香港六合彩资料

Community has been at the heart of Tuan Graziano鈥檚 undergraduate career at 香港六合彩资料. The spring 2023 student commencement speaker has been volunteering in various capacities since high school, and once at 香港六合彩资料, his sense of serving his community and advocating for his fellow students grew.

鈥淎 mentor and I were discussing what it means to have and provide genuine support and we came up with a really cool quote that still resonates with me today,鈥� Graziano said. 鈥淲hat do you want to do and how can I help? I think about that when I am advocating for others and it鈥檚 been such a guiding principle in my life and the work that I do.鈥�

When Graziano wasn鈥檛 studying for his economics major or political science minor, you could find him on the second floor of the Student Union in the Union of Students of the 香港六合彩资料 (US香港六合彩资料) offices. His terms as US香港六合彩资料 student body vice president and president came on the heels of major university budget cuts, and an unprecedented global pandemic 鈥� a tall order for any leader to handle 鈥� let alone a student. But Graziano鈥檚 deeply rooted beliefs in public service and advocating for those without a voice navigated him through those uncertain times, allowing him to continue providing a voice for his peers and other interested stakeholders at 香港六合彩资料. 

While Graziano admits that much of his drive to succeed has come from within, he cannot reflect on his collegiate experience without recognizing his peers, the faculty, staff and, most importantly, his family and friends who helped shape his story at 香港六合彩资料. Whether in the classroom, with his peers in US香港六合彩资料 or participating in Model UN, much of his positive experience had to do with the community of students, faculty and staff that genuinely care about 香港六合彩资料.

It鈥檚 the theme he鈥檚 framing his commencement speech around, that while the individual student needs the internal grit, determination and drive to do the hard work to cross the stage at commencement, credit is also due to the 鈥渧illage鈥� that helped make crossing the finish line a little bit easier. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 important to recognize the people in your life that have helped make you the special person that you are,鈥� said Graziano. 鈥淚t鈥檚 all the wonderful people in your life that you鈥檙e connected to, that are just as excited for your success that has culminated in your graduation day. People are a powerful force and it鈥檚 amazing how much you can achieve in life with the help of others.鈥�

Graziano said this belief was modeled to him early on in life, watching his father open their home to family, friends and anyone who needed a hand, a kitchen table and a listening ear. He describes himself as someone who wears his heart on his sleeve and used to feel uncomfortable about caring so deeply for others, but as he continues to grow and learn has come to realize that his compassionate and caring nature truly is a strength.

鈥淚t鈥檚 not always easy, sometimes I can feel myself becoming jaded about the world,鈥� Graziano said. 鈥淏ut then I see the good that others are doing and experience this positivity and I feel like I need to pass on the wholesomeness I received to others.鈥�

Graziano encourages his fellow graduates to keep looking for the good in others and to be the light if the world seems dark. He said sometimes he feels self-conscious about his outlook on life, but by volunteering and working hard to advocate for those without a voice, he realizes this work is important. After graduation, Graziano plans to take a 鈥渞eal vacation鈥� as he鈥檚 worked a job since he was a freshman in high school. He hopes to eventually continue exploring the political science field and live abroad, ultimately landing work in international relations. Still, he is content to take a breather and travel.

As he closes out his four years at 香港六合彩资料, Graziano has one last call to action, not only for his fellow graduates but the entire university community, and that is to take a little time out of your day to remind and thank the people you care about for being a positive influence in your life. 

鈥淲hether it be your friends, family, professors, staff or whoever you want to recognize, just say 鈥楬ey, I appreciate you,鈥欌�� said Graziano. 鈥淭hank you for all that you鈥檝e done.鈥