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My Graduation Speech
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Created: 06/14/09
Last Edited: 06/14/09
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Here's the speech I gave as the student commencement speaker at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh's December, 2008 graduation ceremony.
INTRODUCTION
Hello everyone, my name is Allison Bowlus and I am a graduate of the Web Design and Interactive Media Bachelor’s program. I’d like to thank you all for coming and sharing a very important end of an era for all of us here today.
I’d like for all of the graduates, and parents of which this applies, to recall the first day they visited The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. It is certainly a day I’ll never forget. I remember walking with my parents and my admissions rep, looking at the posters, kiosks, and artwork work scattered throughout the walls of every floor and for once thinking, “I belong here.” And now, I stand before you, given the immeasurable honor to send off my fellow graduates into life beyond those hallways.
BODY
At The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, students come to class on their first day of their first quarter with a raw concept of their passion and what exactly to do with it. We each had our own expectations on that day of how we would fit into this society; how to validate ourselves in the “real world.” The one thing we all have in common is the decision we made to come to AiP, where we’ve connected with others that share our same drive to succeed and subsequently, have grown into a community of learners, teachers, and friends. In my modest opinion, this is the core concept of every student’s educational and professional relationship with AiP.
I’d like to share with you all a few of my own examples of how the Art Institute has help me pave my way to educational, professional, and personal success. Since day one, my Web Design and Interactive Media professors had always emphasized the importance of learning how to cash in on our educations. It all pretty much came down to jumping headfirst into the field and getting your name out there as much as possible; essentially, building our network. We were constantly encouraged to step closer and closer into the “real world,” by taking on freelance projects, team oriented special project and internships.
Pretty soon, I found myself taking on freelance jobs for local artists, AiP alumni, and small businesses. I completed an Internship for the Art Institute’s own Writers’ Center for an entire quarter, and was subsequently hired as the Art Institute of Pittsburgh’s Public Relations department student employee doing graphic design work. Pretty soon, I was seeing posters of my own, strewn across every floor of the school AND I was getting paid for it. That job for AiP began nurturing my interest beyond the web and into the world of print, a new skill to add to my resume. I remember once expressing concern of entering into the “real world” to one of my favorite professors, and she told me, “You’re already in it.”
Before I knew it, I had been encouraged to take on more jobs and participate in a part time position at a web design firm here in Pittsburgh. Between making friends and networking, I got the chance to work with businesses large and small all over Western Pennsylvania including a bio diesel plant, government aided juvenile delinquent programs, and even a division of Pittsburgh Paint and Glass.
After all of the lab hours, lectures, presentations, internships, freelance and part time gigs, I truly believe that the biggest lesson that I’ve since my first class at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is that we each choose who we surround ourselves with each day of our lives, including;
CONCLUSION
Those of us that are here today know how much effort and how many life lessons it took to get here. Now that we have accomplished our academic goals here at this exceptional establishment, the most important decisions we will make are the relationships with people of which we choose to involve ourselves in the “real world.” Because, - Surprise! - We’ve been there all along. The relations you choose to create can either bring you up or down; it’s ultimately each of our choices to know which way we are going to go; and from what I’ve learnt so far is that life is a boomerang and you get back what you throw.
With the skills learnt at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh coupled with the drive that it took each of us to get here today, we have proven that we have what it takes to make a better, more beautiful world to lift our spirits. I wish all of my fellow graduates and families here today a bright and prosperous future, because you’ve all earned it. Thank you all for sharing this amazing part of my life with me, and thank you to everyone who helped us get here. I know that we all will always look back upon it with gratitude and happiness. Good luck graduates of 2008!
INTRODUCTION
Hello everyone, my name is Allison Bowlus and I am a graduate of the Web Design and Interactive Media Bachelor’s program. I’d like to thank you all for coming and sharing a very important end of an era for all of us here today.
I’d like for all of the graduates, and parents of which this applies, to recall the first day they visited The Art Institute of Pittsburgh. It is certainly a day I’ll never forget. I remember walking with my parents and my admissions rep, looking at the posters, kiosks, and artwork work scattered throughout the walls of every floor and for once thinking, “I belong here.” And now, I stand before you, given the immeasurable honor to send off my fellow graduates into life beyond those hallways.
BODY
At The Art Institute of Pittsburgh, students come to class on their first day of their first quarter with a raw concept of their passion and what exactly to do with it. We each had our own expectations on that day of how we would fit into this society; how to validate ourselves in the “real world.” The one thing we all have in common is the decision we made to come to AiP, where we’ve connected with others that share our same drive to succeed and subsequently, have grown into a community of learners, teachers, and friends. In my modest opinion, this is the core concept of every student’s educational and professional relationship with AiP.
I’d like to share with you all a few of my own examples of how the Art Institute has help me pave my way to educational, professional, and personal success. Since day one, my Web Design and Interactive Media professors had always emphasized the importance of learning how to cash in on our educations. It all pretty much came down to jumping headfirst into the field and getting your name out there as much as possible; essentially, building our network. We were constantly encouraged to step closer and closer into the “real world,” by taking on freelance projects, team oriented special project and internships.
Pretty soon, I found myself taking on freelance jobs for local artists, AiP alumni, and small businesses. I completed an Internship for the Art Institute’s own Writers’ Center for an entire quarter, and was subsequently hired as the Art Institute of Pittsburgh’s Public Relations department student employee doing graphic design work. Pretty soon, I was seeing posters of my own, strewn across every floor of the school AND I was getting paid for it. That job for AiP began nurturing my interest beyond the web and into the world of print, a new skill to add to my resume. I remember once expressing concern of entering into the “real world” to one of my favorite professors, and she told me, “You’re already in it.”
Before I knew it, I had been encouraged to take on more jobs and participate in a part time position at a web design firm here in Pittsburgh. Between making friends and networking, I got the chance to work with businesses large and small all over Western Pennsylvania including a bio diesel plant, government aided juvenile delinquent programs, and even a division of Pittsburgh Paint and Glass.
After all of the lab hours, lectures, presentations, internships, freelance and part time gigs, I truly believe that the biggest lesson that I’ve since my first class at The Art Institute of Pittsburgh is that we each choose who we surround ourselves with each day of our lives, including;
- Staff who have guided us thoroughly through all the red tape to the finish line.
- Professors who share with us opportunities for professional growth, essential workplace skills, and their gift to share their passion for the following generations
- And of course, our peers who create a competitive academic environment and camaraderie both in and outside of the classroom.
CONCLUSION
Those of us that are here today know how much effort and how many life lessons it took to get here. Now that we have accomplished our academic goals here at this exceptional establishment, the most important decisions we will make are the relationships with people of which we choose to involve ourselves in the “real world.” Because, - Surprise! - We’ve been there all along. The relations you choose to create can either bring you up or down; it’s ultimately each of our choices to know which way we are going to go; and from what I’ve learnt so far is that life is a boomerang and you get back what you throw.
With the skills learnt at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh coupled with the drive that it took each of us to get here today, we have proven that we have what it takes to make a better, more beautiful world to lift our spirits. I wish all of my fellow graduates and families here today a bright and prosperous future, because you’ve all earned it. Thank you all for sharing this amazing part of my life with me, and thank you to everyone who helped us get here. I know that we all will always look back upon it with gratitude and happiness. Good luck graduates of 2008!
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