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it is truly honor to be here and to address all of. and i give a heartfelt thanks to adrian college and its extended community, including president docking the adrian college board offaculty, alumni and students o supported invitation to be here today. secondly, i conatulate is in order for mr. nick nicolay receiving an honorary degree in prestigious.rsrothis honorary degrees aiv achieved utmost distinction, both professionallynd mr.

nicolay has exhibited to the highest level. again, congratulations to you on this achievement. i would be remiss if i didn't acknowledge what a beautiful day and,t all have. it is beyond welcoming and impres. the thousands of pink flowers everywhere are especia definite. so you all are fortunate to have i want to speak on three main points today that hope will be inspiring and useful to the i know you imagined you had finally escaped, ct b someone at a podium so i can assume you will be elated to hear that my will be brief. my first point revolves around the of courage. courage is the essential quality that bridges shift from whatr w. this is somhing i had to learn

from experience in the two years that have passed since i was sitting that chair a col graduation. allow me to give very brief background on who i am. i grew up an athlete dedicating 18 years of my life to my sport of swimming. it's impossible to pute amount of hours in dedication and the be made in order to compete at an ultimately be successful at the as docking said i don't have to explain this to you. you all know what this is like. i was able to& continue pursuing my dreams because of a scholarship i was fortunate enough to receive tohe universi. i very proudly my career as a 12 time ncaa all-american, a five time secp; champion, the sec record holder in the 200 yard butterfly and making me oneñj■c. two time olympic trial quaas cof the year. but again, all of that, to

reiterate, it's a lifelong one that wouldn't have been possible without. title nine's implementation just over 5army junior year in collei placed seventh in the counle. i set a goal right then and there to win year, which would n becoming theevent. but in march of 2022, at our national championship caps, we were faced with the situation prevented thatre a reality for y girls. that national championship wasn't for females, but instead for anyone who merely claimed theale. this didn't seem fair to me. that don't have time to outline all of them andl but the unfair exploitation in our private, the silencing and the threats that we faced if we dared to oppose or even question this injustice, compile.

and i felt like i could no longer silent. i waited for so long for someone else to say something, someone se to us and our sex based protections. decided would unapologetically stand for truth, both in a biblical and objective sense. i didn't want to beee disrespectful. i wanted to be liked. i thought twice before i spoke aku deemed controversial. like i imagine many of you do or done. but i chose to be courageous. courage v often commonly being conflated. no mistake, these words are not synonymous. and they're not■ interchangeabl. being fearless means lack fear. but opposite. having courage means you're willing to do right. fair. just and moral thing. despite the fears that you face, it is the strength to confront

adversity and to pursue your dreams withdetermination. as you stand on the threshold of post-graduate in life. whether you acknowledge, it or not, each of you have already chose to pursue knowledge and commit to your studies not necessarily knowing where they would lead. you investedn futures and your dreams and in the betterment of society. u face the world outside this academic haven. the concept of courage must be r textbooks. it should be as alive in today as your ambition to change the world for the better. the kind of courage i speak of is not loud or boisterous. it the quiet resolve tost. the determination to uphold your values when they're tested. consider this every major change in history began wit single act of courage. whether it was rosa rk to, remar malala yousafzai determination .

these were moments that hinged on personal urage. these were choices made in the face of fear. no guarantee osu but with an unwavering believe in. what was justrp you too, will fe moments like these. you wi finse aacrossroads wheret choice is not always the easiest one. workplace, within your community, or even within personal relationships. in those moments, i challenge you torage. courage is contagious. it and uplifts. may you embrace each new challenge as an opportunity, not shy away risk and remain true to your convictions forge your path with both humility and boldness. is the first of human qualities because it is the quality which ante all others have the down.e to follow your passions, unconventional paths have the courage to speak the truth

your voice shakes have the courage to embrace failure as a stepping stone to success rather than a stumbling. my second point revolves the importance of my faith is central and all that i do to live christlike life. was delighted to see the chapelexactly where it should ba beacon of hope, an eternal for everyone. isn't it alization that jesus christ conquered the lives of each of you who present. for the students who graduate. the professors who teach them. for the proud family and friends faith just a set of beliefs. but the tran principle that influences our actions shapes, our worldview, and leads us in tainty and triumph. it's built on the cornerstone of

