It is a great honor to be the first Ambassador to deliver the commencement speech for the Palau Community College - PCC graduates and to inspire the future of Palau.
Congratulations, class of 2024. For the past decades, countless men and women- your parents, grandparents, and great- grandparents- marched, fought, sacrificed and overcame every obstacle to establish Palau’s independent spirit, preserve traditional values, and create a clean, nuclear-free, and sustainable homeland for their generation and future generations.
Now, it is your turn, Class of 2024. Your generation is in a better position than any before you to meet these challenges. How you address these challenges and create change is entirely up to you.
Here are some suggestions that I want to give to class of 2024, and I hope they might be useful in your journey:
First of all, be confident in your heritage. You have many role models before you. Embrace the challenges ahead with the same courage and determination as those who came before you. That courage and determination are the hallmarks of your proud heritage.
Small island, big voices. Palau, despite its size, still has a powerful voice and influence to the world. It’s bold actions and visionary initiatives has put Palau on the world map as a leader in environmental stewardship and sustainable development. This is your heritage, this is how the world sees Palau, this is what I see Palau.
Congratulations, class of 2024. Now it’s your turn. Make your own mark and carry forward the proud legacy of Palau.
