Senior Valediction 2025
Today, we gather to mark the end of an era, a chapter filled with lessons, laughter, resilience, and growth. As is often the case at moments of transition, there is a natural curiosity about legacy about what we leave behind when we move from one stage of life to another.
I have noticed that at the end of many journeys be it a career, a significant milestone, or even a life-changing moment, people tend to fixate on legacy. It is a curiosity worth exploring, for legacy is far more than a word; it is the living story of who we are, told through the choices we make and the impact we leave on the world.
The story of Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, brings this idea into sharp focus. In 1888, after the death of his brother Ludvig, a French newspaper mistakenly published an obituary for Alfred Nobel himself. It called him “The Merchant of Death” and described him as having “become rich by finding ways to kill more people faster than ever before.” Imagine reading such a thing about yourself, and imagine the shock, the humiliation, the urgent questioning of, “How will I be remembered?”
This moment changed Alfred Nobel. It sparked in him a deep reflection on the legacy he was leaving behind. And in a life-altering decision, he dedicated his fortune to establishing the Nobel Prizes, to honour those who benefit humanity. Through this choice, Nobel was able to transform his legacy completely. What he had been mistakenly feared for, he reshaped into a gift to the world, a legacy of good.
As you prepare to step into your own worlds, I want you to remember the lesson in Nobel’s story: What you choose to do, and what you choose not to do, becomes your legacy. Your legacy is not simply what you accomplish, but the values you demonstrate, the compassion you show, and the impact you have on those around you.
Every day, you are building your legacy, sometimes without even realizing it. Your actions, your decisions, your very presence leaves an impression. Ask yourself: is this impression one that will inspire others, uplift those around you, and contribute to something greater than yourself?
Let us break this down:
First, impactful actions. Every act of kindness, every moment of service, every pursuit of your passion, every moment you choose integrity over convenience, all of this creates a mark on the lives of others. These marks accumulate, like threads in a tapestry, shaping the story that will be told about you.
Second, the consequences of inaction. Sometimes, what you don’t do matters just as much as what you do. Every moment you fail to act on your values, every opportunity you ignore to make a difference, also writes itself into the story of your life.
Third, your values. The choices you make every day reveal your values more than words ever can. Integrity, compassion, generosity, resilience, these are not abstract ideas. They are lived experiences, expressed in the way you treat people, in the respect you show, in the courage you take to stand up for what is right.
Fourth, shaping your character. Legacy is not only about what you leave behind, it is also about who you become along the way. By being intentional in your choices, by choosing growth over comfort, by surrounding yourself with people who challenge and uplift you, you create a life that evolves, a life that matters.
There are some key principles I encourage you to carry forward:
- Live with purpose. Every choice is an opportunity to craft a story of meaning, to serve, to uplift, to create beauty and goodness in the world.
- Be intentional. Thoughtful decisions today shape the world you leave tomorrow.
- Focus on the present. Legacy is built in the “now, ”in how you speak, serve, and show up each day.
- Consider the future. Your actions should be guided by what you hope to see in the world and the impact you wish to have on those who come after you.
Proverbs 13:22 reminds us, “A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.” This verse reminds us that a meaningful legacy transcends our own lifetimes. It is about leaving something valuable for the generations that follow, ensuring the world, your community, and the people you touch are better for your presence.
Be a person who leaves a legacy of sustainability, someone who ensures that the world, the space they inhabit, and the lives they touch are better because they were there.
I urge you, in the spaces you will soon occupy, whether at university, in your careers, or in your communities, to live a life that speaks of your legacy long before the moment arrives to reflect on it. Don’t wait until the end of a chapter to ask yourself what mark you’ve left. Build it day by day, moment by moment, decision by decision.
Your legacy isn’t just in what you leave behind, it is also in who you become. If you remain stagnant, if you avoid growth, if you choose comfort over courage, you risk leaving the same story repeatedly. Legacy thrives in evolution: in the brave choices to keep changing, to keep shedding old limitations, to keep choosing yourself and your purpose.
I challenge you to ask:
- Who am I becoming?
- Who am I surrounding myself with?
- And does that align with the legacy I want to leave?
If the answer is no, then make the change. Choose growth. Choose courage. Choose integrity. For you were born for a purpose that may be greater than your understanding, and the world is waiting for the unique impact only you can make.
Class of 2025, as you leave these halls and step boldly into the next chapter of your lives, remember that your legacy is not a distant concept. It is alive in the choices you make every day. Live intentionally. Live courageously. Live with purpose. And may the story you leave behind be one that inspires, uplifts, and changes the world for the better.
I encourage you to go forward with confidence, with courage, and with the knowledge that your best legacy is still ahead of you.
