible

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potential within each of you so class of

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2024 this is your moment congratulations

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on all that you have achieved best

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wishes for the next few weeks also for a

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bright and successful future ahead and

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welcome to the 2024 last

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[Applause]

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lecture

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thank you so much Dr Chapman for your

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words of

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welcome the last lecture began here at

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the University of galf many years ago

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with the purpose of celebrating you the

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graduating student today we've come

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together to celebrate and reflect and we

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hope that this evening you're able to

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give consideration to your time at galf

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and your many Mar remarkable

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achievements today today is a time to

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celebrate those who are with us those

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who couldn't attend and also remember

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those who have left left us too soon

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it's a time of excitement of sadness and

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bittersweetness maybe a little

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stress

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yeah this evening you'll be hearing from

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three different members of our Griffin

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family they'll be speaking on themes of

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reflection celebration inspiration and

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determination one address will be from a

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classmate of yours who is also in the

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final days of earning their degree

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another by one of our faculty members

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voted by you and finally we have an

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address from a special member of our

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alumni community so let's

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begin every year graduating students are

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invited to apply and compete for the

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honor of being the student last lecture

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a selection committee composed of staff

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and of course students makes the final

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decision this is never an easy decision

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for the committee and I really want to

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thank everybody who took the time to

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apply and present to the committee uh

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and also to thank those who wrote really

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kind reference letters uh and support

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for the

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applicants the process once again

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demonstrated to us that we have

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incredible students here at the

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University of galf and that there's such

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a caring Community um that we all help

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to build and

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enjoy so it is my pleasure to introduce

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this year's student lecture to share

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some reflections with you

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now Mana Hill Zed is a fourth year

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graduating student in applied human

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nutrition and who is aspiring to be a

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future

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dietician manah Hill worked for

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Hospitality Services as the student

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nutrition awareness program coordinator

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where she led a team of 16 volunteers to

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plan promote and execute nutritional

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related programming across campus and on

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social media

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she is very passionate about everything

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food which you might get a sense of

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pretty soon and nutrition related and

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has been very actively involved within

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this community through her volunteer

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work with clubs and organizations such

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as the campus food market or meal care

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additionally she has been involved with

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other campus departments such as

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Residence Life where she held the

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position of residents assistant and

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provided one-on-one support to a

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community of Resident students for Pro

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approximately 2 years while she is

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honored to be achieving the significant

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accomplishment of graduating University

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the feelings associated with leaving

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University are bittersweet manahel has

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been looking forward to speaking to you

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this evening to facilitate a reflection

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upon past experiences and current

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feelings as you look back at your time

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at

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ufg I'm pleased to welcome this year's

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student last lecture manana

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[Music]

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[Applause]

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hilled

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[Applause]

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thank

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you

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okay hello graduating Griffins and thank

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you for joining me today at the last

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student

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lecture before we begin I want to take

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some time to recognize that each one of

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us here today has had her own unique

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journey through University and we'll

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have a unique path into the

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future maybe you're headed to graduate

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school

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a full-time job or are taking a

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well-deserved break with some time off

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maybe you know exactly what your next

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step look like or maybe you're one of us

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who's not quite sure of what you want to

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do

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next despite the many past and future

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differences in oura trajectories each

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one of us is here today at this very

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moment celebrating the exact same

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accomplishment that is graduating from

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University now I know that we're

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expected to look forward to graduation

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and to be excited to embark on our

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future

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Journeys but I know that the reality is

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is that most of us are feeling

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scared stressed and a bit lost as we try

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to imagine what life would look like

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postgraduation so let's take this moment

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to relax to take a deep

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breath and to remember remember to also

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feel proud amidst all the other things

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that you may currently be feeling as you

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listen along to my

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presentation my name is vanill and I'm a

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fourth year graduating student in

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applied human

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nutrition as Jen mentioned I'm very

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passionate about everything food and

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nutrition related and I'm actively

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involved in this community on campus

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including my role as the snap

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coordinator as well as my involvement

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with other food related

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organizations but before I bore you with

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more details of my LinkedIn profile

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let's just get right into the

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presentation oh how did how did that get

284
00:11:39,399 --> 00:11:45,279
there oh okay well all jokes aside let's

285
00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:49,040
actually get into the

286
00:11:45,279 --> 00:11:52,240
presentation let's talk about food this

287
00:11:49,040 --> 00:11:55,320
is actually my first ever meal on campus

288
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a classic woodf clan

289
00:11:55,320 --> 00:12:00,839
pizza so you may be wondering why are we

290
00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:03,800
talking about food at the last

291
00:12:00,839 --> 00:12:06,519
lecture is it because the University of

292
00:12:03,800 --> 00:12:09,320
guf has been ranked number one no that's

293
00:12:06,519 --> 00:12:12,200
not why but it might have played a

294
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little bit of a part in it the real

295
00:12:12,200 --> 00:12:17,519
reason we're talking about food today is

296
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because despite having unique identities

297
00:12:17,519 --> 00:12:22,000
we share two things in common today

298
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we're all

299
00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:28,760
graduating and we all eat

300
00:12:25,079 --> 00:12:32,720
food and that's why I say that food

301
00:12:28,760 --> 00:12:35,760
connects us all and that the experiences

302
00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:38,959
of university life are closely related

303
00:12:35,760 --> 00:12:41,480
to the experiences of eating

304
00:12:38,959 --> 00:12:44,639
food and let me

305
00:12:41,480 --> 00:12:46,480
explain comfort and belonging so I moved

306
00:12:44,639 --> 00:12:47,760
to the University of golf in the winter

307
00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:51,680
semester of

308
00:12:47,760 --> 00:12:54,240
2021 it was the PECO ERA with only 500

309
00:12:51,680 --> 00:12:56,720
students living on residence soon after

310
00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:59,399
moving to campus I recognized the

311
00:12:56,720 --> 00:13:01,440
DraStic shift in my environment my

312
00:12:59,399 --> 00:13:04,040
responsibilities and my

313
00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:05,680
schedule I remember being overwhelmed

314
00:13:04,040 --> 00:13:07,519
with all the different assignments

315
00:13:05,680 --> 00:13:10,880
quizzes and the readings I had to keep

316
00:13:07,519 --> 00:13:12,399
up with finishing off High School online

317
00:13:10,880 --> 00:13:15,399
let's just say that it had been a while

318
00:13:12,399 --> 00:13:17,160
since I was reminded of my academic

319
00:13:15,399 --> 00:13:18,839
responsibilities I didn't have my high

320
00:13:17,160 --> 00:13:21,000
school teachers reminding me to hand in

321
00:13:18,839 --> 00:13:23,000
homework on time and I didn't have a

322
00:13:21,000 --> 00:13:25,120
homemade meal prepared for me by my mom

323
00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:27,279
when I got home from school unless

324
00:13:25,120 --> 00:13:29,639
you're counting Mom's

325
00:13:27,279 --> 00:13:32,399
Kitchen during this stress stressful

326
00:13:29,639 --> 00:13:34,959
time many things brought me Comfort like

327
00:13:32,399 --> 00:13:37,959
reconnecting with old friends online

328
00:13:34,959 --> 00:13:39,920
going for long walks in the Arboretum or

329
00:13:37,959 --> 00:13:43,320
ordering the exact same thing from the

330
00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:45,240
hundred M girl every single time the

331
00:13:43,320 --> 00:13:47,079
fried chicken sandwich with a side of

332
00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:49,880
spicy

333
00:13:47,079 --> 00:13:51,680
fries before I move on I want you to

334
00:13:49,880 --> 00:13:53,680
think about some things that brought you

335
00:13:51,680 --> 00:13:55,759
comfort during your time here at

336
00:13:53,680 --> 00:13:58,320
University how do you plan to bring

337
00:13:55,759 --> 00:14:01,040
Comforts into your life as we move on

338
00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:01,040
and graduate

339
00:14:03,440 --> 00:14:07,680
okay so let's go back a couple of years

340
00:14:05,839 --> 00:14:10,079
for me this was my second and third

341
00:14:07,680 --> 00:14:12,839
years of University this is when the

342
00:14:10,079 --> 00:14:14,800
covid restrictions had started to lift

343
00:14:12,839 --> 00:14:17,279
and university life was getting back to

344
00:14:14,800 --> 00:14:19,720
normal this is when I found myself

345
00:14:17,279 --> 00:14:21,639
really wanting to get involved on campus

346
00:14:19,720 --> 00:14:24,360
and exploring everything that campus had

347
00:14:21,639 --> 00:14:26,360
to offer this is also when I started my

348
00:14:24,360 --> 00:14:28,480
previous position as being an RA and

349
00:14:26,360 --> 00:14:30,759
provided provided support to a community

350
00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:32,759
of first year students I remember

351
00:14:30,759 --> 00:14:34,959
experimenting with my identity to see

352
00:14:32,759 --> 00:14:36,759
what things I liked what I didn't like

353
00:14:34,959 --> 00:14:39,199
and where my interests

354
00:14:36,759 --> 00:14:41,120
were one thing that I one way that I

355
00:14:39,199 --> 00:14:43,959
experimented with my identity outside of

356
00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:46,519
getting involved was by trying new foods

357
00:14:43,959 --> 00:14:48,800
like the ramen from yuc Chef Hall and

358
00:14:46,519 --> 00:14:50,040
this was really Brave of me because I

359
00:14:48,800 --> 00:14:53,279
don't like

360
00:14:50,040 --> 00:14:56,759
noodles I know I know but before I say

361
00:14:53,279 --> 00:14:58,279
more controversial food related opinions

362
00:14:56,759 --> 00:15:00,240
I want you to think about how you put

363
00:14:58,279 --> 00:15:03,160
yourselves out there during University

364
00:15:00,240 --> 00:15:07,120
and experimented with your identity what

365
00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:07,120
did this experience teach you about

366
00:15:08,199 --> 00:15:15,000
yourself challenges everyone's favorite

367
00:15:11,759 --> 00:15:17,560
topic so it's well known that University

368
00:15:15,000 --> 00:15:20,440
life comes with many challenges these

369
00:15:17,560 --> 00:15:21,519
challenges can be personal professional

370
00:15:20,440 --> 00:15:24,320
or

371
00:15:21,519 --> 00:15:27,959
academic one challenge that I continue

372
00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:30,440
facing even to this day is experiencing

