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In fact, many of us didn’t take the most direct path to graduate school. Some of us worked jobs that had nothing to do with our current field of study. We have been servers, accountants, soldiers, grant-writers, and caretakers. And yet, we each found our way to this program, with every role acting as a detour to teach us something essential about communication, problem-solving, resilience, compassion, or ourselves.

For me and many others, graduate school wasn’t just about the papers, practicals, and exams. The real value was often found outside the classroom, volunteering, participating in on- and off-campus student groups, saying yes to unexpected opportunities, and stepping up to new, surprising challenges. And through all of it, we’ve learned that every chapter of our lives, no matter how unrelated it may seem at the time, contributes to the whole.

In reflecting on writing this speech, I’ve realized that beginning anew wasn’t about erasing my past, but about integrating it. Spending long hours sitting at a computer made me realize how much I value movement, causing me to begin implementing an hourly exercise break for me and my officemates. Managing multiple classes of 6- to 11-year-olds at a kung fu school opened my eyes to the joys of teaching, working with kids and their families to empower, grow, and strengthen their resolve through martial arts. Enrolling part-time in community college classes reminded me how much I enjoy structured learning, making the idea of continued education throughout my career exciting.

Physical therapy became the inevitable conclusion that continues to resonate with me as a journey and a destination. I liken this process to completing a jigsaw puzzle—I’d already put down some of the edge pieces to define the borders of my direction before my education could provide the middle pieces revealing a greater clarity, depth, and purpose. Life doesn't hand you the pieces neatly boxed with cover art for guidance; instead, we have to create the picture ourselves.

So why is today the second-best time to plant a tree?

Because while we can’t go back and start sooner, we can move forward with more wisdom, compassion, and intention than we had before. The time we’ve spent growing, through all its uncertainty, has prepared the soil of our lives for new endeavors. By using everything we’ve experienced, we can start to recognize the patterns that shape the kinds of professionals, leaders, and humans we want to become. 

Your journey may look nothing like mine. And that’s exactly as it should be. There’s no one way forward, no single definition of success, and certainly no final destination. The path ahead will twist, branch, and sometimes circle back. But each choice you make is another tree planted.

So whatever direction you take, I hope you plant generously. With courage. With curiosity. And may the forest of your life grow deep and wide.

Thank you.