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This speech is dedicated to Mr. Kulakowski, who had a great impact on my experience at Stanstead College this year. This is a message he stood for, and something I have always struggled with.

I find myself often looking at the world, and I see its many challenges – poverty, injustice, inequality – and I wonder, what can I do? I look at the great figures of history: revolutionaries, leaders, visionaries, people who have made real, substantial change, and I think to myself, I am just one person. How can I make a difference like they did?

I stand here today knowing that exactly a week ago, I was sitting on the plane going back home staring at my laptop screen with zero clue of how to start. I was talking with some of my teammates about what my prefect speech could be about, and I had originally planned to maybe write about love, being the day before Valentine's Day and all. But then I was thinking it over, and I decided, I don't want to do that. I don't want to talk about love when I haven't the slightest clue how to see myself, let alone dictate how you see others.

I strongly believe in the power of personal development. Self-motivation, self-belief and self-discipline are the keys to achieving your goals and becoming the best version of yourself. However, I think the biggest obstacle to personal growth is procrastination. 

Many people make New Year’s resolutions, but many of them don’t follow through. For my New Year's resolution, I want to overcome the difficulties I have faced. For instance, when I first arrived in Stanstead, it was completely different from the life I had previously lived; it was my first time living away from home. I often felt homesick and just wanted to pack my things and leave for a place that felt more comfortable and familiar.