Brianna Zlotow: This is just the beginning of the rest of your life

There is a scene in Alice in Wonderland that really stuck with me as we neared graduation. In the scene, Alice is trying to find the white rabbit, so when she comes to a cross in the road she looks up at a Cheshire cat and says this.

Alice: "Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?"

The Cat: "That depends a good deal on where you want to get to."

Alice: "I don't much care where—"

The Cat: "Then it doesn't matter which way you go."

And I bet you all are wondering what that has to do with graduation, but to answer that, let me start from the beginning.

My name is Brianna Zlotow. I was diagnosed dyslexic at a young age. This was a problem because the principal of my elementary school believed girls couldn't have dyslexia. She would go on to tell my mother that I would never be more than a C student, that she shouldn't even discuss a future that includes college with me because I'd never go, and that because my mom had two sons who were excelling, she should just be happy with where I was.

My mother continued to fight for and believe in me, but I stopped believing in myself.

This early experience would later be the reason why I dropped out of high school and believed academics were never for me. So when I eventually got my GED and signed up for classes at ECC, I set myself up to fail. I had already convinced myself that college wasn’t for people like me. I had been told by so many educators that I couldn't do it, that I wouldn't belong. So to try and prove them right, to prove to myself that I would never make it anywhere, I signed up for the one class I was absolutely sure I would fail: English 101 with Ginger Alms.

I will never forget writing one of my first essays about being dyslexic and reading her comment on how she was there for me, and she believed in me. To be completely honest, it's that comment she made that is why I am now standing in front of you today.

Through my support systems, like my family, Ginger Alms, Mr. Bohr (shout out for helping me write this), Dr. Gray for encouraging my love of psychology, TRiO and Wellness for making me more confident, everyone I have interacted with at ECC, and all of the faculty here, I am here in front of everyone.

Now I know most of you probably haven't gone through anything like that. But I do know most of you have probably felt unsupported or have been told you couldn't do something. Those moments have a way of making us feel stuck, like we're standing at a crossroads waiting for someone else to tell us which direction to go.

And to connect it back to my original quote, maybe you feel just like Alice, at a crossroads, looking up at a mysterious cat, wishing for answers. But I'm here to tell you, if you don't know WHERE to go, it doesn’t matter what path you take. Because you have already taken your first step. [PAUSE]

ECC was the first step you needed to take. You aren't lost or stuck; no matter where you go now, you've achieved this. Whether you continue your education and transfer elsewhere or if you stay at home and assist your family. You've taken this first step for the rest of your life.

This may feel like an ending; you may cross the stage and feel like the book is closing. But I'm here to tell you that isn't true. When Alice met the cat, she had just begun her journey. And here today we are all just beginning our journey. While our time at ECC ends, our story is just beginning.

So, as we move our tassel to the left and as you get your diploma, just remember, this is just the beginning of the rest of your life.

Congratulations, class of 2026!