373
00:15:27,959 --> 00:15:32,639
failure failure in University can be

374
00:15:30,440 --> 00:15:35,040
minor like when you spend a considerable

375
00:15:32,639 --> 00:15:38,199
amount of time studying only to get a

376
00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:39,839
mediocre grade I mean I still remember

377
00:15:38,199 --> 00:15:43,600
getting the midterm grade back for cem

378
00:15:39,839 --> 00:15:45,120
1040 and being absolutely

379
00:15:43,600 --> 00:15:48,480
humbled

380
00:15:45,120 --> 00:15:50,680
yeah but failure in University can also

381
00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:52,959
be major like when you give something

382
00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:55,120
you're all only to not achieve the

383
00:15:52,959 --> 00:15:57,160
outcome that you had hoped for or

384
00:15:55,120 --> 00:16:00,079
thought that you had maybe even

385
00:15:57,160 --> 00:16:03,040
deserved the feelings of associated with

386
00:16:00,079 --> 00:16:04,839
failure especially disappointment can

387
00:16:03,040 --> 00:16:06,720
make you feel like your efforts and hard

388
00:16:04,839 --> 00:16:09,519
work was not

389
00:16:06,720 --> 00:16:12,199
worthwhile you can start to doubt your

390
00:16:09,519 --> 00:16:13,759
capabilities and worse maybe even

391
00:16:12,199 --> 00:16:17,000
question your

392
00:16:13,759 --> 00:16:19,560
selfworth it can and it is hard to cope

393
00:16:17,000 --> 00:16:21,560
with these feelings and

394
00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:23,800
emotions it's helpful to remind

395
00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:26,199
ourselves that some things are beyond

396
00:16:23,800 --> 00:16:27,519
our control and that it's okay to

397
00:16:26,199 --> 00:16:30,319
experience

398
00:16:27,519 --> 00:16:32,000
failure take for for example a time that

399
00:16:30,319 --> 00:16:34,720
you tried to replicate a recipe that you

400
00:16:32,000 --> 00:16:37,680
saw online you tried your best to follow

401
00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:39,639
along and we're so excited to finally

402
00:16:37,680 --> 00:16:41,959
get to eat what you have prepared for

403
00:16:39,639 --> 00:16:44,800
yourselves only to find out that it was

404
00:16:41,959 --> 00:16:47,800
the most disgusting thing you've ever

405
00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:49,839
eaten okay it's upsetting in the moment

406
00:16:47,800 --> 00:16:51,800
but you wouldn't spend too long dwelling

407
00:16:49,839 --> 00:16:54,199
on this outcome maybe you wouldn't even

408
00:16:51,800 --> 00:16:56,519
blame yourself maybe it was the recipe

409
00:16:54,199 --> 00:16:58,920
that was at fault or maybe the flavors

410
00:16:56,519 --> 00:17:00,839
just didn't suit with you at that time

411
00:16:58,920 --> 00:17:02,920
so for next time maybe you would just

412
00:17:00,839 --> 00:17:05,880
choose a different recipe or look for

413
00:17:02,920 --> 00:17:08,079
areas of improvement in the same one it

414
00:17:05,880 --> 00:17:10,319
sounds silly but looking at failur

415
00:17:08,079 --> 00:17:13,679
similarly has helped me cope with my

416
00:17:10,319 --> 00:17:15,480
emotions accept each situation as it is

417
00:17:13,679 --> 00:17:17,439
and continue to look for areas of

418
00:17:15,480 --> 00:17:20,240
self-growth

419
00:17:17,439 --> 00:17:22,439
before I move on I want you to remember

420
00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:25,160
all the challenges that you faced and

421
00:17:22,439 --> 00:17:26,880
overcame to be able to sit here today

422
00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:29,600
and to graduate

423
00:17:26,880 --> 00:17:32,240
University as we move on and continue to

424
00:17:29,600 --> 00:17:34,400
inevitably experience failure I want you

425
00:17:32,240 --> 00:17:36,679
to remind yourselves that you have what

426
00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:40,720
it takes to overcome these challenges

427
00:17:36,679 --> 00:17:40,720
and you will be able to do so in the

428
00:17:41,080 --> 00:17:46,360
future okay so while the rest of my um

429
00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:49,000
lecture was about memories and

430
00:17:46,360 --> 00:17:51,080
Reflections from the past I just want to

431
00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:54,320
take some time to talk about the

432
00:17:51,080 --> 00:17:56,919
present when I moved to University one

433
00:17:54,320 --> 00:17:59,320
thing that I kept hearing was enjoy your

434
00:17:56,919 --> 00:18:01,760
next four years they're going to fly fly

435
00:17:59,320 --> 00:18:04,520
by and while I didn't believe it in the

436
00:18:01,760 --> 00:18:08,120
moment I can confidently say that my

437
00:18:04,520 --> 00:18:09,760
four years did indeed fly by I've been

438
00:18:08,120 --> 00:18:12,600
thinking a lot about how this year in

439
00:18:09,760 --> 00:18:14,799
particular has gone by so fast and I

440
00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:17,760
think it's because I spent so much time

441
00:18:14,799 --> 00:18:19,600
Reminiscing on the past worrying about

442
00:18:17,760 --> 00:18:21,840
the future

443
00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:25,120
Etc so whether you're one of the

444
00:18:21,840 --> 00:18:27,520
students who's excited to graduate are

445
00:18:25,120 --> 00:18:29,360
sad to be leaving or are stressed about

446
00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:32,120
the future like me

447
00:18:29,360 --> 00:18:34,440
one thing that I continuously find all

448
00:18:32,120 --> 00:18:37,159
of us doing is failing to live in the

449
00:18:34,440 --> 00:18:40,400
present and to really experience the

450
00:18:37,159 --> 00:18:43,760
last few days of being an undergraduate

451
00:18:40,400 --> 00:18:45,919
student with April 8th coming up soon

452
00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:49,600
we'll stay in our last lecture and I

453
00:18:45,919 --> 00:18:52,320
don't mean this one and of however of

454
00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:55,120
our undergraduate journey we'll get the

455
00:18:52,320 --> 00:18:56,240
last coffee at Bullring or a last crepe

456
00:18:55,120 --> 00:18:58,960
at Mountain

457
00:18:56,240 --> 00:19:01,039
Hall well some of these things may be on

458
00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:04,360
your bucket list like the crepe at

459
00:19:01,039 --> 00:19:06,880
Mountain is on mine many of the mundane

460
00:19:04,360 --> 00:19:09,120
day-to-day things that you do May slip

461
00:19:06,880 --> 00:19:12,080
by without you even noticing until they

462
00:19:09,120 --> 00:19:14,480
will only be a memory for you to

463
00:19:12,080 --> 00:19:17,000
remember the feeling can be compared to

464
00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:19,120
absolutely demolishing a meal in 20

465
00:19:17,000 --> 00:19:20,720
seconds and then regretting that you

466
00:19:19,120 --> 00:19:23,039
didn't eat it

467
00:19:20,720 --> 00:19:25,120
slower if you had ate the meal at a

468
00:19:23,039 --> 00:19:27,600
slower Pace you would have been able to

469
00:19:25,120 --> 00:19:30,480
enjoy it for much longer You' been able

470
00:19:27,600 --> 00:19:33,240
to explore the flavor s and the textures

471
00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:34,880
or the sensory properties of your meal

472
00:19:33,240 --> 00:19:37,760
for much

473
00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:38,600
longer so let me end the lecture with

474
00:19:37,760 --> 00:19:41,760
some

475
00:19:38,600 --> 00:19:45,559
advice this advice is to slow

476
00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:48,120
down to take a look around and to really

477
00:19:45,559 --> 00:19:49,600
Savor the last few days of our

478
00:19:48,120 --> 00:19:53,840
undergraduate

479
00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:56,120
Journeys and remember to also feel proud

480
00:19:53,840 --> 00:19:59,000
because every one of us here today

481
00:19:56,120 --> 00:20:01,640
deserves to feel proud for accomplish in

482
00:19:59,000 --> 00:20:04,430
the feate of graduating from

483
00:20:01,640 --> 00:20:06,100
University and that's all for me thank

484
00:20:04,430 --> 00:20:15,079
[Music]

485
00:20:06,100 --> 00:20:15,079
[Applause]

486
00:20:19,360 --> 00:20:26,120
you thank you so much manahel I see some

487
00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:28,360
folks are getting teary I think your

488
00:20:26,120 --> 00:20:31,400
speech really touched a nerve so that

489
00:20:28,360 --> 00:20:33,960
com combination of remembering all the

490
00:20:31,400 --> 00:20:36,960
fond times the times with friends

491
00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:39,960
studying late um and then also looking

492
00:20:36,960 --> 00:20:43,000
forward to the future and doing that

493
00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:46,440
with a sense of Pride but also a bit of

494
00:20:43,000 --> 00:20:48,120
hesitation a bit of stress um and and

495
00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:49,960
thinking back on some of the skills that

496
00:20:48,120 --> 00:20:51,559
you've gained during your time here to

497
00:20:49,960 --> 00:20:54,720
rely on those skills to bring you

498
00:20:51,559 --> 00:20:55,960
forward uh within your next steps so

499
00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:58,600
thank

500
00:20:55,960 --> 00:21:00,679
you as you may recall graduating

501
00:20:58,600 --> 00:21:02,640
students were invited to vote for the

502
00:21:00,679 --> 00:21:06,960
faculty member that you wanted to hear

503
00:21:02,640 --> 00:21:09,039
from one more time well only one faculty

504
00:21:06,960 --> 00:21:10,600
is lecturing this evening I want to

505
00:21:09,039 --> 00:21:13,320
share with you the list of those who

506
00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:14,760
were voted as the top 10 faculty

507
00:21:13,320 --> 00:21:17,919
alongside our

508
00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:20,240
lecture they represent six out of seven

