VALEDICTORY ADDRESS
Federico Lande
Good evening Honorable Ambassador , Honorable Rav, Distinguished Trustees, President
Pavoncello, Dean Merva, Distinguished John Cabot Faculty, Class of 2011, Distinguished Guests,
ladies and gentlemen.
Today is a day of great happiness. I like to think that this is the same happiness that the explorer
John Cabot felt in 1497, when he discovered Newfoundland and Cape Breton Island on the North
American coast. We really need to be thankful to this illustrious Italian explorer, who created a
bridge between the Americas and Italy, a bridge, my dear fellow graduates, that we are still
celebrating today, the last day of our incredible university voyage.
Today is not only the end of an important chapter of our lives, one we started 4 years ago, but also
the beginning of a new and exciting one that will take us all in different directions. Some of us will
go off to graduate school, others will be starting their careers, but we all will continue to travel the
world, thereby living the motto of our alma mater that unites all of us, “Explorando Excello.”
However, it would be foolish to forget that our great happiness is surrounded by great uncertainty as
well. We have seen dramatic events unfold before our eyes in the last few years, from economic
events such as the worldwide financial crisis that affected and is still affecting so many, to the
Japanese earthquake in March, and the wars and social unrest such as the one that is currently
taking place in Libya, just across the sea, which touches our hearts as we think of the friends and
family of some of our graduates who are here today.
This uncertainty reminds us, once again, that the world as we know it is not likely to be the same
tomorrow and we will have to try to make sense of what will happen around us, over and over
again. It is here that the education we have received will provide us with some wisdom to travel
through this world so that we may make decisions and choices that show who we are as JCU
graduates.
I truly believe that we, John Cabot graduates, have an edge to compete, be successful and make a
difference: throughout our university years we have been surrounded by students from across the
globe and this has not only given us the chance to become aware of different nationalities, but, more
importantly, to embrace diversity, to open our minds, and be able to accept different point of views.
Today when I look at you, I not only see my friends from so many nations, but many unique
individuals, each with different qualities and talents, all gathered under the same roof. While we
may have become used to experiencing different cultures, nationalities, ethnic groups, and
languages, let us never forget that in a world where globalization has become the rule rather than
the exception, there are still many who are not tolerant of other cultures. And so I believe the
experience we have is not only our strongest competitive advantage now that we are about to leave
academia, but also gives us a responsibility to use what we have learned in an ethical and uplifting
way to make a difference in a world where discrimination, in all its forms, has caused and is still
causing unneeded pain and suffering.
Yes, our time at John Cabot has come to an end, but I urge you to take a moment to stop, look back
and become conscious of how this experience has enriched each of us and how, from clueless
freshmen, we have grown into mature, experienced adults, who are not afraid to choose for
themselves and at the same time, have a certain amount of empathy to recognize how our personal
decisions will make an impact on the lives of those around us. I think this has been possible thanks
to our liberal arts education, as well as our exceptional professors who have always encouraged us
to read between the lines and be critical thinkers who draw their own conclusions, without taking
opinions for granted. On behalf of the whole class, I would like to thank all of our professors,
faculty support and JCU staff who have been there to support us through our years at JCU.
Last, but not least, I want to congratulate my fellow graduates here, because a great part of who we
are becoming as young adults can be attributed, indeed, to our own individual efforts and hard
work. It is true that the world out there, while full of its gratifying moments, can at times be a
struggle for survival. But I am confident that we, the class of 2011, have all the right skills and
capabilities to march out there and do more than survive or be successful. We have a solid
foundation to change this world for the better. We should never forget that.
Congratulations Class of 2011 and AD MAIORA!