Distinguished guests, faculty, valued members of the AKU community and my fellow graduands:

Entreprenuer Martin Ugwu said, and I quote: Life is a journey. Be prepared and you'll reach your destiny; Be distracted and you'll suffer a wreck; Keep bad company and you'll be robbed of your destiny. Today, as valedictorian, I’d like to share three experiences based off this quote, that I believe, sum up our student life here.

First, life is a journey. And with every journey, there are ups and downs. Some of my steepest lows have been embraced in the last four years with great lessons. The biggest one is that there is a reason and a season for every person that crosses your path. I was separated from the love of my life within the first year of residency. It was a difficult time, trying to balance work life and long hospital calls with a shaky home life. But we conquered that season and that is why we are here today! Fellow graduands, seasons will most certainly change, and when winter knocks, embrace it; once at the bottom of the valley, the only other way is up.

Second; Be prepared and focused, and you'll reach your destiny. Most of us walked through the Aga Khan University gates about two to four years ago. Some of you may have been like me; we didn’t walk in, but rather had stumbled in. Let me explain; I for one started the interview sessions with a strut in confidence, feeling very prepared and ready, but then I got into the waiting list of my preferred program! So close yet so far. Its indeed been a long story of persistence and fate, with a happy ending in Family Medicine. What am I saying; be prepared, but at the same time, keep your eyes on the goal. Rejection might just be redirection into God’s plan for you.

Lastly; Togetherness wins! In our time here at The Aga Khan University in Kenya, I have truly felt the African spirit of Ubuntu, I am because you are. Ubuntu. This campus community has instilled in us service, the value of mentorship, and that barriers can, and should be broken. To the entire faculty and those who create an enabling learning environment, we cannot thank you enough; you have held our hand and offered us a launch pad.

And thus, as we come to the end of our stay here, let us reflect. What hard lessons have we learnt? What distractions have we encountered? Did we fall, or rise again?

The last few years can be summed up with one word: Inspiration! We have been inspired to spread our wings and to pay it forward. As I bow out of this podium, I would like, on behalf of my fellow graduands, to thank His Highness the Aga Khan for the inspiration and the opportunity to get one step closer to our destiny. Thank you.