Good afternoon, Bon matin.
It is an honour to be here with you today, on your graduation day, to share a few words.
First of all, to the graduating class of 2025 – Congratulations!!
It’s a word you will hear a lot today and you absolutely deserve it!
You know this already. But let me repeat that this is indeed a very significant milestone in your lives.
It’s the culmination of 12+ years of hard work, perseverance, and commitment.
Doing things that you love, but also learning to do the things you need.
And you have had many challenges!
From COVID years to that math exam that was just impossible.
But you have done it.
Congratulations!
You truly deserve another round of applause!!
And of course, you succeeded with help from many others, from friends, teachers, school staff, and your families.
Let’s also extend our congratulations and thanks to them with another round of applause.
And now you are ready – or almost ready – to face the world!
I know when you look ahead, it can be overwhelming; there are so many uncertainties and new challenges ahead, big and small.
You have your own individual journey ahead, different universities and programs and even different countries to live in - and of course you must be worried about what comes after university too.
What kind of jobs you will have, where you will live, how you will manage life as an adult. These and much more must be weighing on your mind.
And in addition, we live in a crazy world and when you look outside, it often does not look very good:
From allegation of genocide, to multiple wars,from starving children, to the rising inequality between the super rich and the rest,from climate change and its devastating effects, to new diseases and epidemics.
From the AI revolution and other technologies that promise to further change our lives – whether you want it or not to a global economy that is facing multiple challenges.
And more!
So, you could be forgiven to think about your future and how you are going to make it.
And I think I can say with confidence that you are well prepared for the future.
The reason why you are sitting here today, is that you have succeeded.
And you have learned many lessons along the way and have come to know yourselves better.
You know your strengths. You know your accomplishments. And you know areas where you need to do better.
And with the strong will power that you have, and have demonstrated – and with support from your broader community (parents, friends, mentors and others), you will succeed.
Remember, as you fight battles that come your way, that you are strong, that you are capable and that you are not alone.
And as the Canadian CG, I know that your experience with the Canadian education so far is, and undoubtedly will be, a significant asset to you in your future journeys.
For, as important as it is to learn subjects like math, history, and geography, the Canadian education goes well beyond what is in the textbooks you study.
The real lesson it teaches you, is how to think, how to face challenges, and how to overcome them.
In essence, it helps build your life-skills.
And an important way how it does so, is through giving you the ability and the practice of seeing things from a different perspective.
You know what I am talking about! As students learning a foreign curriculum in China, sometimes in a different language and from a different culture than your own, you are regularly looking at things from a different perspective!
In Canada, this is one of our strongest assets. Being able to consider multiple perspectives is in our DNA! And this is reflected in our education system and its emphasis on critical thinking, inquiry-based learning, and open dialogue.
Perhaps this is in part due to Canada being one of the most diverse countries in the world.
Diversity is, and has always been, our strength. And it helps us fosters innovation, creativity, resilience, and adaptability – building on different perspectives.
This Canadian spirit is, I believe, deeply embedded in the fabric of your School.
You have been educated in an environment reflecting the Canadian, Chinese and global community, with teachers and classmates from different backgrounds all bringing something unique to build the wealth of varied experiences you no doubt have gained.
This is more than the backdrop to your education – it’s an integral part of your education.
You have learned how to think - rather than just what to think.
These It will serve you incredibly well as you tackle your global journeys, the academic rigours of university, and the complexity of adult life that follows.
And don’t forget your values.
In this crazy world, one must have and hold on to core values to withstand the high winds, to know what is right and what is wrong and to do our part, however small or big, to make the world a better place.
And you have the power and the responsibility to do so. Just as we all do.
And expect lots of changes…things will rarely go exactly as you plan them. That is almost a certainty.
You know, I find it very ironic that I am giving the graduation speech today to you, when I myself never graduated from high school!
Many years ago, I was about your age. But I could not finish my last year of high school, as I was in Iran – the country of my birth, and it was in the middle of yet another war (Iran-Iraq) war with significant devastation.
I then had to face the decision of where to go and what to study and how to make a life out of the chaos that was around me.
And I went to Canada – a peaceful and modern country, and look at me now. It’s Canada that made a second life possible for me.
A career as a diplomat was not my expectation when studying engineering as an undergraduate student in Montreal, nor a few years later when I had become a lawyer and working in a small town in Canada.
I have learned that we cannot predict the future, but we can prepare for it. Education, and life in general, isn’t about a specific job or career. Instead, it is about being able to adapt and learn.
I know this is what HIBC and the Canadian education system have prepared you for.
CONCLUSION
You are ready. Not just for university, but for the world, equipped to navigate different systems, engage with diverse people, and adapt to new realities.
As you move forward, remember the valuable skills and perspectives you've gained. Be open to new experiences, step outside your comfort zone, and continue to learn and grow.
The world needs your energy, your ideas, your perspective, and your desire to change it for the better.
Go with confidence, knowing that you are ready – and certainly your Canadian education has provided you with a strong foundation.
Be curious, be kind, and strive to make a positive impact wherever you are and whatever you do.
May your journeys be safe, enriching, and filled with success and happiness.
On behalf of the Government of Canada, and indeed, on behalf of all of us here today, I extend you our most sincere congratulations.
One last thing; Remember that you will always be part of the big Canadian family. You are your own Canadian ambassadors. And I do hope that you will always keep a special place in your hearts for Canada.
Congratulations, graduates!
The world is yours!
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