Valedictorian Speech – PhD

Distinguished guests, deans, faculty, IUJ staffs, fellow students, family,
friends’ class of 2019, I wish you a very good morning! I’m beyond honored
to give this speech all of you today as a 2nd Ph.D. Graduate of IUJ, as well
as a very first Ph.D. graduate in Economics. In the class of 2019, for the Ph.D. course with the IDP program, I’m the only one student and therefore I’d suffered the feelings of loneliness and isolation in my entire Ph.D. student life.

But finally, I’ve got a chance to express my gratitude to all those who
supported me and to say valedictory speech here.

First, I would like to express my sincere thank to Professor Chin-Yang
Lin, Professor Chun-Hung Kuo and Professor Hideaki Goto for their valuable guidance and advice regarding my research work within these three years.

Without their support, I can’t be here, their advice and their encouragement were always driving me to put more effort in my student life and very supportive to accomplish my work … and to get a better result that I never thought before (beyond the possibility with my ability). I also would like to thank Professor Maung Aung Myoe, Professor Zaw Zaw Aung for their caring, supporting and giving me a wonderful life in IUJ. I feel like I’m living in my home and all, my friends … my community, are my family members during the stay in IUJ. Moreover, all my professors and advisors opened their doors and opened their hearts whenever I needed their support for all kind of my difficulties even sometimes with my personal problems … they’re always
ready for helping hands. Yes, sometimes, their office is a very good place
for me to cry, and to release my stress.

Furthermore, I was very lucky to work with really great friends in our
Ph.D. study room. I thank all Ph.D. students for making the study room as an enjoyable place. Even though we are from different clusters, we had a great time with instructive discussions and many interesting conversations. I would like to thank my parents for their everlasting support and loving. Also special thanks to my husband for everything: especially, coming to IUJ with me.

There is no doubt, IUJ as an International University provides the great
opportunity for all students coming from different countries, to communicate for sharing knowledge, experiences, and learning different cultures from diversity; that is, what we really have a chance to live in a global village. This is a huge opportunity for our students. There are almost 160 students graduating today. We are from more than 45 different countries, speak a range of languages, and hold a considerable range of work and life experiences. We are a diverse group of learners; and therefore, IUJ is really a place, “where the world gathers”.

When arrived at IUJ, like other students, I was driven to excel, to be
the best in academics, and in all the other activities I was involved in. At that time, what I remembered is, on the very first day of my arrival on the very first night, I cried because I felt strange and scared … I was in the middle of mountains and paddy-fields. I got lonesome and suffered from a bout of homesickness desperately. Only After a few months I got some friends and became emotionally stable. Moreover, I’ve started to like the countryside, mountains, and nature, and also I’ve fallen in love with snow. I would like to say thank you to all my friends in IUJ; really, they gave me the meaning of life, a sense of hope, helped me to get positive thinking and to laugh in the difficulties that I had to deal with. When I was a master student, I participated in some events such as performing in Open day, IUJ Olympic, special sports activities with special needs children, home stayed in Nagaoka and so on.Life in Japan has been like coming out of the bed and landing on the couch.Japan has truly been my second home because I have had some amazing
friends in this country.

Therefore, I tried to continue my further study in IUJ … I tried to get a
chance to be a Ph.D. student in IUJ again. The environment and the people in here, Japan is very welcome and helpful … that’s why we never feel we are living away from our home. The good experiences that I got here, of course, does not imply that I did not have to face my share of discomfort and challenge, but these challenges made me a stronger and confident person today. Every single experience that I’ve encountered in Japan will remain as the unforgettable memories in my life.

I was looking for inspiration for this speech. In the words of the great
Henry Ford: “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” As the class of 2019, we can do anything. So, let us commit ourselves to the belief that we can accomplish anything. We came onto campus a few years ago with different backgrounds and different life experiences. We leave this campus today as a collective unit. No matter the school we joined – whether GSIR, GSIM, E-biz or exchange – we all are members of this IUJ community.

Let us put aside the joy of our memories and the excitement of our future for the time being. As Mother Teresa said: “be happy at the moment, that’s enough.” At this moment, we are in absolute bliss. We are all IUJ Pirates –
and it does not get any better than that.

We are the generation that will have to deal with it all.
So I leave you with this final thought, I wish you to think about which
communities you can get in, and which communities you have the power and the ability to contribute. So thank you for your time. I hope you have a wonderful graduation ceremony with your family and friends and I wish you all the very best for your future.

To the class of 2019, Good luck Again, congratulations and wish us good luck with the future ahead. Have a great day.