Grace Sakabunda: Don't compare your path to someone else's

Good afternoon, everyone, to the esteemed faculty, the dedicated staff and administrators, our incredible advisors, the Board of Trustees, President Schopen, and everyone sitting in front of me who probably had way too many meetings this week — thank you for everything you do.

To the proud families, friends, and, most importantly, my fellow graduates of the Class of 2025, congratulations! I’m deeply honored and grateful for the opportunity to speak with you today.

My name is Grace Sakabunda, and I am an international student from South Africa. Today, I am proud to be graduating with an Associate of Science and heading off to UIC this fall to continue my journey toward a career in medicine. Most professors say if you don’t remember anything from this class, remember this, which is what I’m saying to you guys today, too: If you don’t remember anything from this speech, remember this…

Now, you might be wondering why I’m holding a rearview mirror. I promise I didn’t steal it from someone’s car in the parking lot — although, if you’re missing one, we can talk after the ceremony. I brought it because this little mirror reminds me of something simple, but powerful: where you’ve been matters, but it doesn’t define where you’re going.

When I first arrived at Elgin Community College, I wasn’t sure I belonged here. My past told me I couldn’t do it. I had poor grades. A track record that looked more like a series of U-turns and potholes than a straight road to success. Every college rejection felt like a detour. But ECC — ECC was the place that looked at me, looked past the past, and said, “Keep going.” That’s what this mirror reminds me of: the past is behind us, but we still glance at it to learn, to reflect, and then… we drive forward.

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to study medicine. That passion began with a hole in my heart — literally. I was diagnosed with a ventricular septal defect as a child, and I’ll never forget one visit to the hospital: I was so tired, my mom was worried, and I looked up at her and said, “Can I start working since we’re already at the hospital?” I didn’t know then that God was already shaping the story that would bring me here, through pain, hope, and purpose. Like this mirror, life doesn’t always give you a full view of what’s ahead — but sometimes, just seeing how far you’ve come is enough to keep moving forward. Before ECC, I felt like my dream was stuck in reverse. But this community helped me shift gears.

Professors like Kathryn Woerhrle helped me go from fearing math to finding joy in it, and believing I could be an ‘A’ student, or Professor Hani Qasmieh, whose high expectations pushed me to rise higher than I thought possible. You didn’t just teach content — you built confidence. At ECC, I learned that success isn’t about speeding toward the finish line. It’s about showing up — even on the days when you don’t feel strong, even when you’re freezing at the bus stop, carrying three textbooks, and wondering who tricked you into signing up for an 8 am class.

It’s about grit. It’s about growth. It’s about crying… and then submitting the assignment anyway. There were moments when I wanted to give up. When I called home and said, “I don’t think I can do this anymore.” But I did it. We did it. And today, we’re here because we kept going — even when we were running on caffeine, courage, and vending machine snacks.

And that’s what today is about — not just the degrees, but the journey it took to get here.

Some of you balanced school with work.

Some had kids to raise.

Some of you were learning a second or even a third language.

Some of us were just trying to stay awake on three hours of sleep and microwave noodles.

So, to my fellow graduates: Own your pace. Own your process. Don’t compare your road to anyone else’s. And if life puts a stop sign in your path, remember: you’ve made it through detours before. You’ll do it again. And when you glance at your own rearview mirror, don’t just see the mistakes or missteps — see the miles you've traveled. The strength you've gained. The grace that carried you.

To God — who made a way when there was no way; to my parents, Bruno and Melody Sakabunda, who taught me resilience and never stopped supporting my dreams; to my amazing community here in the U.S. who always went out of their way to help me; and to my family and friends back home in South Africa who never stopped believing in me — thank you.

And to the ECC Class of 2025,

You’ve come this far.
Look back if you need to.
But never forget to look ahead.

Congratulations.