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Thu, Jun 10, 2010
Speech given at Illinois College Graduating Ceremony
Mr. President, Graduating students, Parents, families, Faculty, Trustees and Guests, I am absolutely delighted to be here with you today. Thank you so much to President Steuer for inviting me to join you … I wouldn’t have missed it for the world. Thanks to everyone for making me feel at home, & for your warm hospitality
I am truly honored & humbled to receive this doctorate. I was never lucky enough to attend college when I was young - which makes this degree all the more precious to me. I will cherish it always.
You are all very fortunate & privileged to have attended such a well respected institution as Illinois that promotes community service & leadership skills. For you, a degree is a passport to your future. Some of you will become politicians, doctors, scientists … but no matter what your future holds, the most important thing is that your degree will give you the freedom of choice. It will allow you to fulfill your ambitions & to follow your dreams, & will open up endless possibilities.
I am living proof that you can be whatever you want to be. I come from modest beginnings - my father was a small scale pearl dealer & my mother was a stay-at-home-mum, taking care of me & my 6 siblings. I started working in the school holidays when I was just 14. A combination of honesty, determination & dedication, have helped me reach where I am today. I am continually striving to be the best. If I can do it …you can do it.
I would like to say a huge & heartfelt thank you to Mr Paul Findley. Without him I would never have been introduced to the College. I first met Paul more than 20 years ago & it was the beginning of a great & enduring friendship. I have had the pleasure to visit Paul in his beautiful home & have seen some of the artifacts that will make up the Habtoor Leadership Centre.
It means a great deal to me that my name will be forever linked with that of Illinois College & Mr. Findley … & it is my hope that this Centre, along with the Lecture Series, will inspire generations to come. As some of you may already know, Paul & I share many of the same hopes & fears & goals.
We both believe that education is the foundation for a better future - allowing the children of tomorrow to learn from mistakes made in the past; & teaching that we should not discriminate based on race, color, or religion. Paul & I both pray for a world without conflict, a world where nobody is downtrodden, a world where no child goes to sleep hungry.
Paul has spent his whole life working tirelessly for peace in the Middle East & I have constantly campaigned to bring harmony to our Region. Hopefully we will succeed - & will soon see a lasting change.
To this end I have great pleasure in launching an essay competition. All students are invited to enter & the topic for this first year is ‘Bridging the Middle East & the West’. The winner of the best essay will receive a full years tuition fees sponsored by me. The first runner up will win a holiday to Dubai & the second runner up will receive a cash prize. I look forward to reading the essays along with President Steuer & Mr Findley, & I plan to make this an annual competition. The best of luck to everyone who enters.
Very well done to this years’ gradating classes. You & your families have much to be proud of. I’ve learned that life itself is the most precious gift we have.
So as you prepare to leave your carefree student days behind you, remember that life isn’t a rehearsal. You only get one shot at it. Believe in yourself!
I wish all the very best to the graduating classes of 2010!
Thank you! & God Bless
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