509
00:21:17,919 --> 00:21:24,240
of our colleges and are a range of

510
00:21:20,240 --> 00:21:26,320
academic disciplines they are Dr Matthew

511
00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:28,360
Demers Department of Mathematics and

512
00:21:26,320 --> 00:21:30,039
statistics in the College of Engineering

513
00:21:28,360 --> 00:21:33,720
and physical

514
00:21:30,039 --> 00:21:35,960
sciences Dr Neil J mclusky Department of

515
00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:37,279
biomedical Sciences in the Ontario

516
00:21:35,960 --> 00:21:40,559
Veterinarian

517
00:21:37,279 --> 00:21:44,200
College Dr Andy Robinson Department of

518
00:21:40,559 --> 00:21:47,080
animal bioscience Ontario agriculture

519
00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:49,720
College Dr Kathleen rodenberg

520
00:21:47,080 --> 00:21:51,720
Hospitality food and tourism Management

521
00:21:49,720 --> 00:21:55,159
in the Lang School of

522
00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:57,600
Business Dr Stephanie howls Department

523
00:21:55,159 --> 00:22:01,200
of sociology and anthropology in the

524
00:21:57,600 --> 00:22:04,559
College of social and applied human

525
00:22:01,200 --> 00:22:06,799
Sciences Dr TK Salah Department of

526
00:22:04,559 --> 00:22:08,320
biomedical Sciences in the Ontario

527
00:22:06,799 --> 00:22:11,799
Veterinary

528
00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:14,200
College Dr Dan grunspan Department of

529
00:22:11,799 --> 00:22:17,679
Integrative biology in the College of

530
00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:19,760
biological sciences Dr Dan Megan

531
00:22:17,679 --> 00:22:22,880
Department of psychology in the College

532
00:22:19,760 --> 00:22:25,760
of Social and applied human sciences and

533
00:22:22,880 --> 00:22:28,919
Dr Ruben burga Department of management

534
00:22:25,760 --> 00:22:31,240
in the langing School of Business

535
00:22:28,919 --> 00:22:34,159
congratulations to all of the faculty

536
00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:36,919
members who were nominated it's really

537
00:22:34,159 --> 00:22:39,000
obvious that we have some fantastic

538
00:22:36,919 --> 00:22:40,559
folks teaching at our University so I'd

539
00:22:39,000 --> 00:22:42,960
like to pause and give those folks a

540
00:22:40,559 --> 00:22:42,960
round of

541
00:22:48,360 --> 00:22:52,840
applause and to The Faculty who were

542
00:22:50,919 --> 00:22:54,480
nominated thank you to each of you for

543
00:22:52,840 --> 00:22:57,039
being the kind of instructor that

544
00:22:54,480 --> 00:22:59,200
students remember uh where students go

545
00:22:57,039 --> 00:23:02,159
out of their way to click on a link and

546
00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:03,960
email that I sent them to vote for you

547
00:23:02,159 --> 00:23:06,320
um and for being the mentor and role

548
00:23:03,960 --> 00:23:09,120
models that past current and future

549
00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:12,799
Griffins can continue to rely

550
00:23:09,120 --> 00:23:15,440
on this year's lecture Dr Don Mercer is

551
00:23:12,799 --> 00:23:17,960
an assistant professor food Sciences in

552
00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:19,440
the Ontario agriculture college at the

553
00:23:17,960 --> 00:23:23,360
University of

554
00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:25,279
galf Dr Don Mercer p is an associate

555
00:23:23,360 --> 00:23:27,880
professor with the Department of Food

556
00:23:25,279 --> 00:23:30,400
Science University of gal and is a

557
00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:32,559
fellow of the International Academy of

558
00:23:30,400 --> 00:23:35,440
food sciences and

559
00:23:32,559 --> 00:23:37,960
Technology his research interests are in

560
00:23:35,440 --> 00:23:40,400
food process engineering with specific

561
00:23:37,960 --> 00:23:43,080
emphasis on dehydration and

562
00:23:40,400 --> 00:23:45,559
drying Don will be retiring at the end

563
00:23:43,080 --> 00:23:48,080
of April this year after 27 years of

564
00:23:45,559 --> 00:23:49,600
service at the University of gal and so

565
00:23:48,080 --> 00:23:52,360
I find it really fitting that this is

566
00:23:49,600 --> 00:23:56,640
also Don's last lecture this evening as

567
00:23:52,360 --> 00:23:58,440
well from 2003 to 2020 Don co-chaired

568
00:23:56,640 --> 00:24:01,640
the international Union of Food Science

569
00:23:58,440 --> 00:24:03,840
Science and Technology distant education

570
00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:06,159
task force in developing and delivering

571
00:24:03,840 --> 00:24:08,440
training modules for food industry

572
00:24:06,159 --> 00:24:11,200
workers in subsaharan

573
00:24:08,440 --> 00:24:14,080
Africa in addition he has participated

574
00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:16,320
in the education for Employment Program

575
00:24:14,080 --> 00:24:18,799
sponsored by the Canadian government to

576
00:24:16,320 --> 00:24:22,679
develop food-based training programs in

577
00:24:18,799 --> 00:24:26,840
Tanzania Dominica and St Vincent of the

578
00:24:22,679 --> 00:24:28,880
Grenadines from 2014 to 2018 da worked

579
00:24:26,840 --> 00:24:32,000
with the interamerican Institute for

580
00:24:28,880 --> 00:24:34,399
cooperation on agriculture and the U

581
00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:36,520
fost to present food processing

582
00:24:34,399 --> 00:24:39,360
workshops for entrepreneurs and

583
00:24:36,520 --> 00:24:43,279
smallscale farmers in the Caribbean

584
00:24:39,360 --> 00:24:45,039
South America southeast Asia and Africa

585
00:24:43,279 --> 00:24:47,679
he is currently working on additional

586
00:24:45,039 --> 00:24:50,919
projects to promote the availability of

587
00:24:47,679 --> 00:24:53,200
nutrition of no let's try that

588
00:24:50,919 --> 00:24:55,000
again he is currently working on

589
00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:57,559
additional projects to promote the

590
00:24:55,000 --> 00:25:00,520
availability of instructional material

591
00:24:57,559 --> 00:25:02,520
for small skill processors and

592
00:25:00,520 --> 00:25:04,799
entrepreneurs prior to joining the

593
00:25:02,520 --> 00:25:06,720
University of galf Don spent 10 years

594
00:25:04,799 --> 00:25:09,880
with the research branch of the

595
00:25:06,720 --> 00:25:12,919
Agriculture and Agra Food Canada and 14

596
00:25:09,880 --> 00:25:16,000
years as a senior research engineer with

597
00:25:12,919 --> 00:25:18,000
craft General foods Canada it is with

598
00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:22,039
great pleasure that I introduce this

599
00:25:18,000 --> 00:25:22,039
year's faculty lecturer Don

600
00:25:27,320 --> 00:25:30,320
Mercer

601
00:25:31,120 --> 00:25:33,360
you

602
00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:40,000
so thank you ever so much for the kind

603
00:25:37,240 --> 00:25:42,279
introduction Jen I really appreciate it

604
00:25:40,000 --> 00:25:45,720
and it's so nice to see all of you here

605
00:25:42,279 --> 00:25:48,919
today I hope I can live up to your

606
00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:52,840
expectations welcome to the last lecture

607
00:25:48,919 --> 00:25:55,640
yours and mine today we are here to

608
00:25:52,840 --> 00:26:00,039
celebrate an important transition in our

609
00:25:55,640 --> 00:26:02,720
lives for many of us our academic lives

610
00:26:00,039 --> 00:26:05,880
are nearing completion and a new phase

611
00:26:02,720 --> 00:26:08,399
of life will begin for those who have

612
00:26:05,880 --> 00:26:12,279
decided to pursue further academic

613
00:26:08,399 --> 00:26:14,000
Endeavors you too will be experiencing a

614
00:26:12,279 --> 00:26:17,080
significant

615
00:26:14,000 --> 00:26:20,760
change when I accepted the honor of

616
00:26:17,080 --> 00:26:23,640
giving the last lecture I was told that

617
00:26:20,760 --> 00:26:26,640
some words of inspiration would be

618
00:26:23,640 --> 00:26:29,320
appropriate however as I stand here in

619
00:26:26,640 --> 00:26:33,159
front of you the ins ins Iration is like

620
00:26:29,320 --> 00:26:34,399
a giant wave coming from you the gradu

621
00:26:33,159 --> 00:26:38,919
of

622
00:26:34,399 --> 00:26:43,440
2024 rather than from me so let's take a

623
00:26:38,919 --> 00:26:46,200
look back to see where we have been then

624
00:26:43,440 --> 00:26:48,760
let's consider some of the things that I

625
00:26:46,200 --> 00:26:53,000
would like to share with you about my

626
00:26:48,760 --> 00:26:56,520
journey from graduation to pending

627
00:26:53,000 --> 00:26:58,279
retirement so where did you come from

628
00:26:56,520 --> 00:26:59,960
the simple answer to this question

629
00:26:58,279 --> 00:27:03,039
question is

630
00:26:59,960 --> 00:27:06,200
everywhere you've all got amazing

631
00:27:03,039 --> 00:27:09,240
stories to tell about your decisions to

632
00:27:06,200 --> 00:27:12,799
come to the University of gal and how

633
00:27:09,240 --> 00:27:16,200
you got here just take a few seconds to

634
00:27:12,799 --> 00:27:19,080
pause and reflect on your journey to the

635
00:27:16,200 --> 00:27:19,080
University of

636
00:27:20,919 --> 00:27:26,720
gual

637
00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:29,720
next why did you come here once again

638
00:27:26,720 --> 00:27:33,000
everyone has their own personal reasons

639
00:27:29,720 --> 00:27:34,640
but hopefully they involve the pursuit

640
00:27:33,000 --> 00:27:37,159
of academic

641
00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:40,279
Excellence although the social aspects

