Graduating high school means that you have met the minimum requirements of life. All of you will be moving forward with your educational journey, with many of you heading to other countries. Please make the best of the opportunity that you have been given. Many of you, or perhaps all of you will be going forward alone, without the accompaniment of head teachers, and your parents. This will require great responsibility to follow rules, wake up early when you don't want to, and sacrifice time that you would rather spend doing other things. 

   Please be reminded that this life and life is not easy. You must do the things you have to do so that you can do the things you want to do. This is a life lesson that many of us in this room have yet to learn, but will be learning very quickly, very shortly. 

  As you continue on your journey you should be building and developing your plan with the end in mind. What are your goals and dreams? How will you make these goals and dreams become reality? You must have a plan with the ultimate goal in mind. It would be best to think of want you want to achieve and then work backwards until you arrive at the present. Once this is done then you will begin to move forward to working toward that end goal.

   Remember the steps in the plan may change-they may change many times. The important thing is to adjust accordingly and to never lose sight of the ultimate goal. If you have a dream that you really want obtain then all of your time; all of your effort should be put into making it become a reality. You must be disciplined enough to know when you should choose to work over choosing to play. You should not feel that working toward your goal is something that you dislike or dread doing.

   Arnold Schwarzenegger was once asked why he is always smiling in the gym while others have long faces and look unhappy. He responded by saying “My goal is to become Mr. Universe so doing the next 100 push-ups, 100 bench presses, 100 squats are all things that I am very happy to do.” Think about what Schwarzenegger is saying here. He is happy to work hard to achieve his goal, the work is tough and challenging but it is enjoying because every move he makes bring him that much closer to his goal.This is exactly how you should look at the challenges ahead as you move forward with your life and academic career.

   The difference between those who achieve great success and those who are mediocre are those who are willing to work harder and go further than those around them. Always remember “there is never a traffic jam at the extra mile, because so few people go there.” The extra mile is where greatness happens. This is where you should always strive to be.

  It is now time for you to take the learning and your life into your own hands. You will be going abroad were excuses will not be tolerated to the degree you are used to. You will be over 18 years old; this means that you and you alone will bear the consequences of your actions and you will have to live with those consequences-both the good and the bad.

  In the words of Jim Rohn “If you want to do something, you’ll always find a way.  If you don't you will always find an excuse.