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<\/p>\nGreetings, Class of 2024!<\/p>\n
Did any of you see yourself in those photos of my visits to your classrooms over the last 16 years? Is it just me or did we all look a lot younger back then?<\/p>\n
What a journey this has been for us all.<\/p>\n
Sixteen years ago, you were in pre-school or first grade. I was just starting as your first representative in Congress.<\/p>\n
When I ran for that seat and people asked me why, I had a simple answer: Education. Education. Education.<\/p>\n
In politics you keep your message simple. And it does not get much simpler than simply repeating the same word over and over: Education. Education. Education.<\/p>\n
Even though the message is simple, the belief behind the message is profound. Because I believe providing an education is the most important thing your community can do for you. And I truly believe that getting an education is the most important work any of us can do for ourselves. Education gives us the ability to understand ourselves, our community, and the world \u2014 and the ability to make our world better.<\/p>\n
So, congratulations on your graduation today.<\/p>\n
Sixteen years ago, we were all just starting out. And now we are at an inflection point. I am leaving Congress. Many of you are leaving the year-after-year of formal education. Taking what you have learned out into the world to see what you can do with it.<\/p>\n
Because we are reaching this moment in life together, I am incredibly grateful to you for inviting me to speak to you today. You give me an incredible gift to be here with you and your families at your graduation and to feel I have been your companion along the way\u2014for 16 years. Thank you.<\/p>\n
I should also say how fortunate we are to be celebrating your graduation today, just as you imagined it would be: classmates together, surrounded by family and friends.<\/p>\n
On other campuses in America, graduations have been canceled, because of political unrest.<\/p>\n
I certainly support the right of students or any American to speak freely and express their views, uncensored. And my heart is breaking to see the suffering of the people of Palestine and Israel. I pray they find it in their hearts to put anger and hatred and grievance aside and live in peace.<\/p>\n
I know many of you graduates must be troubled by this terrible conflict, too. But I commend you for understanding the way to express your feelings and political views is through peaceful action. And I commend President Deleon Guerrero and the entire Marianas College community for respecting each other\u2019s views and respecting the principle of peaceful protest. That respect allows us to celebrate your graduation today, just as you imagined.<\/p>\n
But you did not invite me here to reminisce about the old days of visiting your classrooms or talk about international politics. From your commencement speaker you want a little inspiration, some pearls of wisdom, words to live by in the future.<\/p>\n
That is why my first stop was ChatGPT. So, what does ChatGPT suggest I say to you?<\/p>\n
How about I just tell you my story.<\/p>\n
I was a drug addict. I have been clean and sober for 28 years, but, yeah, I was a drug addict.<\/p>\n
I came from a good family. My grandfather, Kilili, trained as a teacher during the German administration. He was a vice governor in the Japanese administration. After World War II, the Americans moved everyone to Camp Susupe, where the people elected him their first mayor.<\/p>\n
My uncle and father took after their father, went into public service, helped launch our Commonwealth government.<\/p>\n
But did I follow in those illustrious footsteps? Did I uphold our family legacy? No. I turned to drugs and became an addict. I was a joke. Broke. In the gutter. A failure and disappointment to everyone who loved me.<\/p>\n
What can you do when you\u2019re at rock bottom? How do you avoid despair?<\/p>\n
Maybe I just got lucky. Because I had faith in myself, despite my obvious failure. I had a little bit of hope that maybe someday I could be a good public servant like my father and grandfather. Maybe I could represent our islands in Congress like this man\u2014Morris Udall of Arizona\u2014I was lucky enough to meet. And I had love to keep me going.<\/p>\n
I don\u2019t know why, but my family loved me enough to help me through my darkest days. Friends and mentors loved me enough to help me face the truth about myself. And when I did run for Congress, enough of you were willing to give me your trust and send me to Washington.<\/p>\n
Today, I want to thank those who gave me their love and guidance.<\/p>\n
Those who have passed on: my father, Jesus Sablan, Bishop Tomas Camacho, former governor Pedro \u201cTeno\u201d Tenorio, Herman Q. Guerrero, Mitch Pangelinan, Manuel \u201cSheriff\u201d Sablan, Ruth Tighe, Manuel \u201cTa Ne Kiyu\u201d Villagomez, and Peter Michael \u201cMike Teno\u201d Tenorio.<\/p>\n
And, of course, those still with me: Andrea, my wife, and our children. My mother, Victorina, and my sisters and their families. Without their love I was lost.<\/p>\n
So, that is my story. That is what I wanted to share with you today. Because today you are at the top of your game. Riding high on success. But tomorrow\u2014or the next day\u2014you will hit a wall. You will struggle. You will disappoint yourself. You will disappoint those you love the most, as I did. You will be afraid.<\/p>\n
What I want you to remember\u2014and this is why I told you my own embarrassing story of failure: No matter how deep the hole you are in, pull yourself up. And never, never be too afraid or embarrassed to ask for help.<\/p>\n
No matter how bad it gets, how low you fall, people that love you are there to help. Just as the people who love you helped you graduate today.<\/p>\n
So, get up. Take a deep breath. Dust yourself off. Move on.<\/p>\n
And with help from loved ones, with faith in yourself and hope for the future, you will always have the power to change.<\/p>\n
Congratulations, Class of 2024! Thank you for inviting me.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Gregorio Kilili C. Sablan is the CNMI\u2019s delegate to U.S. Congress. This is the keynote speech he delivered at Northern Marianas College\u2019s 43rd Commencement Exercises last May 17<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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