642
00:27:37,159 --> 00:27:42,039
are important covid-19 seemed to put a

643
00:27:40,279 --> 00:27:46,200
damper on

644
00:27:42,039 --> 00:27:49,600
these this is a heading of a covid-19

645
00:27:46,200 --> 00:27:53,600
news update from our then University

646
00:27:49,600 --> 00:27:57,120
president Dr Franco Vino it was dated

647
00:27:53,600 --> 00:27:59,960
Friday the 13th of March

648
00:27:57,120 --> 00:28:02,519
2020 it was in the early stages of the

649
00:27:59,960 --> 00:28:05,360
pandemic and it said that classes would

650
00:28:02,519 --> 00:28:08,679
be suspended for a week and more

651
00:28:05,360 --> 00:28:11,720
information would follow little did we

652
00:28:08,679 --> 00:28:14,760
know the tremendous impact that this

653
00:28:11,720 --> 00:28:17,240
would have on our lives especially for

654
00:28:14,760 --> 00:28:22,200
those of you who were entering your

655
00:28:17,240 --> 00:28:22,200
first year at gual in September of

656
00:28:22,399 --> 00:28:28,240
2020 with respect to academic Excellence

657
00:28:25,880 --> 00:28:31,679
our seven colleges have done an

658
00:28:28,240 --> 00:28:35,240
absolutely Stellar job in that

659
00:28:31,679 --> 00:28:39,559
regard we are also fortunate to have a

660
00:28:35,240 --> 00:28:41,720
high quality of academic and campus life

661
00:28:39,559 --> 00:28:44,679
and let's not forget the administration

662
00:28:41,720 --> 00:28:47,559
and staff members who make this Campus

663
00:28:44,679 --> 00:28:51,279
Community run so

664
00:28:47,559 --> 00:28:54,080
smoothly now I'd like to share a few

665
00:28:51,279 --> 00:28:56,679
experiences and approaches that I've

666
00:28:54,080 --> 00:29:00,640
picked up along the way since my

667
00:28:56,679 --> 00:29:04,080
graduation over 50 years

668
00:29:00,640 --> 00:29:07,320
ago throughout your working life you

669
00:29:04,080 --> 00:29:11,240
should be continuously striving to build

670
00:29:07,320 --> 00:29:14,640
a network your network of contacts will

671
00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:19,159
be one of the most valuable assets you

672
00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:22,080
never realized you had looking back I

673
00:29:19,159 --> 00:29:25,480
cannot believe how fortunate I was to

674
00:29:22,080 --> 00:29:27,519
have a broad Network in place it led me

675
00:29:25,480 --> 00:29:30,200
on a journey from completing my

676
00:29:27,519 --> 00:29:33,200
doctorate chemical engineering at the

677
00:29:30,200 --> 00:29:37,240
University of waterl to the Department

678
00:29:33,200 --> 00:29:40,600
of Food Science at the University of guf

679
00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:43,480
as my retirement draws ever nearer I

680
00:29:40,600 --> 00:29:46,919
have no idea where things will go from

681
00:29:43,480 --> 00:29:51,320
here however my network has continued to

682
00:29:46,919 --> 00:29:54,919
expand and I'm optimistic about the

683
00:29:51,320 --> 00:29:58,960
future one thing to keep in mind is to

684
00:29:54,919 --> 00:30:02,440
never burn Bridges behind you this is

685
00:29:58,960 --> 00:30:05,760
your network and possible future

686
00:30:02,440 --> 00:30:09,240
Lifeline for those of you in engineering

687
00:30:05,760 --> 00:30:10,760
this is a rather important Bridge built

688
00:30:09,240 --> 00:30:14,039
in

689
00:30:10,760 --> 00:30:16,919
1779 it was the world's first Iron

690
00:30:14,039 --> 00:30:18,919
Bridge and signaled the beginnings of

691
00:30:16,919 --> 00:30:21,799
the Industrial

692
00:30:18,919 --> 00:30:24,159
Revolution it is still standing today

693
00:30:21,799 --> 00:30:25,960
which is an absolute testimony to the

694
00:30:24,159 --> 00:30:28,919
ability of the

695
00:30:25,960 --> 00:30:31,919
builders you should never stop

696
00:30:28,919 --> 00:30:34,720
learning you should expand your horizons

697
00:30:31,919 --> 00:30:35,760
and interest and share them with those

698
00:30:34,720 --> 00:30:40,320
around

699
00:30:35,760 --> 00:30:43,360
you this is a diagram of how I Envision

700
00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:45,240
my immediate sphere of learning we have

701
00:30:43,360 --> 00:30:47,840
a daughter who is an

702
00:30:45,240 --> 00:30:51,799
archaeologist a son who studied

703
00:30:47,840 --> 00:30:54,720
political science another son studied

704
00:30:51,799 --> 00:30:58,720
environmental sciences and our other

705
00:30:54,720 --> 00:31:01,679
daughter studied General Sciences my

706
00:30:58,720 --> 00:31:04,960
wife is a nurse by training and brings

707
00:31:01,679 --> 00:31:08,159
that knowledge and more to our family it

708
00:31:04,960 --> 00:31:12,799
is absolutely amazing how much

709
00:31:08,159 --> 00:31:15,960
information can be exchanged during our

710
00:31:12,799 --> 00:31:18,960
conversations and you as your individual

711
00:31:15,960 --> 00:31:22,399
circles expand so too does the

712
00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:25,240
opportunity to learn and gain insight

713
00:31:22,399 --> 00:31:28,840
into other aspects of

714
00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:31,000
Life try to learn from your mistakes

715
00:31:28,840 --> 00:31:33,519
mistakes can be learning

716
00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:36,000
opportunities mine are

717
00:31:33,519 --> 00:31:38,760
tntc for those of you in

718
00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:42,080
microbiology you know that that means

