"Isn`t it all the same?" "No, it`s not" : the attitudes and values of our graduates

Abstract

I would like to start by congratulating you students, who will be graduating today as well as your fellow students, who will be graduating during the coming days. I would also like to congratulate all the parents of this year's graduates. We all know that the word graduation implies that one has taken a step forward; however, at times we might forget that the steps in life are far more numerous than this important - but not the only - step that you would have reached with success. You have spent some time at this University - a time that ought to have been very important to you and which is a unique experience. During this time you had the opportunity to study and reflect on your area of specialization. As you progressed from one year to another, you grew not only in time but also in knowledge. You learnt how to make choices besides learning that often - as in everyday life - there are no simple solutions; indeed, at times there are no solutions to certain problems. The best thing that University has given you is the ability to learn how to learn.