A Spoken Word Tribute to Graduates

Before we shout “Well done!”
Before the names are called,
Let us take a moment—to honor it all:
This church.
This family.
This ground where faith and growth both rise.

You’re a house of many nations, shades, and stories—
Yet here, love is the common language.
Where Grandma’s prayers cover teenage dreams,
And uncles, aunties, elders cheer with eyes that have seen
That excellence takes many forms,
And no one journeys alone.

To the graduates:

We see you.
Caps cocked, gowns flowing,
Milestones in motion.
From crayons to calculators,
Fingerpaints to final exams—
You made it!
And your church stands to salute your stride.

Whether from kindergarten or college halls,
From homeschools or trade schools,
You’ve crossed a threshold.
And the God who started you on this path
Is not done walking beside you yet.

To the high-flyers, the focused, the driven:
Your eyes were fixed on the prize.
You mapped your way with purpose and passion.
Late nights, early mornings,
Deadlines met with devotion.
You pressed forward.
You pressed through.
And the excellence we see
Is not just in your grades—
It’s in your grit,
And the God who gave it to you.

To the ones still figuring it out:
We see you!
Excellence is not a straight road—
It zigs. It zags. It waits.
You’re allowed to pause, to wonder,
To try, to fail, to ask:
“What’s next for me?”

Let me say this:
Even uncertainty is part of the plan.
You are not lost—you are learning.
Every step, every stumble is shaping the story God is still writing in you.

To the ones who didn’t know if they’d make it here:
Maybe motivation left along the way.
You know—life be lifeing,
But look—you’re standing.
That in itself is a win.
That is excellence.
Progress is praise-worthy.
Each chapter a testimony.
Don’t you go downplaying what God brought you through.
Ask yourself:
“What changed along the way?”
Maybe it was you.
Maybe it was your faith.
Maybe it was that still, small voice
That said, “Keep going.”

To our elders, our late bloomers, our lifelong learners:
Let the world know—
Learning does not expire.
Dreams don’t have deadlines.
And classrooms aren’t the only place where wisdom is born.

You’ve shown us what courage looks like
When age walks boldly into new beginnings.
You remind us:

You don’t stop learning because you grow old;
You grow old because you stop learning.

So keep learning.
Keep reaching.
Keep believing.

And to all:
This journey to excellence is not a solo flight—
It’s Spirit-led.
It’s prayer-powered.
It’s faith-laced.
You didn’t get here by accident.
And you won’t go forward alone.
‘Cause:
“Anyone who keeps learning stays young.”
And anyone who walks with God— stays steady.

So walk on, graduates.
With your heads high, your hearts open,
Your dreams anchored in divine direction.
And know this: excellence is not just a destination—
It’s a journey.
And yours has only just begun

---

Afterword: This piece was commissioned by a church. As with every commissioned work, I took time to speak with my client to understand the heart of their story. This process enables me to create pieces that authentically capture the essence of the message they wish to share, rather than me simply weaving words together creatively.

For this piece, I drew inspiration from the congregation’s multicultural and nurturing spirit. They wanted it to reflect the intersectional nature of their community, to inspire a love of lifelong learning, and, above all, to honor every graduate—from kindergarten to graduate school and everyone in between.

2025 All Rights Reserved
Image by Pexels

Like what you see? To never miss a post click HERE👈 to subscribe & follow the blog. There’s more HERE👈 and on Spillwords, the Writers Club, Facebook & Bluesky.

In creative solidarity, Dee