719
00:31:38,760 --> 00:31:44,279
too numerous to count we won't go into

720
00:31:42,080 --> 00:31:47,880
these here but there are a lot of

721
00:31:44,279 --> 00:31:52,519
stories that begin remember the time

722
00:31:47,880 --> 00:31:55,480
when Dad and it's just downhill from

723
00:31:52,519 --> 00:31:58,679
there it would be good for you to have

724
00:31:55,480 --> 00:32:01,720
an escape mechanism like can be a

725
00:31:58,679 --> 00:32:05,720
pressure cooker and you need to have a

726
00:32:01,720 --> 00:32:09,919
relief mechanism so try to cultivate

727
00:32:05,720 --> 00:32:10,960
outside interests these may be Solo or

728
00:32:09,919 --> 00:32:14,519
group

729
00:32:10,960 --> 00:32:17,240
activities Hobbies such as geneology

730
00:32:14,519 --> 00:32:20,880
which is one I'm working on right now

731
00:32:17,240 --> 00:32:23,720
creative writing cooking nature and a

732
00:32:20,880 --> 00:32:27,240
host of others can provide welcome

733
00:32:23,720 --> 00:32:30,039
diversions When Things become hectic

734
00:32:27,240 --> 00:32:34,039
Sports can provide opportunities to

735
00:32:30,039 --> 00:32:36,440
spend time with friends as does gaming

736
00:32:34,039 --> 00:32:40,159
but hopefully not to

737
00:32:36,440 --> 00:32:44,320
excess whatever you do make time for

738
00:32:40,159 --> 00:32:47,240
yourself your friends and your family be

739
00:32:44,320 --> 00:32:49,320
sure to treasure those moments because

740
00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:52,760
they are pure

741
00:32:49,320 --> 00:32:55,200
gold don't be too serious have a sense

742
00:32:52,760 --> 00:32:59,919
of humor and try to see the lighter side

743
00:32:55,200 --> 00:33:02,840
of life you never have to totally grow

744
00:32:59,919 --> 00:33:07,559
up I knew what slide that

745
00:33:02,840 --> 00:33:10,120
was this is my test and exam tie I've

746
00:33:07,559 --> 00:33:14,679
worn it to these special occasions for

747
00:33:10,120 --> 00:33:16,960
almost 25 years and I'm wearing it today

748
00:33:14,679 --> 00:33:20,760
I recall walking through the University

749
00:33:16,960 --> 00:33:24,240
Center one test day and a little boy

750
00:33:20,760 --> 00:33:27,360
commented to his mother look Mommy that

751
00:33:24,240 --> 00:33:29,120
man's wearing a Winnie the Poo tie she

752
00:33:27,360 --> 00:33:32,720
responded wanted in a voice that was

753
00:33:29,120 --> 00:33:35,880
loud enough for me to hear yes dear some

754
00:33:32,720 --> 00:33:39,399
people never grow

755
00:33:35,880 --> 00:33:42,399
up I took this as a compliment even

756
00:33:39,399 --> 00:33:44,320
though I'm sure it was not intended to

757
00:33:42,399 --> 00:33:47,480
be

758
00:33:44,320 --> 00:33:50,720
one I also think it's important to put a

759
00:33:47,480 --> 00:33:51,799
positive spin on things and not to dwell

760
00:33:50,720 --> 00:33:55,039
on

761
00:33:51,799 --> 00:33:58,880
negativity no one in my classes ever

762
00:33:55,039 --> 00:34:01,919
yawns out of boredom they are so

763
00:33:58,880 --> 00:34:05,480
stimulated from the CH material that

764
00:34:01,919 --> 00:34:09,240
their brains require extra oxygen that

765
00:34:05,480 --> 00:34:10,679
only a yawn can bring at least that's

766
00:34:09,240 --> 00:34:13,040
what I tell

767
00:34:10,679 --> 00:34:15,280
myself I'm still working on

768
00:34:13,040 --> 00:34:18,879
rationalizing how to handle things when

769
00:34:15,280 --> 00:34:18,879
someone actually falls

770
00:34:19,079 --> 00:34:24,560
asleep you should learn to deal with

771
00:34:22,320 --> 00:34:27,119
disappointment not everyone will agree

772
00:34:24,560 --> 00:34:31,200
with you nor approve of what you have

773
00:34:27,119 --> 00:34:33,599
done and that's their right to do so a

774
00:34:31,200 --> 00:34:35,720
student one wot once wrote a note to a

775
00:34:33,599 --> 00:34:39,320
friend beside her during one of my

776
00:34:35,720 --> 00:34:43,480
lectures fortunately it was not here at

777
00:34:39,320 --> 00:34:47,440
gal it said he expects us to understand

778
00:34:43,480 --> 00:34:47,440
this stuff what an

779
00:34:48,800 --> 00:34:55,839
idat unfortunately she wrote it on the

780
00:34:51,879 --> 00:34:59,640
back of her assignment which she then

781
00:34:55,839 --> 00:34:59,640
submitted anybody done that

782
00:35:00,640 --> 00:35:05,520
my response was minus one2 for spelling

783
00:35:04,160 --> 00:35:08,960
what else could I

784
00:35:05,520 --> 00:35:12,400
say the day after it was returned I

785
00:35:08,960 --> 00:35:14,960
received a most apologetic

786
00:35:12,400 --> 00:35:18,000
email try to be a good

787
00:35:14,960 --> 00:35:22,160
communicator the world talks in code

788
00:35:18,000 --> 00:35:27,119
also known as acronyms so please do not

789
00:35:22,160 --> 00:35:29,839
fall into this trap as an example AI

790
00:35:27,119 --> 00:35:31,720
always meant artificial intelligence to

791
00:35:29,839 --> 00:35:35,359
me when I was in the food

792
00:35:31,720 --> 00:35:37,920
industry but it also means artificial

793
00:35:35,359 --> 00:35:41,240
insemination as I found out during my

794
00:35:37,920 --> 00:35:45,800
first meeting with my DG in the RB of

795
00:35:41,240 --> 00:35:49,640
aafc on the CF in

796
00:35:45,800 --> 00:35:52,280
Yow translating this into plain language

797
00:35:49,640 --> 00:35:54,920
it was my first meeting with my director

798
00:35:52,280 --> 00:35:58,079
General in the research branch of

799
00:35:54,920 --> 00:36:01,880
Agriculture and Agra Food Canada on the

800
00:35:58,079 --> 00:36:03,800
central experimental Farm in Ottawa we

801
00:36:01,880 --> 00:36:06,160
had a good laugh over our

802
00:36:03,800 --> 00:36:07,960
misunderstanding and it was a wonderful

803
00:36:06,160 --> 00:36:10,319
ice

804
00:36:07,960 --> 00:36:13,480
breaker you should feel good about

805
00:36:10,319 --> 00:36:16,960
yourself you've earned the right think

806
00:36:13,480 --> 00:36:18,319
about your accomplishments they are many

807
00:36:16,960 --> 00:36:21,960
remember the

808
00:36:18,319 --> 00:36:25,079
adversities of covid that you overcame

809
00:36:21,960 --> 00:36:27,200
but don't dwell on them think about the

810
00:36:25,079 --> 00:36:29,359
skills that you have mastered and

811
00:36:27,200 --> 00:36:31,240
perhaps perhaps try to recall some of

812
00:36:29,359 --> 00:36:34,680
the ones that you have

813
00:36:31,240 --> 00:36:36,680
forgotten you're almost you've almost

814
00:36:34,680 --> 00:36:39,800
completed what once seemed like a

815
00:36:36,680 --> 00:36:43,040
formidable task and you're the better

816
00:36:39,800 --> 00:36:45,520
for it while you're at it try to make

817
00:36:43,040 --> 00:36:49,000
someone else feel good too it's

818
00:36:45,520 --> 00:36:53,119
contagious in a positive

819
00:36:49,000 --> 00:36:56,319
way have fun and don't forget to say

820
00:36:53,119 --> 00:36:59,319
thank you these were always my mother's

821
00:36:56,319 --> 00:37:03,520
words whenever I went somewhere and I've

822
00:36:59,319 --> 00:37:06,040
never forgotten them Bowser here reminds

823
00:37:03,520 --> 00:37:09,240
me of all the students who have said

824
00:37:06,040 --> 00:37:12,440
Thank you over the years he was a gift

825
00:37:09,240 --> 00:37:16,240
from one of my students a simple thank

826
00:37:12,440 --> 00:37:19,599
you can go a long way so be sure to

827
00:37:16,240 --> 00:37:22,599
acknowledge the efforts of those around

828
00:37:19,599 --> 00:37:25,240
you these have been some of my

829
00:37:22,599 --> 00:37:30,040
experiences and I appreciate you letting

830
00:37:25,240 --> 00:37:33,280
me share them with you so where do gual

831
00:37:30,040 --> 00:37:37,200
graduates go from here the answer to

832
00:37:33,280 --> 00:37:42,119
this question is really quite simple

833
00:37:37,200 --> 00:37:42,119
everywhere we just reverse the

834
00:37:42,640 --> 00:37:48,839
arrows here's something to keep in mind

835
00:37:45,800 --> 00:37:53,240
no matter where you go the University of

836
00:37:48,839 --> 00:37:55,760
gal will always be your academic home I

837
00:37:53,240 --> 00:37:58,079
am reminded of a rather cynical

838
00:37:55,760 --> 00:38:01,520
definition of Home Port betrayed by

839
00:37:58,079 --> 00:38:04,240
Robert Frost who said home is the place

840
00:38:01,520 --> 00:38:07,000
where when you have to go there they

841
00:38:04,240 --> 00:38:11,040
have to take you in which is from Death

842
00:38:07,000 --> 00:38:14,359
of The Hired Man contrary to what Frost

843
00:38:11,040 --> 00:38:16,800
has said you will always be welcome home

844
00:38:14,359 --> 00:38:21,800
whenever you return to

845
00:38:16,800 --> 00:38:25,119
gual now for the last words of the last

846
00:38:21,800 --> 00:38:28,720
lecture always remember that you are

847
00:38:25,119 --> 00:38:32,400
part of the Griffin family with emphasis

848
00:38:28,720 --> 00:38:36,599
on the word family carry that knowledge

849
00:38:32,400 --> 00:38:42,079
with pride wherever life's journey takes

850
00:38:36,599 --> 00:38:44,440
you yes I've had fun and thank you ever

851
00:38:42,079 --> 00:38:44,440
so

852
00:38:46,700 --> 00:38:51,680
[Applause]

853
00:38:56,440 --> 00:38:59,440
much

854
00:39:00,920 --> 00:39:06,520
for those of you joining us online Don

855
00:39:03,480 --> 00:39:08,599
just received a standing ovation um Don

856
00:39:06,520 --> 00:39:11,280
thank you so much for your words of

857
00:39:08,599 --> 00:39:13,200
wisdom this evening I know it's part of

858
00:39:11,280 --> 00:39:16,079
my distinct pleasure within my role to

859
00:39:13,200 --> 00:39:17,480
get to uh call up the faculty member out

860
00:39:16,079 --> 00:39:19,160
of the blue and let them know that

861
00:39:17,480 --> 00:39:22,760
students want to hear from them at the

862
00:39:19,160 --> 00:39:25,280
last lecture and I know um Don I left

863
00:39:22,760 --> 00:39:27,480
him a message and then he replied uh and

864
00:39:25,280 --> 00:39:31,079
I picked up the message and he said

865
00:39:27,480 --> 00:39:31,079
thank you for the terrifying

866
00:39:31,400 --> 00:39:37,359
invitation so thank you for raising to

867
00:39:33,960 --> 00:39:39,040
the challenge um and I knew we were

868
00:39:37,359 --> 00:39:41,160
going to get along really well when you

869
00:39:39,040 --> 00:39:43,000
came to my office and and shared so many

870
00:39:41,160 --> 00:39:45,040
stories with me and it was so obvious

871
00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:48,440
why you were uh voted to be the last

