am honoured to be here today to recognise your accomplishments over the last two

years.

The first acknowledgement I wish to make is to your families and friends for their
sacrifices during your endless hours of study, labs and clinical placements. As I look out
at you today, I wonder to myself how many dinners were missed, how many games not
attended, how many hours did you spend studying for yet another exam? Thank you to
your family members and friends for their support.

I am very proud to acknowledge all students sitting here in this auditorium today as I
see you as a different breed of students from the past. As students of today, many of
you are juggling children, mortgages, rent payments, spouses, ill family members who
need care, bills, loans, debts, and last but not least, full- or part-time jobs.

You would be hard pressed to find any student in this room who can honestly claim they
have had a normal and healthy sleep cycle throughout these past two years. I can
safely diagnose the entire cohort with fatigue, anxiety, and stress overload. This is
nothing short of heroic, and I stand in awe of your dedication and hard work.

Having been there myself, completing two different nursing programs overseas and
here, I understand how much concentration and dedication it takes to forge ahead, even
when the studying is laborious and the exams seem to never stop coming.

The fact that you are all completing that hard journey today, ready to be licensed
professionals, is an amazing feat deserving high praise and recognition. Today you can
feel proud that you have been tested and succeeded, in proving that you have what it
takes to contribute to the field of health.

Speaking of being a nurse, many of you may realize you’re really a nurse when
everyone you know starts coming to you with details of every ache, pain and symptom
they experience, fully expecting you to give them a definitive diagnosis. You may also
find yourself washing your hands for a full minute in public restrooms and turning off the
taps with your elbows. On the bright side, whenever anyone asks you for a pen, you’ll
probably have three in your pocket! But it’s most worrying when you start checking out
people’s veins for IV access or venepuncture sites whilst standing in line at the grocery
store. Just try not to be too obvious.

Despite the sarcasm and jokes, being a nurse is a noble and honourable profession. It
demands that every single day you not only care for your patients, you must care for
their family members as well. You’ll be a daily caregiver with healing hands and
sometimes a protector for those who are unable to protect themselves. You must be
prepared to make sound medical health decisions and recommendations. Your
profession simply means that you will have to care about people. You have to be able to
listen to their fears and concerns; to communicate with them and for them, and for their
family members; and support them when tough decisions need to be made.

I know that you’ve chosen nursing because you know you can make a difference in
people’s lives. I would like to say to you, thank you. It takes a very special person to be
a nurse and to care for others. On behalf of Victoria University Polytechnic, thank you
for making such a tremendous commitment to such an honourable profession. We wish
you all the best in everything you do in the future.

Today isn’t just about your accomplishment of passing tests. It’s also about where
you’re heading. You will soon be registered and a full member of the nursing profession.
Find your voice, be a change agent at the bedside and don’t lose the passion you’ve
had for the last two years for learning. Don’t settle for being comfortable. Remember
that when you know better, you do better.

It was a true honour and pleasure to be your teacher for the past two years, watching
the light bulbs go on in your heads as we discussed the finer points of fluid balance or
management of an unconscious patient. You are a bright, kind, considerate, funny, and
only moderately argumentative group, and I will miss you all very much. Thank you for
your patience during my teaching when I was not so computer or YouTube savvy, and
thank you for making the experience so heart-warming and enjoyable.

My blessings to each of you today and always.

Introduction: A very good morning/afternoon/evening to everyone

present here. Today I am standing here as a teacher of (your class’
name). But my designation means nothing without the students of my
batch. I did not expect for the day we say goodbye to them will come
so soon but here we are. This batch has been special for me for
uncountable reasons. All of you students have become an inseparable
part of my life. So it is indeed difficult for me to bid you all goodbye.
But then again, we all have to comply with the change in the end. And I
hope this change for you turns out to be great, I wish nothing but the
best for each and every student in this batch
As someone who has had the privilege to observe your growth, I want to tell you all that you all
have given us myriad reasons to miss you and have faith in your bright future. Life ahead will be
different. Each one of you will be carrying on with your future endeavours in order to fulfil your
dreams and rise up for successful days and peaceful nights. To tell you that it will be easy out of
here, will be a lie. Things will be tough and sometimes heart-wrenching. But, one fact I know for
sure is that you are all strong. You are prepared for the best, for everything that will come your
way. Things might not work in your favour one day, but they will definitely, someday. All you
need to do is believe.
No matter how far fetched your aim or dream is, no matter how tough situations are, just
remember you all can do anything. Be persistent and always repeat the words, “If going to Mars
is possible, then this too is”. This is something that always kept me going and it will inspire you
all too. You all are extremely faithful and capable. I have never seen a batch that is so
determined and focused on everything to do. Your demeanour and achievements have set a
benchmark so high that it will be rather very difficult for the coming batches to match it.

As I talk about all the determination, excellence, and achievements, I see some very mischievous
faces which I need to call out. Do not feel relieved, it’s time for the last scolding! Just kidding. I
have always punished or scolded you for your playfulness. However, we never admit this but we
are always in awe of such students who bring out the liveliness in all of us. You always gave us
reasons to smile, even if we did it to ourselves. The energy and zeal that I witnessed in you are
precious. Please keep the child in you secure and always humming.

It was an honour to have you all here. We are grateful for every step you all have taken with us
in your journey of life. Right now, as I say this, I get extremely emotive, I will miss you all here.
I wish each of you a ton of luck and I assure you all that guidance from not only me but everyone
here will always be available. We are with you in your walk of life, making a bridge of our
experience to guide you through rivers of obstacles. All the very best. Hoping to see you all
reach the unimagined and mighty world of ecstasy with all your dedication, capability, and
talent.

Good Morning/ Afternoon/ Evening (depending upon the time at which the event takes place).

