This speech was given by Niwa Rahmad Dwitama at a graduation ceremony for Saint John School in BSD, Indonesia on June 8, 2013. In the speech, Niwa shares his personal story of initially wanting to become a doctor but later deciding to study international relations in university instead, against his parents' wishes. He discusses founding a youth organization called IFL to promote volunteering and empower young people. Niwa hopes his story will motivate the graduates to pursue their passions.

1. Niwa
Rahmad
Dwitama
Commencement
Speech,
Saint
John
School
BSD
By:
Niwa
Rahmad
Dwitama
June
8,
2013
Good
afternoon
everyone,
The
honourable
Principal
and
Vice
Principal,
teachers
of
Saint
John
School,
and
of
course,
the
proud
parents
whose
children
is
going
to
move
forward,
and
all
young
friends
-­‐
the
graduates!
It
is
really
my
pleasure
to
be
giving
speech
in
your
very
special
day
of
graduation.
Few
weeks
ago,
when
your
teacher
Mr.
Julius
offered
me
to
speak
today,
I
felt
so
much
honored
and
exciting
but
at
the
same
it
scared
things
out
of
me.
The
reason
is
while
you
are
graduating
today,
I
was
still
struggling
with
my
thesis
(last
assignment)
in
order
to
graduate
from
International
relations
department
in
Universitas
Indonesia
–
where
I
am
currently
studying.
Quite
fortunately,
my
research
was
approved
yesterday
and
it
relieves
me
and
like
you
all,
I
hope
I
can
graduate
too
in
near
time!
So
accepting
the
invitation
to
speak
in
this
graduation
today
somehow
motivates
me
to
finish
my
research
well
and
get
my
deadline
on
time.
So,
thank
you
for
this
opportunity
giving
me
such
determination.
***
I
think,
i`m
standing
here
today
because
I
have
bit
earlier
went
through
the
same
stage
like
you
are
now
entering.
Graduating
from
junior
high,
going
to
senior
high
school.
So,
let
me
start
by
telling
you
one
story
of
my
life.
Since
the
time
of
elementary
school/
SD
until
the
beginning
of
senior
high
school/
SMA
in
Padang,
I
had
been
always
wondering
and
wished
to
be
a
doctor.
There
was
one
time
when
my
mom
was
pregnant
to
my
younger
sister
I
told
her,
“ma,
aku
pengen
jadi
dokter
kandungan!“
“what?
Kenapa?“
my
mom
replied.
“hmm,
karena
pengen
bantu
mama
biar
gak
sakit
pas
ngelahirin
adek.“
then
my
mom
just
nodding.
Ever
since,
my
family
earnerstly
support
my
wish
to
be
a
doctor
because
no
one
in
our
family
is
actually
a
doctor,
ever.
However,
who
know
what
the
future
brought
me.
When
I
was
in
high
school,
I
was
honored
to
be
the
president
of
student
council
(Ketua
OSIS)
where
I
learn
a
lot
about
leadership,
organisation,
teamwork,
and
even
about
friendship.
I