872
00:39:45,040 --> 00:39:51,200
lecture this year thank you

873
00:39:48,440 --> 00:39:54,160
very uh so when I joined the University

874
00:39:51,200 --> 00:39:56,920
of of gu with was a little over a year

875
00:39:54,160 --> 00:39:59,480
ago uh I kept being welcomed into this

876
00:39:56,920 --> 00:40:02,200
Griffin family that Dawn kept talking

877
00:39:59,480 --> 00:40:04,880
about I didn't really know what that

878
00:40:02,200 --> 00:40:06,319
meant at the time um but everybody kept

879
00:40:04,880 --> 00:40:09,680
telling me that there was something

880
00:40:06,319 --> 00:40:11,400
special at gal and over the past year I

881
00:40:09,680 --> 00:40:14,000
have to say that I've come to agree with

882
00:40:11,400 --> 00:40:16,040
the sentiment and for me this special

883
00:40:14,000 --> 00:40:19,040
aspect really comes from the people and

884
00:40:16,040 --> 00:40:21,000
the community here I think the fact that

885
00:40:19,040 --> 00:40:23,079
each year a member of the alumni

886
00:40:21,000 --> 00:40:25,560
Community graciously accepts the

887
00:40:23,079 --> 00:40:28,000
invitation to speak at this event event

888
00:40:25,560 --> 00:40:29,319
is a touching example of of the Griffin

889
00:40:28,000 --> 00:40:32,440
family in

890
00:40:29,319 --> 00:40:34,599
action it is my pleasure to able to be

891
00:40:32,440 --> 00:40:37,920
able to introduce our final lecture this

892
00:40:34,599 --> 00:40:41,040
evening who is a distinguished

893
00:40:37,920 --> 00:40:44,040
alumna Gabriella Sundar Singh is an

894
00:40:41,040 --> 00:40:47,079
actor singer and Dancer born and raised

895
00:40:44,040 --> 00:40:49,079
in Toronto Ontario her time at the

896
00:40:47,079 --> 00:40:51,880
University of galf was where her love

897
00:40:49,079 --> 00:40:54,480
for theater truly bloomed after

898
00:40:51,880 --> 00:40:56,480
completing her studies at ufg she

899
00:40:54,480 --> 00:40:59,000
pursued post-graduate studies at

900
00:40:56,480 --> 00:41:01,240
Centennial College College in Children's

901
00:40:59,000 --> 00:41:03,880
Entertainment studied acting at the

902
00:41:01,240 --> 00:41:06,359
National Theater School of Canada and

903
00:41:03,880 --> 00:41:07,760
recently completed her ma in drama at

904
00:41:06,359 --> 00:41:10,280
the University of

905
00:41:07,760 --> 00:41:12,400
Toronto she is currently performing her

906
00:41:10,280 --> 00:41:15,280
sixth season at the Shaw Festival in

907
00:41:12,400 --> 00:41:17,839
Niagara on the Lake and Gabriella's work

908
00:41:15,280 --> 00:41:19,720
has taken her from stage to screen but

909
00:41:17,839 --> 00:41:22,200
her most enjoyable work comes in the

910
00:41:19,720 --> 00:41:24,640
form of teaching she has spent many

911
00:41:22,200 --> 00:41:26,560
years teaching dance and drama and

912
00:41:24,640 --> 00:41:28,400
enjoys coaching and mentoring young

913
00:41:26,560 --> 00:41:29,400
artists to help them Reach their

914
00:41:28,400 --> 00:41:33,040
creative

915
00:41:29,400 --> 00:41:35,280
goals being back on the ufg campus is an

916
00:41:33,040 --> 00:41:37,119
incredible gift and a privilege she is

917
00:41:35,280 --> 00:41:38,839
thankful to the alumni Affairs and

918
00:41:37,119 --> 00:41:40,800
student experience teams at the

919
00:41:38,839 --> 00:41:43,640
University for including her in this

920
00:41:40,800 --> 00:41:45,820
special event so I am now pleased to

921
00:41:43,640 --> 00:41:46,500
welcome Gabby to the

922
00:41:45,820 --> 00:41:49,619
[Applause]

923
00:41:46,500 --> 00:41:49,619
[Music]