love, grace and redemption themes that resonate through the teachings of christ and the scriptures. as you stepo a world that often values achievement over ethics and profit over the lessons of your faith. you weredarkness exemplars of gd truth in a desperate for both. this does not mean you won't faceouh is often forged in the complexity of uncertainty and despair. yet in those moments remember that faith is the assurance of things. hope for the convictions of seen. i didn't feel pred the scenario that was seemingly thrusted into. i didn't understand our nation's civil process or really civic at all. and my public speaking courses in college. my face turned the color of a tomato. at the beginning of my advocacy journey often ask god why. i'm not equipped for this.

i came to understand pretty quickly, actually that i was wrong in myose who are already equipped. our god equips thegs you to it e certainly bring you through it just as he did with moses, who led the israelites out with, aarohiaff, just as he did joshua, who promianites. and just as he did with esther before, was brought before the king. so trust is calling for you. godlity to practice, live by faith so that you life, but to fully know and understand the power of faith. it's crucial that it's rooted in something nothing more secure our heavenly father has for you. and trusting in his promises for their the one eternal thing that we can always count on. so as step into a world that

often guided solely by the gain or immediate satisfaction, the principles of christian faith offer a different path. one illuminated by the light of compassion. class of 2024. as you go forth, take with you not only the intellectual and practical tools you ha honed, but also the spirit, your faith. bed in your aspirations, steadfast in your commitments, and generous in your love. let your light shine before others that they may seeds and r father heaven. let your faith act, both as an anchor and a compass. rd and final point, i feel compelled to reflect on a■s our society and shapes our collective heartbeat, our natio, and the very essence of human f. freedookes a opossible autonomyd

self-determination. as graduates, you are about to enjoy the most imatxperienced. the freedom to forge your own way. to choose paths that may lead to undiscovered passions. andke decisions that define who you are and who you willnt to spend a moment speaking specifically to the critical valuefreedom of speeche substantial to who we are as a nation and something that separates us from most of the world. people from all over moved to the united states. they can think, speak and freely without fear ofanny imprisonment or death. when we stifle and viewpoints a, everyone does a disservice both the trying to those being denied hearing said incite. we risk silencing voices that

may help usg able to respond rationally to what may be false or dangerous ideas. just as important as freely is listening to others points of view. by opening our lives to those we disagree with. we grow and, we learn. and we evolve. and we refine our arguments for and against our points of view. by speaking freely and listening to others, ground, which allowss to reconcile some of our er-■enceor accept them and together. never imagined that inunited std face sh ance censorship. vitriol and violence. in many instances. and desperation to silence me. i have been spit on. i have been vilified. i have been dox. i' been physically for crying out loud. there ha bee endless negative and factually incorrect.

misrepresenting me personally. the stance that i have taken in this s college. to my understanding, with over 1700 signatures las me from being the commencement speaker today. i ask you. what are you so afraid of? having your perspectives challenged? being encouraged to engage in independent thought. the freedom of thought and expression should be cherished by all. and a world where are increasingly polarize and dissent is often met with hostility. never underestimate the power of your voice to spark change. challenge the status truth bol's unpopular. for it is through dialog and debate that. we grow as individuals and as a society. that is how we unify and advance. freedom is not static.

it is ahing ideal that must be nurtured and defended by each the threshold f your future, you i freedom, the responsibility to safeguard it for ures and for future generations. i want to once again congla the for making it to this day. today is about you all of. i know that you've worked hard. you've delayed gratification to get things done. you stayed up late. you woke up early. you made some mistakes. and you learn from them. all of these things have taught you valuable skills and ■8 develop and foster relationships or friendships that will serve for a lifetime. and a final thank you to again, the board of trustees for upholding the mission college. and that mission statement being of and the dignity of all people.

k■gclass of 2024. the awaits your talents your passions and your unique contributions. college may, you embrace the wer of cintain and, strengthen your faith and never lose she importance of our freedoms. this country built on. now isheunleash your skills, kne and talents and me congratulatif your journeys be filled with joy, thank you you.

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new in the sense that it was the states. so this is actually