2022 val speeches, Wylie's Thomas: Ahead of you is a life of significance

Good evening, Wylie Class of 2022; my name is Tommy Thomas, and it is truly a blessing and an honor to be with you all tonight.

First off, I would like to congratulate all graduating students, especially those on this stage (many of whom’s outstanding achievements far exceed my own). I would like to also thank our staff and fFaculty, who labor tirelessly to cultivate and serve the students of this school.

Finally, I would like to thank my mom, dad, friends and church community, who have walked with me every step of the way.

In writing this, the temptation was to present a meticulously crafted valedictorian speech that would only serve to reminisce on the path to graduation and give somewhat relevant advice to our upcoming future. I, however, firmly believe that in order for something to be truly meaningful, it must also often be equally challenging. With this in mind, I would like to present to you something I have considered in my life many times: significance.

Now, what is significance, and how would one define it? According to Oxford Languages, significance is defined as the quality of being worthy of attention or importance. This logically begs the next question, what is significant or worthy of attention or importance? This precise point is where I believe that many people miss it. In a very short amount of time, you will soon be on your own making decisions that will not only affect yourself but others also. We all want to live lives full of significance, and the temptation will be to seek significance by filling our lives with success.

Many of you will spend your lives in the pursuit of money, power, recognition, and prestige in the hope that your life will be considered significant when all things are said and done. Although these things are arguably good, you will not make your life significant by seeking these.

You see, all of these things are what I would characterize as success, but success is only about you while significance is about others. By chasing these things you likely will have been successful, but the question is, did you do anything worthy of persistent importance? Did you do something with your life that truly mattered to not just yourself but to others in the long run?

I insist that this is something you need to think about now while you have not yet invested so much of your life chasing significance but ultimately pursuing success. I insist that your extremely valuable yet finite lives would not be used in the age-old pursuit of materialism, which in every instance leads to nihilism and unfulfillment. And again, success is not a bad thing, it's just success in the absence of significance will not lead to satisfaction.

Well then, the next question follows as how does one live a life characterized by significance? The answer is really quite simple; significance can be found in three things: serving others, dedicating your life to something bigger than yourself and your desires, and living your life not just in the present but in the context of eternity.

Now, what do I mean by the first two? The reason why serving others and serving something bigger than yourself is so important is that it shifts your default, self-centric mindset that is often plagued with anxiety to a selfless mindset saturated with purpose. Furthermore, scientific literature shows that serving others provides a myriad of benefits, and in one study, those who served were 44% less likely to have health complications.

Now the last point, what does it mean to live in the context of eternity? Our culture today emphasizes living to fulfill every desire and the instant gratification of said desires, and the temptation will be to conform to this trend. I would implore that if you are able to resist this and live your life in a meaningful way, you would be far more satisfied in the long run. By viewing life holistically through the lens of significance, you will both mitigate aimless gratification and promote lasting impact.

In closing, I want to present to you what I truly have found to be the key to a life of significance so that as you venture past this first major milestone, you will be fully equipped to lead lives of satisfaction and fulfillment. I have found that in order to live in a way that is in profound service to others, one must follow the example of Jesus Christ, who is quite literally the fulfillment of the definition of significance. He is the one who is worthy of attention and importance, and if you would give your life to Him just as He gave His life for your sins, you surely will live a life of significance.

As you all leave this building tonight as Wylie alumni, I pray that you all will embrace your positions as leaders of this generation, that you will venture into the future emboldened to change the world, that you will live a life of significance, and that when all is said and done, every single one of you would hear the words “well done good and faithful servant.”

Thank you and God bless.

— Tommy Thomas, Wylie High School valedictorian

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Wylie's Thomas: Ahead of you is a life of significance