924
00:41:55,119 --> 00:42:03,680
stage good evening every everyone

925
00:41:59,760 --> 00:42:06,920
hi my name is Gabriela sersingh I

926
00:42:03,680 --> 00:42:09,520
graduated from the University of galf in

927
00:42:06,920 --> 00:42:12,040
2011 from the theater studies program

928
00:42:09,520 --> 00:42:16,640
and it is an honor to be here tonight as

929
00:42:12,040 --> 00:42:16,640
your alumni lecturer for the last

930
00:42:18,800 --> 00:42:23,760
lecture um again I want to say a

931
00:42:21,920 --> 00:42:25,599
heartfelt thank you to those in student

932
00:42:23,760 --> 00:42:27,240
experience alumni and advancement and

933
00:42:25,599 --> 00:42:29,520
student affairs who invited me here

934
00:42:27,240 --> 00:42:33,359
tonight and to everyone who organized

935
00:42:29,520 --> 00:42:35,319
this event thank you to manahil Z and Dr

936
00:42:33,359 --> 00:42:37,920
Don Mercer for your thoughtful and

937
00:42:35,319 --> 00:42:39,920
encouraging words and thank you to

938
00:42:37,920 --> 00:42:43,480
everyone here in attendance tonight the

939
00:42:39,920 --> 00:42:45,839
community of the University of GTH thank

940
00:42:43,480 --> 00:42:49,040
you for such an exciting return to

941
00:42:45,839 --> 00:42:51,920
campus okay now for the matter at hand

942
00:42:49,040 --> 00:42:55,640
congratulations to the class of 20124

943
00:42:51,920 --> 00:42:58,359
you did it you are here at this juncture

944
00:42:55,640 --> 00:43:00,680
about to turn the corner into new

945
00:42:58,359 --> 00:43:03,680
adventures explore wild new territory

946
00:43:00,680 --> 00:43:06,119
and gaze upon exciting

947
00:43:03,680 --> 00:43:09,040
possibilities I remember standing or

948
00:43:06,119 --> 00:43:10,960
sitting exactly where you are wondering

949
00:43:09,040 --> 00:43:14,160
what the future might hold for me with

950
00:43:10,960 --> 00:43:15,839
this voracious appetite to Take On The

951
00:43:14,160 --> 00:43:18,760
World outside of

952
00:43:15,839 --> 00:43:21,000
ufg now during these past years as a ufg

953
00:43:18,760 --> 00:43:22,760
grad I have had countless opportunities

954
00:43:21,000 --> 00:43:24,520
to speak to students and Young Artists

955
00:43:22,760 --> 00:43:26,720
wishing to pursue a career in the Arts

956
00:43:24,520 --> 00:43:28,640
but what makes tonight special is this

957
00:43:26,720 --> 00:43:31,119
opportunity Unity to speak directly to

958
00:43:28,640 --> 00:43:33,280
the ufg community and share a little bit

959
00:43:31,119 --> 00:43:37,480
about what made my time here so

960
00:43:33,280 --> 00:43:38,920
special there is a context that we share

961
00:43:37,480 --> 00:43:40,359
that makes our understanding of the

962
00:43:38,920 --> 00:43:42,920
school

963
00:43:40,359 --> 00:43:45,079
unique I mean who else knows about the

964
00:43:42,920 --> 00:43:46,480
beauty of lying out on Johnston green on

965
00:43:45,079 --> 00:43:49,160
a sunny

966
00:43:46,480 --> 00:43:51,280
day or running to the other end of

967
00:43:49,160 --> 00:43:52,640
Campus trying to get to that class

968
00:43:51,280 --> 00:43:55,920
passing the leaves as they change color

969
00:43:52,640 --> 00:43:57,760
in the fall so with our shared

970
00:43:55,920 --> 00:44:00,640
experiences in mind

971
00:43:57,760 --> 00:44:03,240
I wish to share a few memories

972
00:44:00,640 --> 00:44:04,880
moments and experiences gained during my

973
00:44:03,240 --> 00:44:09,720
time on this campus and Beyond just

974
00:44:04,880 --> 00:44:09,720
think of them as provocations for what's

975
00:44:11,920 --> 00:44:20,240
next be ready for and embrace change

976
00:44:16,680 --> 00:44:22,800
change is scary it is unknown often out

977
00:44:20,240 --> 00:44:25,480
of our control and new but without

978
00:44:22,800 --> 00:44:28,400
embracing change there is no possibility

979
00:44:25,480 --> 00:44:31,800
and this is coming from some someone who

980
00:44:28,400 --> 00:44:34,040
vehemently dislikes change but without

981
00:44:31,800 --> 00:44:35,480
change my academic career and

982
00:44:34,040 --> 00:44:37,480
professional career would never would

983
00:44:35,480 --> 00:44:40,319
have looked so so

984
00:44:37,480 --> 00:44:42,400
different without embracing change I

985
00:44:40,319 --> 00:44:44,880
never would have had the courage to

986
00:44:42,400 --> 00:44:47,000
change my acceptance here at ufg from

987
00:44:44,880 --> 00:44:49,280
biology to theater

988
00:44:47,000 --> 00:44:51,160
studies I never would have experienced

989
00:44:49,280 --> 00:44:53,520
the head first immersion into the Arts

990
00:44:51,160 --> 00:44:55,000
that our school offered me and I never

991
00:44:53,520 --> 00:44:57,960
would have discovered my passion for

992
00:44:55,000 --> 00:45:00,720
performance and my love of acting

993
00:44:57,960 --> 00:45:01,920
see I had this dream from the age of 11

994
00:45:00,720 --> 00:45:05,000
of being an

995
00:45:01,920 --> 00:45:06,720
orthodontist uh I wanted to help people

996
00:45:05,000 --> 00:45:09,920
correct and maintain their healthy and

997
00:45:06,720 --> 00:45:11,760
beautiful teeth this is a true story but

998
00:45:09,920 --> 00:45:14,079
in the back of my mind I had the secret

999
00:45:11,760 --> 00:45:16,480
dream of Performing of Hosting

1000
00:45:14,079 --> 00:45:17,760
children's television and pursuing

1001
00:45:16,480 --> 00:45:21,240
something that would take me away from

1002
00:45:17,760 --> 00:45:22,960
the path I was currently on so when ufg

1003
00:45:21,240 --> 00:45:26,079
offered to change my acceptance to

1004
00:45:22,960 --> 00:45:29,920
theater studies change stood before me

1005
00:45:26,079 --> 00:45:32,920
but so did risk and

1006
00:45:29,920 --> 00:45:35,880
wonder the offer turned into four of the

1007
00:45:32,920 --> 00:45:38,720
best years of my life I

1008
00:45:35,880 --> 00:45:41,160
learned the 101 of theater from Anne

1009
00:45:38,720 --> 00:45:42,800
Wilson how to hang lights from the late

1010
00:45:41,160 --> 00:45:46,559
great Paul

1011
00:45:42,800 --> 00:45:48,119
or sew costumes from Deni Ono jofra

1012
00:45:46,559 --> 00:45:50,040
learned about theater design and

1013
00:45:48,119 --> 00:45:52,920
production from Pat flood Gerard and

1014
00:45:50,040 --> 00:45:55,280
Diana Smith and Chris Clifford and took

1015
00:45:52,920 --> 00:45:58,520
my first steps into exploring acting

1016
00:45:55,280 --> 00:46:00,680
with Alan fwad Trevor cob and Judith

1017
00:45:58,520 --> 00:46:02,319
Thompson and I do think it was important

1018
00:46:00,680 --> 00:46:06,400
to share their names because they made

1019
00:46:02,319 --> 00:46:09,800
such an impact on my life I was

1020
00:46:06,400 --> 00:46:12,440
changed so I learned to anticipate

1021
00:46:09,800 --> 00:46:14,720
change see it coming and embrace it with

1022
00:46:12,440 --> 00:46:14,720
open

1023
00:46:16,880 --> 00:46:23,200
arms get to know and honor

1024
00:46:20,800 --> 00:46:25,280
yourself I work both on stage and on

1025
00:46:23,200 --> 00:46:27,880
screen and in an industry where the way

1026
00:46:25,280 --> 00:46:29,359
I look and the way I sound sometimes is

1027
00:46:27,880 --> 00:46:31,599
the determining factor for whether I

1028
00:46:29,359 --> 00:46:35,440
book the gig so I have heard it

1029
00:46:31,599 --> 00:46:38,040
all my eyes are too big uh I don't have

1030
00:46:35,440 --> 00:46:40,480
the right sounding voice my head's the

1031
00:46:38,040 --> 00:46:44,160
wrong shape I don't have the right

1032
00:46:40,480 --> 00:46:45,720
look the list goes on and on and any one

1033
00:46:44,160 --> 00:46:48,040
of those criticisms I could have taken

1034
00:46:45,720 --> 00:46:50,359
them and let it stop me on my path it

1035
00:46:48,040 --> 00:46:51,720
could have altered the way I do my work

1036
00:46:50,359 --> 00:46:55,920
it could have altered the way I feel

1037
00:46:51,720 --> 00:46:59,160
about myself but instead I used all of

1038
00:46:55,920 --> 00:47:01,880
that unhel full feedback to fuel the

1039
00:46:59,160 --> 00:47:05,280
growing fire inside I know

1040
00:47:01,880 --> 00:47:06,880
myself I know what I'm capable of and I

1041
00:47:05,280 --> 00:47:08,599
will keep pursuing my passions and

1042
00:47:06,880 --> 00:47:12,599
interests to the highest

1043
00:47:08,599 --> 00:47:16,119
degree my time here at ufg helped build

1044
00:47:12,599 --> 00:47:19,160
that resilience inside of me I had proof

1045
00:47:16,119 --> 00:47:23,160
that during my time here if I loved what

1046
00:47:19,160 --> 00:47:26,440
I did worked as hard as I could at it

1047
00:47:23,160 --> 00:47:29,359
showed gratitude to those around me and

1048
00:47:26,440 --> 00:47:32,599
was great ful for the opportunities I

1049
00:47:29,359 --> 00:47:37,640
had nothing could stop

1050
00:47:32,599 --> 00:47:39,640
me and by knowing and honoring myself it

1051
00:47:37,640 --> 00:47:42,240
has led me back to places like this

1052
00:47:39,640 --> 00:47:44,920
campus where my authentic self can shine

1053
00:47:42,240 --> 00:47:48,040
in a place that has always always

1054
00:47:44,920 --> 00:47:48,040
encouraged me to be

1055
00:47:51,280 --> 00:47:57,520
me build grow and nurture your

1056
00:47:55,839 --> 00:48:00,760
community

1057
00:47:57,520 --> 00:48:04,400
echoing what uh Dr Don merer said

1058
00:48:00,760 --> 00:48:06,440
earlier Community does not just happen

1059
00:48:04,400 --> 00:48:10,280
Community is the people you invest time

1060
00:48:06,440 --> 00:48:12,240
in those you care for those who look out

1061
00:48:10,280 --> 00:48:15,200
for you and encourage you to be the best

1062
00:48:12,240 --> 00:48:18,720
versions of yourself possible

1063
00:48:15,200 --> 00:48:21,000
Community is strength when you need it

1064
00:48:18,720 --> 00:48:23,160
most my deepest understanding of

1065
00:48:21,000 --> 00:48:25,440
community comes from what I learned here

1066
00:48:23,160 --> 00:48:28,079
Community began during my first days

1067
00:48:25,440 --> 00:48:31,160
here making friends and Lennox C study

1068
00:48:28,079 --> 00:48:33,680
intensive up north as we explored a new

1069
00:48:31,160 --> 00:48:37,000
school together I grew my community when

1070
00:48:33,680 --> 00:48:40,280
I was president of La go BS okay um when

1071
00:48:37,000 --> 00:48:42,000
I was noov and when I shared the stage

1072
00:48:40,280 --> 00:48:45,040
with other members of our theater

1073
00:48:42,000 --> 00:48:48,160
studies Department to this day the

1074
00:48:45,040 --> 00:48:52,680
people who get the most excited for my

1075
00:48:48,160 --> 00:48:57,000
next gig my new show my next

1076
00:48:52,680 --> 00:48:58,440
Endeavor are those people at my at who

1077
00:48:57,000 --> 00:49:01,119
are part of my Golf

1078
00:48:58,440 --> 00:49:03,559
Community my friends my professors my

1079
00:49:01,119 --> 00:49:06,559
mentors they write to me with words of

1080
00:49:03,559 --> 00:49:09,040
encouragement they come to see my

1081
00:49:06,559 --> 00:49:10,839
shows and they let me feel a part of

1082
00:49:09,040 --> 00:49:14,160
something bigger than

1083
00:49:10,839 --> 00:49:16,880
myself I go into every new space every

1084
00:49:14,160 --> 00:49:20,359
new rehearsal room every audition room I

1085
00:49:16,880 --> 00:49:22,040
hit every stage looking for a sliver of

1086
00:49:20,359 --> 00:49:24,920
the same sense of community that I

1087
00:49:22,040 --> 00:49:28,240
experienced here and let me tell you

1088
00:49:24,920 --> 00:49:33,200
there is Magic in the water here in

1089
00:49:28,240 --> 00:49:33,200
galf what we have is truly something

1090
00:49:33,359 --> 00:49:39,200
special

1091
00:49:36,119 --> 00:49:41,160
finally I thought it was apropo to offer

1092
00:49:39,200 --> 00:49:44,240
a quote from the namesake of the

1093
00:49:41,160 --> 00:49:45,680
festival that I work at as mentioned

1094
00:49:44,240 --> 00:49:48,559
before I'm in my sixth season at the

1095
00:49:45,680 --> 00:49:50,880
Shaw Festival uh as an actor down in

1096
00:49:48,559 --> 00:49:53,160
Niagara on the Lake all because of the

1097
00:49:50,880 --> 00:49:55,880
first steps I took here at

1098
00:49:53,160 --> 00:49:57,280
ufg I'll read a a bit more to give you

1099
00:49:55,880 --> 00:50:01,000
the context of this quote it's from

1100
00:49:57,280 --> 00:50:04,880
George Bernard Shaw's the doctor's

1101
00:50:01,000 --> 00:50:08,359
dilemma attention and activity lead to

1102
00:50:04,880 --> 00:50:11,119
mistakes as well as to

1103
00:50:08,359 --> 00:50:14,319
successes but a life spent in making

1104
00:50:11,119 --> 00:50:18,040
mistakes is not only more honorable but

1105
00:50:14,319 --> 00:50:21,079
more useful than a life spent doing

1106
00:50:18,040 --> 00:50:23,280
nothing the one lesson that comes out of

1107
00:50:21,079 --> 00:50:25,440
all of our theorizing and experimenting

1108
00:50:23,280 --> 00:50:27,280
is that there is only one really

1109
00:50:25,440 --> 00:50:30,960
scientific Progressive method method and

1110
00:50:27,280 --> 00:50:33,200
that is the method of trial and

1111
00:50:30,960 --> 00:50:35,880
error so I made one of the biggest

1112
00:50:33,200 --> 00:50:37,520
mistakes of my life in the F first few

1113
00:50:35,880 --> 00:50:39,040
weeks here I auditioned for the

1114
00:50:37,520 --> 00:50:41,960
mainstage show that now professor

1115
00:50:39,040 --> 00:50:44,920
emeritus Rick nles was directing I have

1116
00:50:41,960 --> 00:50:47,359
to say I don't think my rendition of one

1117
00:50:44,920 --> 00:50:51,240
of Shakespeare sonnets was what he uh

1118
00:50:47,359 --> 00:50:54,400
was looking for oh uh I had made a huge

1119
00:50:51,240 --> 00:50:58,640
mistake or so I had

1120
00:50:54,400 --> 00:51:01,599
thought see I um I forgot all of my

1121
00:50:58,640 --> 00:51:04,280
lines I was so nervous but Professor

1122
00:51:01,599 --> 00:51:07,040
nolles was so generous and let me try

1123
00:51:04,280 --> 00:51:10,200
again and again until essentially um the

1124
00:51:07,040 --> 00:51:12,680
audition turned into a lesson on how to

1125
00:51:10,200 --> 00:51:15,200
audition for which I was very grateful I

1126
00:51:12,680 --> 00:51:17,160
took those lessons forward with me and

1127
00:51:15,200 --> 00:51:20,240
instead of an acting role I was offered

1128
00:51:17,160 --> 00:51:22,520
the position of assistant stage manager

1129
00:51:20,240 --> 00:51:25,119
which was a critical turning point for

1130
00:51:22,520 --> 00:51:27,000
me without the love of all the elements

1131
00:51:25,119 --> 00:51:30,520
of theater that grew out of that semeer

1132
00:51:27,000 --> 00:51:33,240
master I would not be where I am today

1133
00:51:30,520 --> 00:51:36,119
so uh a bit of trial and error and

1134
00:51:33,240 --> 00:51:40,440
making some mistakes has led me to a

1135
00:51:36,119 --> 00:51:43,640
fulfilling career and ufg is the reason

1136
00:51:40,440 --> 00:51:45,799
why so thank you for your time this

1137
00:51:43,640 --> 00:51:48,640
evening and if there is any one thing I

1138
00:51:45,799 --> 00:51:52,440
can leave you with Let It Be

1139
00:51:48,640 --> 00:51:55,160
this to the graduating class of

1140
00:51:52,440 --> 00:51:57,119
2024 you are exactly where you need to

1141
00:51:55,160 --> 00:51:58,920
be right now

1142
00:51:57,119 --> 00:52:01,359
those of us who are here in support of

1143
00:51:58,920 --> 00:52:03,680
you as professors and mentors and

1144
00:52:01,359 --> 00:52:06,559
community members and honored onlookers

1145
00:52:03,680 --> 00:52:10,119
like myself we are so proud of you and

1146
00:52:06,559 --> 00:52:14,799
we cannot wait to see what you do next

1147
00:52:10,119 --> 00:52:14,799
to the class of 2024 to you

1148
00:52:15,420 --> 00:52:28,520
[Applause]