I am more than just grateful as I say thank you to all of you for this Farewell Party. It means a lot
to me to have such Friends/ Relatives/ Colleagues/ Schoolmates/ Batchmates. You all value me a
lot and I am thankful for that. My time here was pleasant and you guys made sure that it keeps
on getting better each day. This ______________ (name of the School/ College/ Company/
Town) has always been a place I freely called home. Now I am stepping away from my abode
and it feels overwhelming. Honestly, I am confused if I should be happy about this or just sad. I
am just feeling a lot of mixed emotions.

Thank you for being in a lovely environment. Without your support, I would not have been able
to ace this. Thank you for all the assistance and love. I look forward to my future ahead but with
your blessings. Kindly bless me with your tenderness and wishes. I am thankful for every day we
have spent together. I am sure such days will surely return. You allow are gold. I will miss being

here. See you soon. Thank you and Adieu!

Comm cAs someone who has had the privilege to observe
your growth, I want to tell you all that you all have given us myriad reasons to miss you and have faith in
your bright future. Life ahead will be different. Each one of you will be carrying on with your future
endeavours in order to fulfil your dreams and rise up for successful days and peaceful nights. To tell you
that it will be easy out of here, will be a lie. Things will be tough and sometimes heart-wrenching. But,
one fact I know for sure is that you are all strong. You are prepared for the best, for everything that will
come your way. Things might not work in your favour one day, but they will definitely, someday. All you
need to do is believe.

No matter how far fetched your aim or dream is, no matter how tough situations are, just
remember you all can do anything. Be persistent and always repeat the words, “If going to Mars
is possible, then this too is”. This is something that always kept me going and it will inspire you
all too. You all are extremely faithful and capable. I have never seen a batch that is so
determined and focused on everything to do. Your demeanour and achievements have set a
benchmark so high that it will be rather very difficult for the coming batches to match it.

As I talk about all the determination, excellence, and achievements, I see some very mischievous
faces which I need to call out. Do not feel relieved, it’s time for the last scolding! Just kidding. I
have always punished or scolded you for your playfulness. However, we never admit this but we
are always in awe of such students who bring out the liveliness in all of us. You always gave us
reasons to smile, even if we did it to ourselves. The energy and zeal that I witnessed in you are
precious. Please keep the child in you secure and always humming.

It was an honour to have you all here. We are grateful for every step you all have taken with us
in your journey of life. Right now, as I say this, I get extremely emotive, I will miss you all here.
I wish each of you a ton of luck and I assure you all that guidance from not only me but everyone
here will always be available. We are with you in your walk of life, making a bridge of our
experience to guide you through rivers of obstacles. All the very best. Hoping to see you all
reach the unimagined and mighty world of ecstasy with all your dedication, capability, and
talent.
A very Good Morning/ Afternoon/ Evening (depending upon the time at
which the event takes place) to all the Students and Staff present here.
I feel extremely happy and proud to address all of you today. It is still
taking time for me to process that you all will be no longer seen on the
school/college premises, every day. I was just so used to seeing you all
learning and having g a great time in your life. School/College life is a
time that is the purest. Nothing can be compared to the innocence and
the simplicity of this time. I feel older as every batch passes out but at
the same time, it just makes me more and more grateful.+
This Pentecost Sunday Prayer celebrating the gift of the Holy Spirit asks God to renew the
supernatural filling of the Holy Spirit originally given to the early believers in a dramatic display of
empowerment. Pentecost has been called the birthday of the church because it was a turning point
of explosive energy and ability for ordinary people to evangelize and grow in faith. On Pentecost, we
affirm that this same power is available to us today.
Dear God, Today we look with wonder at the miraculous changes that come into the world through
the gift of your Holy Spirit. We thank you for the disciples who waited on your promised gift and
were astonished by the transforming and transfixing power that forever changed their lives and the
course of humankind.
We thank you for the great mystery and majesty of the Holy Spirit that is beyond our imagining. And
we are humbled that such a glorious one would grace our humble lives with His nearness by being
always with us and within us.
We acknowledge and desire all of the benefits of the Holy Spirit. We pray for his help to remember
Christ’s words, to empower us in our weakness, to convict our hearts and to speak truth to our lives.
Grant us his counsel as he guides us and intercedes for us when our minds can’t form the right
words.
We ask for a fresh outpouring of your Holy Spirit on us today. Make our hearts and spirits receptive
to his presence. May we set aside our own desires and plans and allow the Holy Spirit to fill us,
move us and use us as conduits of God’s grace and love.
Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts to overflowing with your power from on high. Amen.
Before his death, Jesus told his disciples that it was better that he leave them because this would
allow the Holy Spirit to come and be inside their hearts and spirits in a supernatural way. (see John
16:7)
The Bible says, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you
forever – the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows
him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you…All of this I have spoken while still
with you. But the counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all
things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.” (John14:16,17,25,26 NIV)

Jesus speaks of the Holy Spirit as a supernatural being

Notice that Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit not as “it” like an energy source but rather as “him,” a
supernatural being like Jesus, a Counselor with a will, a purpose, and the ability to empower, convict
and act.

The purpose of the Holy Spirit that Jesus told his

disciples before his ascension
After Jesus was crucified and rose from the dead, he spent time on earth appearing to his followers
and teaching them. On one occasion when they were eating together he told them:
“Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak
about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
(Acts 1:4,5 NIV )
Soon afterwards, when the time came when Jesus was about to ascend to heaven by being taken
up into the clouds, he again spoke to them about the Holy Spirit. This time he described an
important reason why they needed to be empowered in this mysterious way. It was to enable them
to spread faith in Jesus to people worldwide.
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in
Jerusalem, and in Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8 NIV)
Jesus was counting on his followers to do a task that wasn’t humanly possible for a group of ordinary
people like the disciples.