April IAY Graduation, Dec. 20th, 2001
Speech by Ling-Hsien Chiang, April IAY student council member
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God knows how much nervous this speech makes me. O.K., let
me start with a short song. The name of the song is "This
Land is Your Land."
This land is your land, this land is my land
This is one of my favorite songs I learned from
Lao's singing class. I love that class. From that
class I learned, I learned a lot about American
cultures and American songs.
Now I'm here. When I just got here I start to love
New York. And now I wish I could stay longer. New
York is so great. And I have a wonderful time here.
I like all the place I hung out with my friends,
all the activities, events, I joined. And all the friends
I met here.
Now my feeling is totally different as the first
day I was in Aspect. Do you still remember your
first day in Aspect? Everyone had a orientation test
in first day, right?
So, how was your feeling on that day? Can you try to
refresh your memory? Could you? No? O.K., let me tell
you my experience.
When Anna and Robb introduced the whole situation about
school and let us know what we have to know, at that
time I couldn't understand. I only got some main points
from them. So, I thought after they finished speaking
they could explain again in Chinese. But they didn't.
I felt frustrated.
Suddenly I realized I have to use my poor English from
that day on, to do my best with my poor English. And
now I still, I have still been using my English to make
this speech.
I remember my frozen hot chocolate trip with my teacher
Curt and my classmates. That was so great. And I had
a wonderful time. Do you know what "frozen hot chocolate"
is? That's a vocabulary oxymoron, oxymoron, like "a free
gift" or "working vacation." If you were in Jeff's class,
you will know what this vocabulary means.
So, go back to the frozen hot chocolate. You have to try and
you will realize how it is special.
Another thing is on Thanksgiving Day. That's also give me
a deep impression, because in my country we have never
celebrate this Thanksgiving Day. So, I had a very rich
Thanksgiving Dinner in my host family.
My host mom is a very good cook. I can't forget how full
I was on that day because I ate too much to fall to sleep.
Do you want to move to my host family after I leave? O.K.,
no problem. Come to talk with me and I will charge you 10
dollars commission, and I'll share with Charlie.
So, I want to tell you enjoy your life and treasure what
you have now. Every day's different. You will never know
what will happen tomorrow.
Come to the class. Join the activities. And experience
New York with your friends. Treasure every day. When you
learn more, you see more, you gain different opinions
and you'll see things in a whole new light.
Finally, I want to show my appreciation for my teachers,
appreciation for your hard work.
And I want to thank my friends whom I met here. Thank
you for enrich my life. You let me have a wonderful
time while I was here.
To conclude, I wish everybody a Merry Christmas and
Happy New Year. Thank you very much.
Hello, everybody. My name is Ling-Hsien Chiang. You guys
call me Hsien. I think most of you know me. I would like
to thank Robb, who is giving me this opportunity to stand
here.
From California to the New York island,
From the redwood forests to the Gulf Stream waters:
This land was made for you and me.