Shelby Cook was selected by the Preeceville Graduation class of 2016 as the guest speaker.
鈥淚t seems like only yesterday when I sat on the very same stage, in the very same chairs you graduates are sitting in tonight, filled with many mixed emotions,鈥� Cook said.
鈥淭his evening, I stand before you as a very proud registered nurse,鈥� Cook said. 鈥淚 attended college in Medicine Hat, Alta. and persevered through three and a half years of what I refer to as the most challenging and rewarding times of my life, in order to obtain my bachelor鈥檚 degree in nursing.
鈥淭here were many days while I was away from home that the word struggle was an understatement. I would call home crying many evenings, feeling frustrated, defeated and upset. Often times I wondered if I had made the right decision with my future and even came close to giving up. However, I wouldn鈥檛 trade the practical experiences, the late night study sessions, the new friends I made, the frustration with homework load, and nursing student expectations and challenges for anything in the world. When I look back now, all of those small worries and struggles seem so petty compared to the gratification and satisfaction I feel in my daytoday life with the career I have chosen.
鈥淚 would like to start by asking each of the graduates to take a moment and reflect on what kind of emotions they have for the future. Are you feeling excited, nervous, anxious, eager or scared? I can guarantee that I shared many of the same emotions, just six years ago. These feelings are very typical when you are going through such an exciting milestone in your lives as you have so much to look forward to! Recognize these feelings and emotions and remember how they make you feel because they will influence and motivate you in many aspects for the rest of your life.
鈥淎s humanitarian Sai Baba says, 鈥榃hat matters is to live in the present, live now, for every moment is now. It is your thoughts and acts of the moment that create your future.鈥�
鈥淯se these feelings of fear, gratification, determination and excitement that you feel tonight to inspire you to achieve your goals.
鈥淔or some of you, future plans may include staying close to home, moving away to pursue postsecondary education, or taking a year or two off to prospect new opportunities, and some of you may not have the slightest clue what your future holds, and that鈥檚 okay too! Whatever it is that you choose to do with your future, be true to yourself, and do what makes you genuinely happy each and every day.
鈥淥ften there are many pressures coming from outside sources such as friends, family, counselors, parents or the media. Welcome these suggestions with an open mind and listen to those who have experience and knowledge to share; but also remember to follow your own path.
鈥溾�楥hose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life鈥� (Confucius).
鈥淲hether finding out what it is that you love takes you one month, one year or 10 years; spend the time using the life experiences that got you there to shape you into an individual of character and value, and get good at doing what you love.
鈥淲hatever you choose to do, I can only hope that you are exited, hopeful and ambitious in following the path that you have chosen. Take chances and experience as many new things as you can in your life. Just because you come from a small town, it does not mean that you cannot become something worthy of yourself.
鈥淒on鈥檛 be afraid to fail. Failure means the opportunity to learn from your mistakes and often shines through in the form of great reward and success.
鈥淒on鈥檛 be ashamed to ask for help, even if it may damage your pride. It is expected that you are going to need some sort of help along the way. Whether it be getting assistance from a tutor, asking your parents for some spare cash to get by for the month, or asking your elders what they would do if they were you. That is what they are there for.
鈥淒on鈥檛 ever feel like you are unwise because you don鈥檛 know something. Ask questions, ask questions, and then ask more questions!
鈥淢ost importantly, never forget who has been there to support you along your journey and remember to say 鈥榯hank you.鈥� This includes teachers, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, coaches, community volunteers, and I am sure I forgot to name a few. All of these figures hav e played an important part in helping you along the way in getting you to where you are tonight.
鈥淟astly, always remember that your parents and guardians are and always will be your biggest fans through thick and thin; even if your frequent or infrequent phone calls home start with the sound of you crying uncontrollably or acting irrationally, they will always be there to listen, support you and love you unconditionally.
鈥淏efore I finish, I would like to leave you all with an inspirational quote. 鈥榃e are only blessed with so many moments on this earth. I hope that you make each and every one count. Don鈥檛 ever let anyone tell you that you can鈥檛 do something. Always follow your dreams. Never settle for anything less than what you truly want. And never believe that there is anything you can鈥檛 do.鈥�
鈥淚 hope that not only the graduates, but everyone here tonight will be able to take away something from this quote as I believe it emphasizes just how important it is to spend the life you are given, doing what makes you happy,鈥� Cook said.
