Student speech and public speaking fundamentals

¶ … Committed

Good day, ladies and gentleman. I extend my deepest thanks to all of you for coming out to this occasion. Your presence here is an honor to all of us, and we're all happy to be able to share in our experiences with you. If there's one thing that this entire experience has shown me, it's the importance of hard work and dedication. If I've discovered anything, it's that hard work and dedication can truly help one transform oneself and one's life.

My Background

I've worked tremendously hard to earn my degree and I continue to work hard in order to better my life and the lives of the people closest to me -- my family friends and community. Ever since I was a child, I was no stranger to hard work, which is fortunate, as my life has been full of it. However, more than anything, I've learned the value of hard work is overall the creation of change and that hard work can make one into a better person. That has indeed been my experience. I am a full-time student and also work as a full-time registered nurse: I work a lot of extra hours to pay our bills because my husband has no job and together we have five children: five, 10, 12, 14, and 16 years old.

Our plan was never for me to become the sole breadwinner of the family: however, my husband became sick and I had to take care of our children, my schooling and all our work together. I take on as many extra hours as possible, to make life easier for my kids. I remember very clearly that it's simply not easy to be a kid and that there are all sorts of peer pressures. If I can provide them with the books, clothes and bags that they need to feel at ease in school, I think it will be easier for them to engage in the high pressure environments of elementary, middle and high school. My husband, I know, feels tremendously guilty for getting sick, and I try to help him and relieve that horrible burden of guilt.

For the past few years, I've put my own needs aside and it's been easy to do: there's so much work that needs to be done -- from my schoolwork, to my kids' needs, to my husband's needs to my patients' needs. However, the only reason I've been able to cast my own needs aside so successfully is because my friends, family and neighbor have been looking out for me so strongly. My mother helps babysit my kids whenever we need her too -- as do my neighbors, nieces and cousins. Everyone in my family tries to help out with our household as much as they can, in the form of childcare or cooking or cleaning or helping my husband with his medications or other things that need to be done when I'm not around. Given all this help, I feel like I have an extreme debt to pay off and I'm eager to do so. I want to help all the people who have helped me so much and who have made my life easier through their extreme kindness. I would not have earned my degree if it were not for their kindness and generosity.

The Help of UOPX

University of Phoenix has undeniably helped me to accomplish my dreams in that it has given me the tools and the flexibility to allow me to say YES to my own learning and my own education process. I've just completed an MSN in education. I've wanted to complete this degree for the last ten years. However, I always told myself that the timing wasn't right, or that I needed more free time before I engaged in such a rigorous endeavor. UOPX gave me the ability to finally say yes to myself. It meant that I wasn't going to spend more time away from my family and my husband. I could do my work when my kids were asleep, after I'd helped them with their homework. The freedom and flexibility as provided by the UOPX really helped me in a tremendous and lasting way, giving me the ability to say yes to myself in a definite and meaningful manner and in a way which would positively impact my family. I believe that once I get a job with my MSN in education I'll be able to offer my family greater financial rewards as well as the gift of more free time.

One of the main ways that I was able to accomplish my goals was that I had the full support of my kids and husband. They never made me feel like they were suffering because I was so busy, and during times when I was at my busiest and most stressed, they were there with words of encouragement that I absolutely needed.

Furthermore, UOPX was able to set me up with a great learning team; I felt I was able to both give and receive on my learning team. The students on my team contributed to my education, and I hope that I contributed to theirs. The faculty always worked hard to show that they were at my disposal. They were always there to answer any possible question I might have or to discuss an idea with me. Furthermore, they did what any good professors would do: they pushed me to excel and to achieve my best. By working hard, and by asking questions, and by pushing myself to my very limits of critical thinking and creativity, I was able to become an event better student and individual. I absolutely would not have achieved this without the help of my very giving professors.

Change I'd Like to See in the World