Good morning fellow graduates, family members of graduates, faculty, leaders, and distinguished guests. Welcome to Mason Korea’s Spring 2021 Graduation Ceremony! My name is Min Jeong Shin, a member of the Class of Spring 2021. It is my honor and privilege to be standing before you all today to celebrate this milestone in our lives and thank everyone who has been a part of this amazing journey.
On behalf of the graduating class, I would like to thank all our professors, parents, family members, and friends for your constant love and support throughout the last four years—we truly owe you all that we are.
I remember when I first arrived at this campus. I was excited, but also nervous. Now as a soon-to-be graduate, I feel the same mix of emotions. I’m nervous about the world outside of these four walls, but I’m more excited—I’m excited to graduate and go into the real world because I know that I am prepared and that I can endure and go after my dreams.
This ceremony is a testament to the fact that we are now prepared to begin our new journey to achieve our life purpose. My time at George Mason University has been the most impactful time of my life. I am confident that the lessons I learned at each stage, from academics to all of my unique student experiences, will help me get through to the next stage in life.
During my undergraduate career, I had several eye-opening internship opportunities. The first was with Miral Welfare Foundation (밀알복지재단), a Korean NGO, which became a milestone in my life because it introduced me to international cooperation and inspired me to work in this field in the future. I was struck by the work of this NGO that helps people attain their basic human rights, especially in developing countries. In my last semester, I interned with Mason Korea’s Peace and Conflict Studies Center Asia (PACSC Asia), which provided practical training in terms of developing research, project management, and event coordination skills.
I was also part of a number of student organizations. From my freshman year, I was part of Mason Korea’s dance club called G Bounce both as a member and a leader. While I enjoyed dancing and being part of a student club, I also learned to manage conflicts and build team unity through this experience. I learned that leadership is not easy, but that it is crucial to building a successful team. All of these invaluable experiences allowed me to improve my leadership and communication skills, as well as instill a deeper sense of responsibility in me.
I am truly grateful for all the rich and meaningful experiences I gained at Mason Korea. Moreover, I am thankful for the people I have met along the way. To my fellow graduates, we did it! I am so proud to be graduating with you all today and wish each and every one of you a bright and fruitful future ahead.
Lastly, I would like to end my speech with a quote by Michelle Obama. "Don't ever underestimate the importance you can have, because history has shown us that courage can be contagious, and hope can take on a life of its own."
Thank you and congratulations Class of Spring 2021!