NSHSS Scholar's Day, May 30, 2008
Carlos Bortoni, Jr.
NSHSS Student Council
Claes Nobel Academic Scholarship Recipient
Harvard University
Hola muy buenas tardes tengan todos Uds., sean bienvenidos al Dirksen Senate building.
Good afternoon. As a representative of the NSHSS Student Council, I feel honored to stand before you today at the Dirksen Senate Building, right in the heart of the world’s political capital. This is a special occasion, for we are here to recognize the dedication and passion shown by our most exceptional students.
We must thank Mr. Nobel and the NSHSS staff for crystallizing this dream, for shaping and giving life to an organization that brings together our youth’s finest, providing them with a whole new array of opportunities and tools, so necessary in today’s increasingly competitive society. I feel proud that the NSHSS aims to the strengthening of the various ties and values that unite young men and women around the world and, even more, that gives us students a chance to become agents who foster a genuine spirit of academic excellence, dynamism, personal growth, and social commitment.
Life is made of cycles, and was you near the end of high school, you stand before the beginning of a new chapter in your lives, a singular, wondrous phase that will open your eyes to a bigger reality. For me, this transition from studying high school in Mexico to finishing my freshman year at Harvard University has become the cornerstone of a new stage in my academic and personal life, a path consisting of compromise and will of service, of perseverance and goals, of dreams and accomplishments.
I would like to share with you a small glimpse of college wisdom, some tips that you should keep in mind as you start this new journey. In sum, all I can tell you is this: you’re in for the ride of your lives. Whether it means pulling off an all-nighter for your classes, interviews, ramen soups, or surviving Boston’s nasty weather, going to college will put to the test your intellectual and social networking skills, your physical endurance, and the strength of your values.
When trying to decide what classes to take and what extracurricular activities to get involved with, just remember that even intense overachievers like you must get a decent amount of sleep every day and prolonging the inevitable with coffee will have a negative impact on your health and academic performance.
Keep in mind the following words and make them your “College Friends”: Love, Trust Friendship, Tolerance, Companionship. These “friends” of yours will be you’re family while on campus. Take care of them and always be willing to offer a helping hand. Whether you’re from the U.S. or another country, be willing to learn from different cultures, religions, or traditions.
Most importantly, let passion be the driving force behind your decision-making process--passion for knowledge and passion for service and passion to change our world.
Today, I share your joy and excitement as you’re about to start your college experience. As the leaders of today’s youth, we must be aware of the huge commitment that we’ve now acquired with our society, a responsibility to look for the growth and development of ourselves and those who surround us. Right here, right now, we must pledge our minds and hearts towards making this collective goal a tangible reality. That is what NSHSS embodies. Dream big, strive hard, and may excellence always be with you in the years to come.