NAU speakers: Your success is Arizona’s success

FLAGSTAFF

It’s that time of year again when students wipe tears from watery eyes, exchange final goodbyes, and throw their graduation caps into the air. It’s graduation season, which also means commencement speeches.

Three of Northern Arizona University’s prominent individuals on Friday afternoon at the J. Lawrence Walkup Skydome delivered separate commencement addresses, each offering advice for the class of 2015.

The first speaker was Jillian Zuniga, the president of the Associated Students of NAU, who started out by expressing the honor to be with the students on their remarkable day.

“Looking back to freshman year, I bet you would’ve never guessed we would be where we are,” she told the students. “You should feel tremendously proud sitting in your seat graduating from Northern Arizona University.”

At that point in time, Zuniga told the students that they’re officially Lumberjack alumni and allowed herself to entertain them with things they may or may not miss about the Mountain Town.

To conclude her speech, Zuniga quoted a line from Albert Einstein’s 1916 book, “Relativity” and shared six rules to challenging oneself.

“Your past, ongoing, and future achievements revolve around questioning and challenging yourself,” she said. “As you leave on your journey of success today, remember these six rules: Trust yourself, Break some rules, Don’t be afraid to fall, Work hard, Give something back, and Now, is your moment.”

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