Valedictorian Speech – IM2019

Good Morning Everyone.

It’s my honor to represent my country Morocco as well as my classmates today and deliver the graduation speech.

I am standing here today with a huge gratitude and pride remembering how IUJ Movie started before reaching its end today.

Five years ago, I was reading “The Toyota Way: 14 Principles of Management”. Among the 14 principles, the 12th principle “Genchi Genbutsu” or “Go & See” ignited in me the curiosity about going to Japan and seeing the land of the rising sun. At that moment, it was a dream that seemed quite difficult to achieve until I got the ABE Initiative Scholarship opportunity two years ago. After achieving it and with a high threshold of expectations, I took the plane from Morocco to Japan.
I reached the International University of Japan, and was shocked to see that it’s located in the middle of a jungle and later I understood why our university is also called “I & U in the Jungle”. Still, IUJ represents the perfect environment to nurture our global leaders’ profiles. Within IUJ, on the academic aspect, everything was enjoyable including lectures, multicultural group meetings and presentations, assignments, and research. The different opinions and cultures made classes quite exciting and funny. This is why learning in IUJ is a passion. Similarly, on the non-academic aspect, our interactions together as well as going through ups and downs enhanced significantly our skills. IUJ Facilities allowed us to practice different kind of sports and activities. Additionally, the different food smells in shared kitchens made me feel that I am living in an international restaurant. Outside IUJ, there is also a lot of excitement. A lot of activities were available including snowboarding, Ekiden marathon, football Tournaments, snow shoveling, interaction with local community, etc. All these aspects together made us enjoy every moment within this paradise that I consider the most beautiful place in Japan.

Two years went so rapidly that I still remember the time I experienced the “Daiso Effect” and missed the IUJ Bus in Aeon and the sleepless night before the “Flea Market”. The first year was quite tough with a lot of focus on core courses. Once we survived the first and second terms, we thought we can relax. However, it was not the case since the second year comes with more duties including research, internships, teacher assistant, facilitator, and other social events. This mixture makes the experience within the “International University of Joy”, also called “I, U & Jay” memorable and an everlasting movie.
That’s why showing gratitude is a must. Of course, this huge satisfaction and pride we are feeling today requires showing our deep gratitude to all the ones that had a unique footprint on our lives either directly or indirectly. Consequently, I would like to thank my Supervisor Wenkai Li Sensei International University of Japan Saturday, June 22th 2019
for being a great mentor, my professors Hyunkoo Lee-sensei, Haruyoshi Ito-sensei, Ming Liu-sensei, Jay Rajasekera-sensei, Hirose Shinichi-sensei as well as all the Professors of both GSIM and GSIR. You are simply magnificent and we are deeply grateful to all of you Senseis. I would also like to thank my Japanese Mother Seiko Kojima-san, my Best Friend Naveen Kumar, and all other stakeholders that were pulling us to achieve higher. I should also highlight our gratitude to IUJ Angels that are working behind the scenes OAA, OSS, MLIC, OACS, OGA, Dorm Staff, Cleaning Staff, Bus Drivers, Security Staff, and all others. I cannot move on without expressing my love to my Gold Nakayama Houses Captains and my dream team that honored our unique social environment: Maruf Sugihara, Iskandar Okamura, Clement Tomabechi, Daki Mizukami, Yousra Ushio, Wai Kobayashi, Mano Nagano, Hasna Yamamuro, Salem Doko, and Farrukh Sasaki. You taught me a lot of things and struggled for a better IUJ. I will never forget that. My thanks go also to IM Council, IR Council, and GSO for their efforts to make IUJ better. We should also not forget the people who are waiting for us and supporting us continuously. Our parents, our brothers and sisters, our families, and our beloved ones deserve also our huge gratitude. I will definitely miss several stakeholders. For anyone who contributed and led us to attend the graduation day, I want to say thank you so much, we are deeply grateful and thankful.

Our love to IUJ cannot be described. It’s my second home. That’s why we have a small request. We hope that efforts will be sustained by all IUJ stakeholders (IUJ Offices, Students, House Committee, IM Council, IR Council, GSO, and others) in order to achieve a better IUJ year after year. Several Noble Initiatives are growing here including the House System that translates our motto “Where The World Gathers” and Better Research Better Life Project that represents “A Better Information Literacy for IUJ Community” as well as other initiatives. As a Proud Student and Senpai, please accept my request to make IUJ Better. We are looking forward to witnessing your achievements!

Similarly to my friends, I will be leaving a part of my heart in this pure paradise. Each one of us tried to have a footprint in IUJ. However, it’s not the end of the story. We are becoming soon IUJ Ambassadors. It’s our duty to maintain the excellence, the uniqueness, and the values that were acquired here. For the Love of IUJ, let’s keep the hard work, let’s keep having a great footprint wherever we go, and let’s remember that our university is counting on us!

It was a dream. Now it’s a truth. Talking about our IUJ experience needs probably several hours. The words are not enough to express our feelings. With tears of joy, we are leaving this paradise with a lot of everlasting memories. Thank you Japan, Thank you my IUJ, Thank my Senseis, Thank my friends, Thank you everyone. Love you forever IUJ!