Graduation Commencement Address (ICMS)
The first few times I got on this stage was over 20 years ago, as I graduated with my Diploma and Bachelor's degrees. The next few times, some 15 years later, I stood on that side, as the Academic announcing the graduates. Today I address you directly. This is a great honour.
There are endless lists of tips, skills, behaviours and experiences one “should” demonstrate as a graduate. The truth is: there is no ultimate list. As a performance coach, a developer of people, and a huge extraverted introvert, my collection of stories come from those around me, who I am lucky enough to know and work with. So I do bring a list, theirs and mine, with the hope of helping you navigate your next chapters.
1. The self-discovery journey is a lifelong one. Who are you? How are you, you? What brings out the best in you? What makes you tick? What is deep inside you? What values guide your every move? The way you exist and the way you see the world is unique to you – and you is your greatest power. A classmate of mine, now a great friend and ICMS Scholarship sponsor, nailed this in an ICMS masterclass: ‘Know your value’. You all have something unique to offer - find it and treasure it. It will propel you, and it will protect you during tough times. Yes, there will be tough times. Don’t be concerned - I’ve seen this time and time again: tough times make the best self-discovery experiences, helping to make you even more you.
2. Find your passion: what you want to do well, with the people you want to do it with. In my work at the Royal Australian Navy, I am surrounded by people who do extraordinary things. The path to success is not easy. It is incredibly hard work, competition is fierce, and failure is a daily possibility. I worked with a client who was on a 5-year path towards achieving a very specialised skill. It required him to prepare for a tough selection process and an even tougher course. He arrived at the unit as a bit of an outcast, quite unsure of himself. Every time we caught up, a new curveball had been thrown at him. A few months down the track, and dozens of curveballs later, I was quite sure he was going to crack. He did not. Instead, he came out of his shell, made new connections, showed his superiors that he wanted to be there. He started learning, and leading by example. Importantly, he stopped comparing himself to others, instead, comparing his current effort with his past efforts – this was life changing. He got accepted, progressed through the course with little hiccups, stronger, more connected – an emerging leader. Why? He remembered the reason he was there: to be his very best, to serve, and to make a difference. To do what he loves, with the people he calls his people.
3. Push – persevere! During my ICMS days, my roommate wanted to be a pilot. We were studying hospitality and he could barely count. It became a joke. I used to say that if I ever heard his voice on an airplane speaker, I would run out! He moved to Europe, went to pilot school – none of us thought it was going to work out. As we speak, he has been flying commercial planes for 8 years and is currently training to start flying long-haul planes. It was not an easy journey, but he stuck with it. He found his passion, persevered, and in that journey, he found more of himself.
4. Be brave – take a leap of faith. Ok, this story is mine. Shortly after graduation, I moved to Darwin, where I lived for 6 years. It was an incredible career move, and a time when I learned that my greatest strength and passion was in helping my people grow. I returned to Sydney, completed a Master's in Coaching Psychology, and launched an online education coaching business. That got me into teaching, which got me into Academic Management, which eventually got me into Leadership and Performance Coaching with the Navy, where I pinch myself every day – I get to do this?!??! Every single one of those transitions was scary, uncertain and unexpected. I chose to pretend to be brave, take a leap of faith, and say yes. Through this journey, I listened to my gut, to the real me, my passion for developing people. So far, it has paid off.
As you graduate, I wish you curiosity as you keep finding yourself. I wish you purpose as you uncover your passion. I wish you focus as you persevere and I wish you bravery to say yes.
Thank you and enjoy the ride!!
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