2019 Outstanding Undergraduate Graduation Speech, Commencement Speech. Video footage available at https://wou.edu/include_files/iframe_apps/graduation/2019/commence19_welcome_students.mp

Kan, Karita

English

Chairez Casas, Juan (Carlos)

Western Oregon University: Digital Commons@WOU

PURE Insights Volume 8 Article 4 2019 2019 Outstanding Undergraduate Graduation Speech (English) Juan (Carlos) Chairez Casas Western Oregon University, jchairezcasas15@mail.wou.edu Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.wou.edu/pure  Part of the Arts and Humanities Commons Recommended Citation Chairez Casas, Juan (Carlos). "2019 Outstanding Undergraduate Graduation Speech (English)," PURE Insights: Vol. 8, December 16, 2019. https://digitalcommons.wou.edu/pure/vol8/iss1/4 This Document is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Scholarship at Digital Commons@WOU. It has been accepted for inclusion in PURE Insights by an authorized editor of Digital Commons@WOU. For more information, please contact digitalcommons@wou.edu, kundas@mail.wou.edu, bakersc@mail.wou.edu. 2019 Outstanding Undergraduate Graduation Speech (English) Abstract 2019 Outstanding Undergraduate Graduation Speech, Commencement Speech. Video footage available at https://wou.edu/include_files/iframe_apps/graduation/2019/commence19_welcome_students.mp4 This document is available in PURE Insights: https://digitalcommons.wou.edu/pure/vol8/iss1/4  ​A publication of the Program for Undergraduate Research Experiences at Western Oregon University  2019 Outstanding Graduating Senior Award Commencement Speech  Juan (Carlos) Chairez Casas​,​ ​Western Oregon University Faculty Sponsor: ​Dr. Molly Mayhead  Juan (Carlos) Chairez Casas, recipient of WOU’s 2019 Outstanding Graduating Senior Award Commencement Speech, English Version      I am honored to be a WOU commencement speaker                     for the graduating Class of 2019. I hope to find a                     message that resonates with everyone. Phrases like:             “crap, that’s due tomorrow”– to when we used to                 say “YOLO” in 2015 to other current themes & phrases                 like “climate change is real,” “Trans Rights and Women’s                 Rights are Human Rights,” “the Pay Gap exists,” “less                 discrimination, more acceptance,” and, of course, (by my               girl, Ariana Grande) ‘Thank U, Next, ” were all candidates.                   Ultimately, I realized that there is no way I can think of a                         theme that can resonate with all of you; which is what                     makes it so beautiful. We are so diverse with our own                     experiences and backgrounds that one size does not fit                 all. Finally, I realized that the theme was right in front of                       me: Authenticity. Diversity. Journey for Self-Identity.           Once you know yourself and establish a personal code,                 nobody can take that away – just like our degrees that we                       are receiving today. Not only did WOU give me the                   opportunity to challenge myself academically, but it             allowed me to question my beliefs, values, the               status-quo, social constructs, and anything or anyone.   As a first gen cis male from a low-income Mexican family,                     whose parents migrated to Hood River, OR from               Colotlan, Jalisco, Mexico for a better life, I was instilled                   with rich ethnic culture that my parents shared with me,                   with traditional Latino values & norms of service,               tradition, familia, machismo, and quality work ethic – and                 in the same time — shared insight on sociocultural and                   economical gaps and deficiencies that I slowly             understood. As my two worlds collided between Mexican               and American life – I realized that my self-identity was                   preordained. But, this allowed me to embrace my               hardships and transform them into drive, motivation,             embrace diversity even more and ask myself “why not                 me?” when it came to the question of attending a 4-year                     university. Eventually, WOU welcomed me with the             Diversity Commitment Scholarship. I was momentarily           derailed by an obstacle that challenged my inherited               beliefs and values and emerged a third world that                 ultimately tumbled me into self-alienation, depression,           and suicidal tendencies. I had to hide my sexual                 orientation due to not wanting to feel outcasted, judged                 and rejected, as I grasped to the terms. This was the                     most brutal self-to-self battle that I ever endured. I don’t                   say this for empathy, but to create awareness about                 these hardships and help eradicate prejudice about the               LGBTQ+ community that exists in all cultures. And I am                   mad at myself for letting a bigoted, small mindset                 potentially derail my path, and stand here with PRIDE                 representing the LGBTQ+ community.    Which leads me back to the elements that helped me get                     to this spot: Authenticity. Diversity. Journey for             Self-Identity. Many of us are still like “I do not know who                       the heck I am or what I wanna do after graduation.” I                       challenge you to be comfortable with who you are, be                   open minded and pursue your authentic passions. Ask               questions and do things that you have always wanted to                   try. Find what makes you intrinsically motivated,             celebrate it and use it as a personal code.  We have all made an impact on Western Oregon                 University and we will do the same on whatever endeavor                   we embark on. Failures are unavoidable in life, but how                   we bounce back is what determines our path with                 resilience. We’ve all had our fair share of obstacles and                   mistakes along the way throughout these 4 years, yet we                   learned from them, and now graduating with a degree.                 Remember, we have the power to create change and                 shape a life and democracy that we’re proud of.   Get ready class, we have work to do out there.   Congratulations to the graduating Class of 2019, we               made it!     digitalcommons.wou.edu/pure ⓒ2019  

2019 Outstanding Undergraduate Graduation Speech (English)

2019 Outstanding Undergraduate Graduation Speech, Commencement Speech (Español). Video of the speech available at https://wou.edu/include_files/iframe_apps/graduation/2019/commence19_welcome_students.mp

2019 Outstanding Undergraduate Graduation Speech (Español)

https://digitalcommons.wou.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1104&context=pure

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