Speeches

A new check on my list of accomplishments: I gave my first public speech at our official GLOBE graduation. Having suffered from a strong stammer and a fear of public speaking as a child, it was a personal accomplishment. But also taught me first hand why public speaking is so hard.

First, a good speech. You need to have something to say, so unless you are Abraham Lincoln, most public speakers have their speeches written for them. Second, you need to rehearse it so that it feels natural. Ever written something semi-academic and then read it out loud? Sounds absolutely horrific. Short and crisp trumps long and detailed every time. Finally, you have to deliver it forcefully, empathetically, and (to highlight my weakness) slowly. After looking at the same words for so long, you race through the points without thinking twice - make sure other people get them as well.

Public speaking, to me, is one of the greatest skills possibly acquirable. If you have the gift of oration you can voice opinions and defeat arguments. You can convey messages in their simplest form and in their strongest meaning. You can stir emotions and guide actions, and you are able to convince other men to follow your cause. Influential statesmen such as Jefferson, Lincoln, and Churchill have all been magnificent orators. Hitler, probably the greatest orator of the 20th century, is a perverse testimony to the power of speech.

The GLOBE speech was about anything - the only constraint was 5 minutes. Each school picked a speaker, so since there was a risk of them all being the same, I tried to pick a specific topic which all 45 students could still relate to. I wanted to make a point, but without jamming my opinions down other peoples throats. I wanted to speak to everyone individually, but I wanted to speak for everyone collectively. So I decided upon the topic of choice and tried to put some words to the puzzling realization that even after spending 18 months together on GLOBE, why are we now more different than ever before?

It wasn't exactly Pericles' funeral oration, but it went well. I missed a few opportunities to hammer home my points using my voice, and I had a couple of nervous stumbles. My style of writing definitely doesn't appeal to everyone, so not everyone was equally thrilled. But a couple of people complimented it, which I really appreciated, and I learnt from it. A good start to, hopefully, a long list of successful speeches.

GLOBE graduation speech, December 5th 2012. Any names have been removed. 

As a child, I had a couple of phobias: heights, public speaking. But my greatest phobia was making the wrong choice. I would therefore try to get as many options as possible, I would try to keep them open for as long as possible, and in the end I would try to make sure I make the best possible choice - whatever that means.

In that sense, GLOBE was perfect for me. It represented unlimited possibilities, especially compared to a structured, student routine in Denmark. For me, GLOBE was the opportunity to learn business, languages, culture, social relations, the opportunity to travel for adventure, for taste, for family living, and simply for pleasure. I t was the opportunity to sharpen my talents and to improve my weaknesses. It was the opportunity to explore and be curious, and to hone in and be focused. It was an opportunity to make networks and friends, and time to focus on personal development.

We all had these opportunities. We were given a million options and told, expected even, to get everything out of it. If I didn’t come back to Denmark having trekked across Indonesia, been swimming with dolphins, become an expert in Chinese cuisine and road-tripped all the way across America, in their eyes, I would not have made the most of GLOBE. With so many options, equally many choices. Now at the close, out of the millions of choices I made, I feel the one with the most impact was: The choice to seek out differences and to try and understand them.

Being bilingual, born and raised in Africa, I thought: “I have experience a fair amount about cultural differences”. But from the very first day on GLOBE, it was evident that there are even more I don't understand: "Why do Americans persistently wear a visible white t-shirt with their otherwise flashy Ralph Lauren shirts?". "How could xxx breakfast simply be a whole liter of full-fat milk?". "And how could xxx be so lazy and still have a higher GPA than me?".

Over time, as I was busy trying to understand you, you all helped me understand myself: "How could I slam the perceived over-ambition of Asians without ever discussing the topic with someone who has tried it?". "Why did I not invite more people back to my parent’s house, when your gratitude for doing so was so obvious?". "And how could I not go to the Library on a Monday night when they have $1 well drinks?".

We began in similar positions in our lives, and we now leave more scattered than ever before. We made strong connections with some people, while others are simply acquaintances. It is as it should be – we made our choices, trying to move towards our dreams and ideals, and GLOBE is simply a point on the path towards that. Now, it has served its purpose, giving us the understanding, experiences, and friends we need to make the next big round of choices in our lives.

My fear of choices often came in justifying them. The “I want to” statement never really resonated well with me. Growing up, being different; the choices I made: to go to school, to work hard – they were all justified by an idea, the vision of “I am going somewhere”. I thought that at some time in my life, I would find people who understood these choices.

I have found many of you in GLOBE. But I was wrong: we shouldn’t have to justify our choices. We shouldn’t have to justify why we spend that extra hour on PowerPoint slides for Private Equity, or why we would want to travel that little bit extra and just settle for a B+. Everyone come from different paths, have different desires, and value their options differently.

So as we move forward in our lives, I hope you all get to make your choices as you see fit. I hope they take you toward that which fulfils you and makes you happy, regardless of whether those choices contain fame, money, family, personal experiences or human salvation. And when your travels take you through Denmark, I hope you’ll choose to give me a call. I promise - you will never have to justify it.