Valedictory Address, University of Western Australia

Delivered on behalf of the graduating class of the Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Education at Winthrop Hall, the University of Western Australia. Transcribed from the University’s official recording of the ceremony, lightly edited for punctuation.

Chancellor, Vice-Chancellor, members of Senate, distinguished guests, members of staff, deserving graduates and their guests. It's a great privilege to be standing in front of you today as a graduate of the Faculty of Arts, Business, Law and Education, and on behalf of all the graduates here today.

This is a much more pleasant experience than the first time sitting here in Winthrop for an Accounting 101 exam. Perhaps now, instead of staring blankly around the room in desperate frustration, wondering why no matter what we try our debits just won't equal our credits, we can appreciate our surroundings just that little bit more. Today may be the last time we sit within those walls.

In preparing this address, I was instructed to reflect briefly on the experience of a UWA Business School student and to deliver a farewell to the University, on behalf of all the graduates here today. I'll admit that this started out as a seemingly difficult task. We've all had such vastly different experiences here at UWA. The fact we've chosen to attend today means that we will have truly valued our education here and wish to reflect appropriately. Alternatively, we all have an unhealthy obsession with Instagram and can't wait to get our Boomerangs following formalities. In either case, I'm sure you'll take something valuable away from today.

When I think of what has made the last few years at UWA such an enjoyable and rewarding experience, it always comes back to the opportunities we've had to pursue our personal interests alongside our academic study, and the calibre of people, both teaching staff and peers.

Among us today will be those who've endured countless hours of study to achieve academic excellence. We have representatives from student societies such as ECOMS, FAWA, SMIF and Women in Business, along with many more who made valuable contributions towards improving the student experience and assisting with employment advice. We have those who undertook exchange programs and short courses at an international university, representing not only UWA, but Australia, and bringing back to us international insights. We sit amongst those who dedicated time and effort towards volunteering initiatives, performing arts or music endeavours, and who represented the state or nation in sport.

Whatever you have achieved here during your time at UWA, even if it is graduating itself, we each have something to be immensely proud of, and we thank the University for providing such an incredible platform that has allowed us to pursue those interests alongside our studies.

Despite these unique experiences, we have shared many common memories from our time as Business School students. Some of which I'm sure won't be quickly forgotten. The long and lonely walk from the Business School to that one annoying lecture in social sciences. The daily struggle of playing a car-sized game of Tetris in the pit to find a park, and the inevitable concession of defeat and resolution to park illegally, only to be fined almost always. And of course that regular occurrence when you told someone you were studying a Bachelor of Commerce at UWA, only to be immediately labelled as just like everyone else, and the subsequent attempt at a justification.

The next few years beyond university may be a very daunting proposition for some. Our time here has been fairly ordered and straightforward, each unit leading logically to the next, with our purpose and path clearly set and defined. Some of us in the room today may have already secured graduate jobs. Some of us may know exactly what we want to be doing in ten years' time. Some of us may feel lost and overwhelmed by the many choices that we now have to make.

The beauty of our education and time here at UWA is that regardless of our current situation, we can sleep comfortably knowing that our experience over the past few years has prepared us for the next stage of our lives. By this I not only refer to the education we've gained and the practical skills we have developed, but just as importantly the friendships we've formed that will continue to support us long into the future.

Without doubt, for me, the single most important factor throughout University has been the people around me that have both supported and inspired me. No matter what we end up doing following University, I think we will all find that nothing great can be achieved without those around us, and that the people around us are our greatest assets.

On that note, I'd like to thank the UWA Business School teaching staff. This moment would not have been possible without you, and we thank you for the contributions you've made to the education of all the graduates here today. We thoroughly appreciate your time and effort. Thank you also to all the administration staff and student services teams in the Business School. Your guidance over the entirety of our degrees has been invaluable.

Congratulations once again to everyone graduating today. I wish you all the best of luck and look forward to crossing paths again in the near future. Thank you.