Free Sample Graduation Speech: Graduating from University of Toronto Let me start by saying that I am very proud to be addressing

you today as the students of Toronto University for the last time. In some moments we shall receive the diplomas and become the 2005 graduates of the Linguistics faculty, newly-fledged Masters of Art in Translation. I guess that after the strain of final tests, credits and exams, not to mention the time-consuming graduation theses (and its nerve-racking presentation), most of us were looking forward to this moment, when the studying is over, the diploma is in your pocket and you are free to do what you like. But I want you to look around you and remember this moment. Look at your group-mates and your teachers, because from now on life will scatter us around the world, and most of us will meet only at alumni parties. Recall the best moments of studying that we shared. Our first lectures in September, when we came so sun-tanned and so full of summer stories that the teacher had difficulties silencing us up to start the lecture, and we tried hard to write it down with fingers stiff from a long idle vacation time. Remember our coffee breaks, our first collective truancy, when we gathered together and went to play snowballs. Recall your student friends with whom you tried hard to answer the eternal questions and find the sense of life. Remember the surprise we all felt when we understood that we are no longer the youngest in the campus, when the freshmen fussing around and asking for directions caused us to smile at them and patronize them. Remember your favorite teachers who made you feel a tiny spark of interest glowing inside you and managed to support this spark and helped us to discover who we are and what we'd like to do in the future. Remember everything and carve this moment in your memory. We are now standing on the threshold of the real adult life. From now on no one will put us an "A" or an "F" for well or poorly done homework and evaluate our progress. We are free to go our own way, and it will be absolutely different for everyone. Some will continue studies on the post-graduate level and become university tutors or scientists. Others will rush to apply their skills on practice and become good translators or interpreters. Some of us will require time to think and will go traveling. When university studies are over, it is time to create our own lives, and for this we have the whole world at our disposal. As John Updike said, "you cannot help but learn more as you take the world into your hands. Take it up reverently, for it is an old piece of clay, with millions of thumbprints on it" (2). So my first piece of advice is not to hesitate to step over the threshold of the door that is already open for us. With the knowledge and friends we gained from our alma mater, the University of Toronto, we will overcome every obstacle. The main thing is to search hard for the job that you really like, and have persistence and faith. A favorite job is not found lying in the street, it should be looked after. But in the end it will be there for you, and you'll feel that it's your cup of tea as soon as you start it. Don't settle and keep looking. But however winding and different our life paths will be, we are all the graduates of one university, and we share the common concepts of our University - knowledge, spirituality and freedom. The University gave us an opportunity to get good academic training, balance our personal priorities and feel free to choose whatever path we like. We have gained education, that is "what survives when what has been learned has been forgotten" (B.F. Skinner) (2). To be serious, I think that with these concepts we are, as Clinton said, "doomed to succeed". So let me wish you luck and perseverance. I wish you all successes on you life path. I hope to hear about you well before the alumni party: when I will be reading the newspaper article

about a breakthrough in translating studies or about the new President's interpreter, I will know whom to think of - one of us - graduates 2005. Good luck to us all! Free Sample Graduation Speech: Gratitude to Phoenix University Dear friends, we have gathered here today to celebrate our graduation. It is momentous event, because it marks the ending of the whole era of your lives. Years at university were special, because they helped us to become individuals we are today. Personally I am sure that without that precious experience my life would be something completely different. I would not have such features of character as determination, self-confidence, purposefulness and commitment. I can state this clearly: my university helped me to become a person I am now. Special thanks are to my learning team members who helped me a lot, guided and supported me. It was due to their backing that I completed my undergraduate degree in about three years, then took two weeks off and immediately started pursuing an MBA. I succeeded, and tonight I am standing in front of you. I am graduating with the feeling of deep satisfaction. I worked a lot and my efforts gave something more than just an MBA status. It is skills and knowledge and invaluable experience. Instructors challenged us with the enormous tasks, stating that their subject is the most important and only it will be of use in our future career. Well, I should say this is true. I can hardly remember a book or a project which I can call unnecessary today. The university environment was like the model of the society in miniature. There were ups and downs but now I am ready for the real world waiting outside the university walls. You know, sometimes I felt frustrated, because it was difficult enough. There was everything: sleepless nights, fatigue and even disappointment about the way I have chosen. But those were transient emotions evoked by much studying and lack of rest sometimes. It has been a challenge getting education, and many times I though of giving upBut those were only the thoughts, because I can't imagine my life without that precious experience, knowledge and skills obtained in my university years. Often I was proud of myself because I was strong enough to overcome all obstacles and succeed. I obtained true satisfaction from getting new knowledge and becoming someone greater than just a student. I was an excellent student. Maybe, my grades were not always perfect, but I knew it for myself that I am an excellent student who can cope with any task and solve any problem. I did my best to get as much from my education as I could. This was my victory over the challenges I faced on my way. If I could do this, you can do it as well. Because, you know, tutors, instructors and academic advisors are not the only factor of student success. Much depends on a student himself. Great desire, enthusiasm and striving for academic success contribute to the student achievements. Thus, I understood that no one but you can bring you to the top. Academic environment and people are important factors, but not the only. By the way, they are quality and sufficient at Phoenix University. Academic staff and academic environment are wonderful at this university, and I will remember the days of my studying here as the most valuable and quality years in my life. So, I can't describe my happiness and enjoyment today, when I am graduating with an MBA. It is not about getting the diploma as the certificate of my status. It is rather satisfaction from having the material evidence of my precious experience gained in the years of studying at Phoenix University. I want to thank you all again. I hope that you weren't too tired of my speech. These were my

heartfelt emotions. I want Phoenix University to be proud of its graduates. I will do my best to demonstrate that world outside that Phoenix University graduates are the best specialists a business can have. Good luck, fellows! Let's show them who we are! Thank you. Free Sample Acceptance Speech: Accepting CEO of the Year Award Dear Ladies and Gentlemen! It is a great honor for me to stand here today. I am sincerely grateful for this nomination and I am pleased to accept the CEO of the Year Award. I want to thank all who worked with me to make this event happen. I clearly realize the scale of this project and this makes me even more proud of this achievement. I want to pay a tribute to those more than two hundred CEOs from global energy companies who were nominated for this award. Particular tribute is to my potential competitors, eight other finalists. They all are devoted professionals who deserve this award just as I do. So, I want to thank them, because I am really proud to be put to the same row. You know, this award is also special to me because I turn out to be one of few CEO of the Year winners from Asia. So, there is also some national proud for my part. My company is oil and gas company with investments in E&P, refining, and petrochemicals via affiliated companies. Just like the majority of you, being involved in business which is one of the most important for the country's economic wealth, I am concerned over energy prices and energy security. Our country essentially depends on the oil and gas imports and exports. In today's situation of the global economic crisis it is essential to entrust the oil and gas business sphere to the professionals who will contribute their quality work and enthusiasm to the matter of economy boosting. Energy security is also the issue of utmost importance with which the professionals should be charged. The awards lie this one highlight the best specialists in the area and thus help to improve overall economic situation in the country. Again, I deeply appreciate this nomination, and I am flattered to be the part of it. In the last decade the CEO of the Year Award became the hallmark of excellence in energy business. Every person dealing in this sphere strives for the Award. Now I am one of the Award winners. I am completely happy. Thank you!