Commencement Speaker
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
Commencement address by Wale Elegbede (as delivered), May 11, 2019.
Thank you Viterbo University for selecting me as today’s graduate commencement speaker. I would like to start by saying Congratulations to the graduating class of 2019! Today is truly your day! It is an honor to be here, and I am humbled to stand before you. Today, I hope to share some words of inspiration, embedded in truth, from my personal, professional and academic experience here at Viterbo that resonate with you.
I grew up knowing that there was something special in me. As a young boy that grew up in Lagos, Nigeria and Lomé, Togo, the love my father, mother, and family gave me provided me with the strength and confidence to seek out knowledge, build skills and find truth. This has allowed me to fulfill my passion in life and contribute positively to society. Graduating class of 2019, each one of you is also special! Your loved ones, family, friends, all those that are here supporting and cheering for each one of us are a testament to that.
Love, curiosity, and purpose fueled my journey as a first-generation immigrant to America, the shining city on the hill, and now I stand before you, as a Viterbo University graduate commencement speaker. I didn’t see this one coming. Along the way, I have experienced death, pain, desperation, hopelessness and failure. I have also experienced love, family, mission, professional success, renewed purpose and community.
My journey through hard work, smart work and team work, gave me opportunities across multiple industries at some of the world’s largest and highest ranked organizations. My journey also made me serve on important boards and become a community servant.
I would like you to share four things with you today. These are some of the things that have served me well and hope they help you as well.
Focus
One of the biggest challenges that you will face in your life is time. There is simply not enough of it. How will you prioritize your time? In an age with so many technology innovations, systems, and disruption that is happening around us, it is extremely easy to become distracted and not know where to start. You know, there is an African proverb that says if you listen to the noise of the market, you won’t buy anything. The essence of this proverb is focus. I would also add to this proverb by saying “if you don’t see what you want in the market, go to another market”. Don’t be afraid to change. If you don’t manage change and are not proactive, change will manage you.
Don’t be distracted by all the things around you, dream big, but now that dreams alone don’t achieve. You need to have goals and focus on your target. Put in the work. Don’t just work hard, work smart. Don't think about what is holding you back. Just do It!
2. Build Your Top 5
We are greatly influenced by our environment. In the words of entrepreneur and motivational speaker Jim Rohn, you are the direct reflection of the top 5 people you spend time with. Build your top 5 and seek out people that improve you as a person and professional. People you surround yourselves with are the biggest influence on your behavior, attitudes and results. They determine what conversations you engage in, and eventually you start to think and behave like they do. Stay away from negative energy. Seek out mentors that improve you. Seek out positive people.
Also, don’t take your degree or this institution for granted. Viterbo’s mission is a strong one and is simply “preparing students for faithful service and ethical leadership”. This is a very noble mission and if you serve with excellence, happiness and ethical & servant leadership in whatever field you do, you will be successful. Your success and positive energy will attract others around you.
3. Community and Service
A great man in our world once said “I look back to the achievements not of individuals, but to the achievements of collective action. A group of men and women: that is the nature of our struggle” This great man was Nelson Mandela. Mr. Mandela went on to say “Without this struggle, we would still be under apartheid”. Remember, we is always stronger than me. Collective strength is far superior to individual strength, but you also need to build and strengthen yourself, to make the group and team stronger. America is a great country and when you look at all major achievements we have done as a country, it was successful because of collective strength. When you look at Viterbo University and the Franciscan Sisters, the sisters sacrificed together and their efforts laid the solid foundation that Viterbo literally stands on.
Service is a choice so choose to serve others. Choose to serve your patients, customers, students, the poor, and the sick. Choose to serve your neighbors, veterans, underrepresented populations, people that look differently than you do or worship differently than you do. Choose to serve community. This is how we make our community, workplace, country and world a better place.
4. Do Your Best, Leave the Rest
My personal motto is “do your best and leave the rest”. This has served me well and allowed me to go the extra extra mile to get things done. It’s easier said than done but effective. I try not to waste any effort worrying about things I can’t control. Put effort on the things you can control. For example, you can control working hard. You can control being nice and respectful. You can control serving others. You can control what you say. Remember, a speech is like an egg, once it drops, it can’t be withdrawn so choose your words wisely.
So graduating class of 2019, celebrate today because you have earned it, but in the coming days, remember your time here at Viterbo University. Remember that you have all need to provide excellence service and ethical leadership. You are the change for tomorrow so do your very best in everything you do, focus on the meaningful things that made a difference, build a strong environment and as you serve your community and respective organizations, do so with faithful service and ethical leadership. Thank you.