Margaret Spellings
-Politician
If you believe in yourself, others will too. And if you have confidence in who you are, there is no end to what you can accomplish.
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... the only boundaries to what you can achieve are the ones you set for yourself.
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Don't let anyone else take the measure of your worth and capabilities. Always stand proud in who you are!
First, life has no limits. It's unpredictable, thrilling, awesome. And to live fully, you've got to seize opportunity, roll with the punches, be a little daring, and above all, keep your head in the game!
That's what I tell my girls. To succeed, you've got to have focus—the ability to see the big picture, the courage to dig in and persevere—so that when life throws you a curve, you don't get derailed.
Because life keeps you guessing.
Sometimes the road stretches straight ahead. Sometimes you're stuck in 5 o'clock traffic. Sometimes you're just trying to find the nearest exit.
And one thing you'll discover is that—more often than not—what at first appear to be roadblocks and setbacks are the very things that'll get you where you were meant to be.
I certainly never thought I'd be in the President's Cabinet. When I was working my way through college, when I spent years uncertain of my career path, I could never have predicted or planned where I find myself today.
But, while I may not have always known where I was heading, I had focus and faith. If you believe in yourself, others will too. And if you have confidence in who you are, there is no end to what you can accomplish.
As I tell my girls: Stand and Deliver.
When I first got to the White House, I felt completely out of my element, surrounded by Ivy Leaguers. But, I stood and delivered. I did my best. And before long, I was meeting with Senators, flying on Air Force One, and helping the President perfect his pronunciations. We're still working on "nucular."
It just goes to show the only boundaries to what you can achieve are the ones you set for yourself.
Always aim high. Don't settle for what you know you can accomplish. Challenge yourself to pursue the impossible, and you'll go further than you could ever imagine.
I've always liked the story of the college student who got a C on his final paper because his idea was implausible. The idea ... an overnight delivery service. The student ... Fred Smith. You may know him better as the CEO of FedEx.
So, don't let anyone else take the measure of your worth and capabilities. Always stand proud in who you are!
Read the full commencement address »
Montgomery College
Conroe, TX
May 17, 2006
Sent in by: admin
Posted on: 06.24.2006