Acting Vice Chancellor, Deputy Vice Chancellor,
members of the Senate, distinguished guests,
members of staff, graduates and their guests,
I'm extremely honored and proud to stand before you tonight
as a graduate of The University of Western Australia,
and am deeply humbled to be giving the valedictory address
on behalf of my fellow graduates this evening.
I was in fact very surprised
to receive the offer to speak at this evening's ceremony.
And after accepting it, was reminded of how I felt
when accepting my offer to undertake
an honors degree in psychology at UWA.
I can clearly remember my elation
at receiving the offer to study for another year.
But upon accepting it, feeling instantly terrified
at the prospect of having to actually write a thesis.
An experience I'm sure
many of my fellow honor students tonight also shared.
Similarly, I was thrilled to receive the opportunity
to give tonight's valedictory address,
but was simultaneously mortified
at the prospect of writing, and delivering a speech
in front of the 1,000 people
I was told would be here this evening.
A big step up from the odd 20
who came to my honors conference presentation.
Tonight is an exciting milestone for all of us.
This evening's graduation,
and that A4 piece of paper in the folder on your chair
represents years worth of hard work,
late nights in the library, early morning classes,
and stolen half hours to catch up
on that really good Netflix series
before someone spoils the ending for you.
Tonight is a celebration of the many accomplishments,
both great and small, that you have brought to bear
through your diligence, dedication,
and commitment to the pursuit of knowledge.
The importance of tonight's ceremony,
and the untold efforts that have lead us here
to Winthrop Hall this evening cannot be underestimated,
and are indeed worthy of celebration and recognition.
For the last few years,
we have been fortunate enough to study and learn
at one of Australia's finest universities.
We have been given a wonderful opportunity
as budding young scientists,
to acquire skills, and knowledge,
from teachers who are world leaders in their fields
at a Group Eight research institution.
During the course of our degrees,
we've learned the ins, and the outs
of the scientific method,
the importance of rigorous and transparent research,
and for those of us graduating tonight
with a degree in psychology,
that the independent samples t-test should be extinct,
because the one-way between-subjects ANOVA is far superior.
Of course, we've not learned all these things on our own.
Many, if not all of us, have been helped along the way
by our loving family and friends,
who have shared the highs, and the lows
of our university experience with us.
As such, I would like to extend a special thanks
on behalf of my fellow graduates,
to all of the family and friends here tonight,
who have spent the last few years
celebrating our victories alongside us,
empathising with us during our setbacks and disappointments,
and always being there to listen and understand.
Without your unwavering support and love,
none of this would have been possible,
and we will always be grateful for your willingness
to embark on this adventure with us.
At this evening's graduation ceremony,
there is a rich diversity of experiences
and fields of expertise from which we have all come,
and the knowledge we have gained
in our respective disciplines
will allow us to go forward,
and excel in our future careers.
What we have learned as students here
at The University of Western Australia
has afforded us the opportunity to generate new knowledge,
and share this with others,
both here in Australia, and around the world.
Indeed, a degree from UWA is your personal ticket to untold,
and perhaps even unexpected adventures,
which can take you almost anywhere.
Our fellow alumni can be found in every country,
doing meaningful, and excellent work,
and we are all connected together by a shared identity
as graduates of the University of Western Australia,
and through our experience of sitting here in Winthrop Hall
at our own graduation ceremony.
For us, the graduates of 2019,
the journey is far from complete,
and there are many more experiences
and accomplishments yet to come.
As we all move on to the next big adventure,
whether it's here at UWA, out in the workforce,
or in a foreign country on the other side of the world,
I would like to leave you all with an old Irish blessing
to take with you on your travels.
May the road rise to meet you,
may the wind always be at your back,
may the sun shine warm upon your face,
the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of his hand.
To all my fellow graduates,
as we say in Gaelic, co-ghairdeachas.
Congratulations.
I wish you all the best,
and I look forward to meeting with you again in the future.
Thank you.
(applause)