fiogf49gjkf0d
This is the speech by Omar Ugas on befalf of Community Elders at the Graduation Cermony of Ottawa Islamci School
by Omar Ugas
Asalamu Alaykum W.W
First allow me to Congratulate the Ottawa Islamic School, grade 12 graduating students, and their parents for concluding and celebrating 12 years of hard work. It is a significant accomplishment and an important step in ensuring your future.
It is through hard work that you have created an atmosphere that made preparedness and opportunities meet together. A hard work that allowed you as an Ottawa Islamic School grade 12 students, get admission from some of the most prestigious universities of the World. Moreover, it is a hard work, which made possible that 57 % of these students successfully acquired lump sum money for scholarships.
Nevertheless, many other years of hard work are also ahead of us. You will be pursuing new careers of different skills with challenging periods and situations, which will require you to use your time wisely and effectively.
There is media bombardment that you may have to think about, and question. Why all of this is spreading all these ideas and information? Who is it working for? How much of it is to my advantage or disadvantage? Why we are exposed with images of violence and fear, when we were raised here with a faith, abundance, education, love, peace, and trust?
Why many times we see flat screen television sets hanging on the wall in the malls and may be in learning institutions, sometimes on mute but playing disturbing commercials?
As a community elder and a one time member of the Ottawa Islamic School board of directors responsible for advising on academic and staffing, who also chaired, co-chaired or facilitated different meetings and workshops on school’s educational polices and management; I would like to remind you that you were taught at the Ottawa Islamic school some of the best civility and manners that any human being can gain such as respecting, sharing, patience, and forgiveness. I have no doubt that you will spread those manners of thinking good, feeling good and doing well; by performing everything you are doing to the best of your ability and respect with smiles from your happy and peaceful Islamic face.
In addition, I would like to share with you that university studies are research oriented. The professors generally consider that research is more than just locating information. They will expect that you first spend some time analyzing your topic to help you get a head start on finding the recent and relevant information, which will assist you organize your research papers and assignments.
Based on my experience, your research would be evaluated with your critical analysis and reflections, balance and accuracy in the use of research methods, presentation data, reliability, and the validity of your research findings, and so on.
Remember, your most important help for your writing is your professor. It is said that no book can exactly make clear the questions and topics proposed by your professor.
From my experience, most of the university professors are happy to discuss with you the whole process of your research papers such as, outline formats, documentation styles, subjects and all problems specific to your papers. So are the librarians. They are there and paid for helping the students. Don’t be shy. Take advantage of their expertise.
Obviously, if you are going to follow university studies, you should constantly review and improve your knowledge of Math and Statistics. No matter what learning discipline you are on; math and statistics will always be with you, even at the work place.
Again, be aware of the stress and the depression times caused by the learning situations and age, particularly at the ages of 18 to 24, where you might sometimes feel tired, sad, gloomy, cheerless, unable to focus on your studies and later may lead you to a low grades. Do not be withdrawn if you see yourself in this situation. Do not be afraid to talk to your parents, doctors and your teachers. Reach out and rely on your family, friends, and community for support in times of need. There is no shame in feeling this way. Many people experience fear, anxiety and get overwhelmed by school and pressure.
Hans Selye, Canadian M.D., (1907-1982), stated that stress is the spice of life or the kiss of death, depending on how we cope with it. Sometimes stress gives us the means to express our talents and energies and pursue our happiness. It can also cause exhaustion and illness, nervous breakdowns, heart attacks or accidents. Stress is simply the body’s non-specific response to any demand on it. What matters is not what happens to us but the way we take it.
Definitely, there are strategies that can help us through stressful situations. I would recommend you do your very best at all the tasks that you undertake, and evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of your performances. Do not allow yourself to get stuck in a mental groove, replying past events and pushing yourself of what you should have done.
Be over-prepared for your tests, class discussions, and presentations. You will still feel anxious, but once you concentrate on what you’re saying or writing, your anxiety and tension will step by step disappear.
It is said that the greatest producer of stress in schools is probably the procrastination- that is, putting off until tomorrow the things you should do today.
According to Bertrand Russell (1872-1970), Worry is like a rocking horse. It keeps you going, but takes you nowhere.
As the saying goes, Yesterday is a canceled check, tomorrow is a promissory note, but today is ready cash. Use it. To master our time we must have a goal, plan than take an action. Studies have shown that effective students have solid, consistent work and study habits, such as regular study schedules, and reviewing notes soon after the lecture
Pay close attention of the introduction of the lecture and the end of the lecture, numbers, emphasis and repeated words
Finally, let me conclude to wish you all the best of luck and success in your new life in looking for university studies. Your success positively reflects back to this community and to the whole society.
Omar Ugas
E-mail: [email protected]