2. Niwa
Rahmad
Dwitama
helped
organising
few
events
in
school,
going
for
debate
competitions
and
take
part
in
exchange
program
to
Singapore
until
I
realize
that
doctor
is
not
really
what
I
want
to
be
in
the
future.
I
want
to
work
with
people,
interact
with
society
and
social
life.
I
also
like
international
issues
so
that
I
am
applying
for
international
relations
major
in
Universitas
Indonesia
(UI).
My
story
to
UI
was
not
as
smooth
as
what
I
expected.
Both
my
parents
rejected
my
proposal
to
apply
for
international
relations,
because
they
were
still
eager
to
have
me
applying
for
medicine
school
–
to
be
a
doctor.
“But,
that
is
not
my
passion,“
I
told
them.
I
tried
to
discussed,
even
debated
and
finally
just
left
it
off
for
a
while,
to
calm
down
my
parents`
rejection.
So,
my
start
in
UI
is
not
as
cheerful
as
what
my
parent
might
actually
expected
to
be.
This
really
made
me
persevered
to
study
hard
and
put
some
achievements.
I
have
to
prove
them
that
this
decision
was
really
what
I
want
to
do
and
I
can
be
something
with
it.
Something
that
is
meaningful
and
can
make
them
proud
of
me!
In
2009,
together
with
few
friends
I
co-­‐founded
a
youth
organisation
named
IFL
(Indonesian
Future
Leaders).
IFL
is
an
organisation
aiming
for
youth
empowerment
and
leadership
by
promoting
volunteering
activities,
discussions
to
youngster
and
creating
social
project
all
over
Jabodetabek,
and
even
Indonesia.
Today,
we
have
IFL
chapter
in
Bandung,
Bali,
Yogya,
Sulawesi
even
Medan.
We
have
helped
creating
education
house
in
suburb
of
Bintaro,
conducting
training
for
high
school
students,
social
project
competition
and
social
campaign
about
youth
related
issues,
such
as
education
and
environment.
This
is
how
we
are
making
change.
Giving
something
through
volunteering
doesn`t
make
you
poorer,
but
it
makes
you
richer;
giving
you
a
lot
of
learning
from
other
perspective
or
people
you
never
met
before.
It
gives
you
happiness
when
you
help
people
and
kids
in
that
place;
making
them
happy
and
smile.
With
these
activities,
IFL
have
achieved
and
won
some
social
project
competitions
such
as
Microsoft
innovative
student
project
and
Pearson
fellowship.
We
never
exptected
we
can
grow
stronger
with
many
people
supporting
us
today.
But
this
is
our
passion,
this
is
what
I
personally
want
to
do
and
learn
from
others.
Evenmore,
this
open
opportunities
up
for
me
to
create
achievements
and
travel
to
dozens
of
country
to
share
my
experience
and
meet
with
other
student
activist
all
over
the
world,
from
Singapore,
France
to
Unites
States.
Recently
I
was
also
honoured
to
be
the
most
outstanding
student
in
University
of
Indonesia
2013.
No
intention
to
brag
you
all
about
my
achievements,
but
really,

3. Niwa
Rahmad
Dwitama
this
is
how
I
prove
it
to
my
parents
and
family.
To
prove
that,
I
can
make
something
in
what
I`m
really
passionate
about.
***
In
short,
let
me
tell
you
about
three
honest
lessons
about
going
through
the
quest
of
your
way
and
make
a
difference
in
your
world.
1. To
catch.
I
think
high
school
time
is
the
moment
where
you
can
do
a
lot
of
things:
joining
xchool,
doing
sport
and
arts,
joining
volunteering
activities
and
community
service
and
participating
in
competition.
That
would
be
really
your
time
to
take
part
in
activities
you
are
happy
with
and
find
your
passion
on
it.
Feel
free
to
make
a
dream;
what
difference
you
want
to
make
and
what
kind
of
person
you
want
to
be
in
the
future.
And
remember:
It
is
not
a
dream,
if
it`s
not
big.
Do
not
let
your
school
use
you,
but
you
are
to
use
the
school
to
find
yourself
and
catch
your
passion
and
dance
with
it.
2.
To
Believe.
It
doesn`t
really
matter
where
you
are
from,
but
where
you
want
to
go!
What
you
want
to
achieve.
Even
if
you
are
from
Padang,
Jakarta,
BSD
and
Papua,
it
doesn't
make
any
difference
but
how
big
your
dreams
and
efforts
to
achieve
it
that
differs
you
from
one
to
another.
3.
To
Remember
Remember
that
there
are
those
people
that
always
stood
behind
you
every
step
of
the
way.
Your
parents
who
affectionately
support
your
activities
and
whole
life.
Your
teachers
who
help
and
inspire
you
during
the
classes
and
study.
And
your
friends
who
will
always
be
there
for
you.
So,
prove
it
to
them!
Prove
that
you
can
make
something
and
craft
achievements
in
your
life.
Make
them
proud
of
you.
Of
course,
you
can
and
you
will!
So
the
three
important
points:
to
catch
your
passion,
to
believe
in
self,
and
to
remember
those
people
loving
you.
This
graduation
is
a
start
for
you.
Dream
big
and
make
it
happen!
Congratulation!