1149
00:52:25,520 --> 00:52:28,520
congratulations

1150
00:52:29,480 --> 00:52:34,160
thank you so much Gaby um so many of

1151
00:52:32,359 --> 00:52:36,720
your words really touched me as I was

1152
00:52:34,160 --> 00:52:38,319
sitting here in this room and I think um

1153
00:52:36,720 --> 00:52:41,240
we've heard a lot of kind of those

1154
00:52:38,319 --> 00:52:42,880
similar themes from each of our lectures

1155
00:52:41,240 --> 00:52:45,720
and so I hope you're taking away some of

1156
00:52:42,880 --> 00:52:48,000
these broader messages um I love Gabby's

1157
00:52:45,720 --> 00:52:50,880
words of you are exactly where you need

1158
00:52:48,000 --> 00:52:53,240
to be right now um that's so beautiful

1159
00:52:50,880 --> 00:52:55,599
so whatever emotions you're feeling in

1160
00:52:53,240 --> 00:52:58,920
this moment are the right ones there

1161
00:52:55,599 --> 00:53:02,799
aren't any wrong feelings and so I hope

1162
00:52:58,920 --> 00:53:04,760
as you um take these messages away and

1163
00:53:02,799 --> 00:53:07,000
and kind of think on them over the next

1164
00:53:04,760 --> 00:53:09,200
few days you're able to feel that sense

1165
00:53:07,000 --> 00:53:12,920
of Pride and really look back on your

1166
00:53:09,200 --> 00:53:16,240
community here at University of

1167
00:53:12,920 --> 00:53:17,960
gal and so now to close off our evening

1168
00:53:16,240 --> 00:53:20,200
I would like to welcome to the stage

1169
00:53:17,960 --> 00:53:23,599
someone whose job it is to support your

1170
00:53:20,200 --> 00:53:25,559
student experience in all that she does

1171
00:53:23,599 --> 00:53:30,040
to close out this evening is our vice

1172
00:53:25,559 --> 00:53:38,159
proo Prov student affairs Dr Melinda

1173
00:53:30,040 --> 00:53:38,159
[Applause]

1174
00:53:40,040 --> 00:53:46,359
Scott well what an

1175
00:53:43,640 --> 00:53:51,640
incredibly difficult act to follow are

1176
00:53:46,359 --> 00:53:53,480
three just wonderful speakers but it is

1177
00:53:51,640 --> 00:53:55,520
an immense pleasure to be here this

1178
00:53:53,480 --> 00:53:59,160
evening and to participate in this last

1179
00:53:55,520 --> 00:54:01,799
lecture event and I want to just with my

1180
00:53:59,160 --> 00:54:05,280
whole heart congratulate our speakers

1181
00:54:01,799 --> 00:54:09,319
manah Hill Zed gabrielis sers Singh and

1182
00:54:05,280 --> 00:54:12,000
Professor Don Mercer um it has been an

1183
00:54:09,319 --> 00:54:13,880
honor to experience the university uh

1184
00:54:12,000 --> 00:54:15,559
and Community vicariously through your

1185
00:54:13,880 --> 00:54:18,200
words and through your

1186
00:54:15,559 --> 00:54:20,160
lives I also really want to acknowledge

1187
00:54:18,200 --> 00:54:23,040
the work of our student experience team

1188
00:54:20,160 --> 00:54:25,000
a particularly Jen Durst and those other

1189
00:54:23,040 --> 00:54:27,280
individuals who've worked so hard to

1190
00:54:25,000 --> 00:54:29,599
make this evening happen allowing us to

1191
00:54:27,280 --> 00:54:31,400
spend this time together and to mark

1192
00:54:29,599 --> 00:54:32,880
this important Milestone and this

1193
00:54:31,400 --> 00:54:35,440
important

1194
00:54:32,880 --> 00:54:38,440
celebration class of

1195
00:54:35,440 --> 00:54:40,520
2024

1196
00:54:38,440 --> 00:54:44,200
congratulations throughout your academic

1197
00:54:40,520 --> 00:54:46,839
Journey you have demonstrated resiliency

1198
00:54:44,200 --> 00:54:50,640
the ability to navigate challenges and

1199
00:54:46,839 --> 00:54:53,520
exhibited caring uh for yourself and for

1200
00:54:50,640 --> 00:54:55,680
your fellow students you have remained

1201
00:54:53,520 --> 00:54:57,880
determined to complete your degree

1202
00:54:55,680 --> 00:54:59,599
despite the many pivots that we've heard

1203
00:54:57,880 --> 00:55:01,960
about this evening that you were

1204
00:54:59,599 --> 00:55:04,760
expected to make particularly in the

1205
00:55:01,960 --> 00:55:07,520
early years of your studies and you have

1206
00:55:04,760 --> 00:55:09,599
engaged with your coursework the student

1207
00:55:07,520 --> 00:55:11,640
experience opportunities and your

1208
00:55:09,599 --> 00:55:14,359
communities you've embraced and

1209
00:55:11,640 --> 00:55:18,040
exhibited the Griffin values that you

1210
00:55:14,359 --> 00:55:19,480
were introduced to when you first uh not

1211
00:55:18,040 --> 00:55:20,839
just even when you first stepped on to

1212
00:55:19,480 --> 00:55:24,359
this campus but when you were first

1213
00:55:20,839 --> 00:55:26,640
introduced to this campus you can and

1214
00:55:24,359 --> 00:55:28,640
you should be proud of all all you've

1215
00:55:26,640 --> 00:55:32,240
accomplished in your time with

1216
00:55:28,640 --> 00:55:34,079
us as a person you have grown and

1217
00:55:32,240 --> 00:55:36,440
developed into an individual that is

1218
00:55:34,079 --> 00:55:39,200
ready to make their way in the world as

1219
00:55:36,440 --> 00:55:41,760
a scholar you have been presented with

1220
00:55:39,200 --> 00:55:43,559
opportunities to explore ideas and to

1221
00:55:41,760 --> 00:55:46,760
develop an understanding and

1222
00:55:43,559 --> 00:55:49,400
appreciation for how things work and we

1223
00:55:46,760 --> 00:55:52,559
hope that we've instilled in you a

1224
00:55:49,400 --> 00:55:55,680
desire for curiosity and for lifelong

1225
00:55:52,559 --> 00:55:57,559
learning as a citizen you have

1226
00:55:55,680 --> 00:56:00,000
experienced both the individual and

1227
00:55:57,559 --> 00:56:03,200
Collective responsibilities required for

1228
00:56:00,000 --> 00:56:06,599
communities to be successful and to

1229
00:56:03,200 --> 00:56:09,640
thrive I have very recently returned to

1230
00:56:06,599 --> 00:56:12,640
the University of galf and it is my

1231
00:56:09,640 --> 00:56:15,440
privilege to be part of a campus and now

1232
00:56:12,640 --> 00:56:18,520
alumni community that continues to

1233
00:56:15,440 --> 00:56:21,319
generate curious and compassionate and

1234
00:56:18,520 --> 00:56:23,079
engag students like all of you I wish

1235
00:56:21,319 --> 00:56:24,880
you great success as you complete your

1236
00:56:23,079 --> 00:56:27,920
academic work and move into the next

1237
00:56:24,880 --> 00:56:30,839
stage of your life and your career

1238
00:56:27,920 --> 00:56:33,680
Journey your academic goals are within

1239
00:56:30,839 --> 00:56:35,400
your grasp and in just a few short weeks

1240
00:56:33,680 --> 00:56:36,960
you will have completed your exams and

1241
00:56:35,400 --> 00:56:39,039
be ready making your plans for

1242
00:56:36,960 --> 00:56:41,440
convocation your degree will be earned

1243
00:56:39,039 --> 00:56:43,559
and it's going to be in your hands uh so

1244
00:56:41,440 --> 00:56:45,119
for my personal experience I can tell

1245
00:56:43,559 --> 00:56:47,680
you that the completion of your

1246
00:56:45,119 --> 00:56:50,000
undergrad does not mean the end of your

1247
00:56:47,680 --> 00:56:52,319
relationship with the University of galf

1248
00:56:50,000 --> 00:56:55,200
we invite you to continue as members of

1249
00:56:52,319 --> 00:56:56,880
our alumni community and as you leave

1250
00:56:55,200 --> 00:56:58,880
remember that you have the skills and

1251
00:56:56,880 --> 00:57:02,599
the knowledge and the values that your

1252
00:56:58,880 --> 00:57:05,559
time at G has provided you you're ready

1253
00:57:02,599 --> 00:57:07,000
your future looks bright uh go out and

1254
00:57:05,559 --> 00:57:09,000
make your way in the world and we're all

1255
00:57:07,000 --> 00:57:11,400
going to be here cheering you on and

1256
00:57:09,000 --> 00:57:13,119
watching you throughout your journey so

1257
00:57:11,400 --> 00:57:16,200
remember that you're here for a short

1258
00:57:13,119 --> 00:57:19,440
time but as our uh illustrious panel

1259
00:57:16,200 --> 00:57:21,440
have said you are a griffin for life so

1260
00:57:19,440 --> 00:57:25,160
thank you very much and I will pass it

1261
00:57:21,440 --> 00:57:28,160
back to Jen to conclude the

1262
00:57:25,160 --> 00:57:28,160
evening

1263
00:57:36,119 --> 00:57:41,039
and so with those words from the vice

1264
00:57:38,400 --> 00:57:43,559
Provo student affairs we're ready to

1265
00:57:41,039 --> 00:57:45,680
close out our evening I do want to

1266
00:57:43,559 --> 00:57:48,640
mention that if you don't need to run

1267
00:57:45,680 --> 00:57:50,319
right away we have um a backdrop over

1268
00:57:48,640 --> 00:57:52,640
there so you can take some photos we

1269
00:57:50,319 --> 00:57:54,119
have a few props we also have a place

1270
00:57:52,640 --> 00:57:56,760
where you can leave some of your

1271
00:57:54,119 --> 00:57:59,480
University of golf memories on the wall

1272
00:57:56,760 --> 00:58:01,480
um to be able to share with each other

1273
00:57:59,480 --> 00:58:04,240
and so with that thank you so much for

1274
00:58:01,480 --> 00:58:09,110
joining us and congratulations once

1275
00:58:04,240 --> 00:58:12,329
again class of 2024 have a wonderful

1276
00:58:09,110 --> 00:58:12,329
[Applause]

1277
00:58:14,039 --> 00:58:17,039
evening