Powerful messages, heartfelt reflections. At CIC’s May 2025 Graduation, Valedictorian Wing Hay Pang and Vote of Thanks speaker Ho Yan Lam gave voice to the hopes and growth of their class.
Their words celebrated the journey that brought them here — one of courage, transformation and gratitude.
Valedictorian: Wing Hay Pang (Raven)
Raven joined Columbia International College (CIC) in 2023, and from the moment he arrived, he brought incredible enthusiasm and a strong desire to get involved. In a short amount of time, Raven made a remarkable impact through his active participation in extracurricular activities, all while maintaining an outstanding academic record. He has been a dedicated member of student council, DECA, the business club, intramurals, and the High Achievers program, and he also founded the Scholar Society Club. This year, Raven took on the impressive role of serving as both Student Council President and DECA President simultaneously. Raven’s leadership has been felt across the school through his diverse involvement and his unwavering commitment to the CIC community. He is an ambitious, kind, and enthusiastic individual, a natural leader whose compassion and determination will undoubtedly lead him to continued success in his academic journey and beyond.
Accepted to:
- Western University: Ivey Business School – Commerce
- University of Edinburgh – Business Management
- University of Toronto: St. George – Rotman Commerce – Commerce
- University of Toronto: Scarborough – Management & International Business
- University of Toronto: Mississauga – Commerce
- University of Waterloo – Accounting & Financial Management
- McMaster University – Business
- Wilfrid Laurier – Business Administration
- Western University – Management & Organizational Studies
- Queens University – Commerce
- University of Sydney – Commerce
- Total Scholarships: $425,000
Valedictorian Speech
As I stand here today, looking out at this graduating class, I see more than a group of students in caps and gowns—I see a generation ready to rise, ready to lead, ready to redefine what success truly looks like.
I’ve seen it in my friends who still smile even when faced with homesickness and heavy workloads. I’ve seen it in the quiet persistence of classmates who fought through language barriers. I’ve seen it in the ones who, despite self-doubt, still raised their hands, still showed up, still tried. I’ve seen it in the bold, small moments—the ones where we chose to keep going. That’s not ordinary. That’s courage. That’s strength. That’s you.
But I’ll be honest—my story didn’t begin with that kind of strength. I wasn’t always the one raising my hand, taking the lead, or stepping forward. In fact, I often stepped back—and there was a reason for that.
Back in Hong Kong, I was the student who was constantly underestimated. I failed math more times than I want to admit. I still remember the sting of my teacher saying to me, “You will never make it into university.” That sentence followed me like a shadow. And for a long time, I believed it.
But coming to Canada—to CIC—shifted something in me. Not because life got easier, but because I started seeing possibility again. I realized that our past doesn’t define us—our choices do. And one by one, I began choosing differently.
I stepped out of fear and into opportunity. I ran for student council. I took on DECA. I founded clubs. I started using my voice—not just for myself, but to uplift others too.
And I know I’m not alone in this transformation. Every one of us here has fought their own battles. What was yours? Stressful assignments? Sleepless nights? Doubts, deadlines, identity struggles—or maybe just the overwhelming uncertainty of the future?
Whatever it was, you made it through. You showed up. You kept going. And today, we don’t just celebrate making it—we celebrate what it took to get here.
We’ve proven something essential: That resilience lives here. That courage lives here. That strength lives here. In each of us.
This moment—this graduation—is not the end of our challenges. It’s not the last time we’ll face doubt, or adversity. And it certainly won’t be the last time someone underestimates us.
But if this journey has taught us anything, it’s this: We are not built to back down. We are built to rise.
The world ahead is unpredictable. It’s fast. It’s loud. And sometimes, it can make us feel small. But we’ve already shown—we can stand tall in uncertainty.
We are not just the next generation of students. We are future innovators, storytellers, healers, entrepreneurs, and advocates. We are the ones who will build something better—not just for ourselves, but for others too.
So, my message to you is this: Don’t wait to be ready. Don’t wait to be chosen. And don’t wait to feel fearless. Start anyway. Speak up anyway. Build anyway.
Because the world doesn’t need perfect people—it needs real ones. And sometimes, the people who’ve been doubted the most… become the ones others believe in the most.
Be that person—for yourself, and for those who need someone to believe in.
Class of 2025—own that power. Not tomorrow. Not someday. But now.
We didn’t just graduate. We transformed. And we’re just getting started.
Thank you.
Vote of Thanks: Ho Yan Lam (Allison)
Allison arrived at Columbia International College in August 2022, and throughout her time here, she has consistently demonstrated strong leadership in everything she does. A key member of the Robotics team, Allison served as Team Captain this year, where her passion for engineering and computer science truly shone. Her dedication and talent have earned her top subject awards in computer science, along with numerous university admission offers and scholarships to prestigious engineering programs. Academically, Allison has excelled, maintaining an impressive 98% average in her Grade 12 year. Beyond her academic achievements, she is a kind and thoughtful student who leads by example, inspiring those around her. With her remarkable combination of intelligence, determination, and character, Allison is sure to thrive in her next chapter. It comes as no surprise that her peers have chosen her to deliver this year’s Vote of Thanks.
Accepted to:
- University of Toronto: St. George – Mechanical Engineering
- University of Waterloo – Mechatronics Engineering
- Queens University – Mechatronics Engineering
- McMaster University – Engineering
- Total Scholarships: $118,000
Vote of Thanks Speech
Good afternoon fellow graduates, platform party, and parents. My name is Alison, I’m very honoured to be the vote of thanks for this year’s May graduates. The theme of my speech today is simple: don’t take it for granted. Because behind every meal, every class, every small act of care — there were people who made it all possible. And too often, we don’t notice… until we stop and look back. So today, I want to share four stories, through these stories I hope we can recognize just the departments that have shaped our time at CIC.
Before I begin anything, please look at the person sitting next to you. It might be someone close, or a classmate you’ve shared countless moments with. For those of us who came to Canada alone, we found friends who became family — people who made this place feel like home.
Do you remember those moments when you were struggling, and a friend found you? They talked to you, lifted you up, and stayed by your side. They understood you, accepted you, and treated you like family.
So, to all the friends who’ve been there, supporting us through hard time— thank you.
There was this one day — a graduate student who lost her necklace. Not just any necklace, but a gift from someone really special to her. She was devastated, anxious, and gently asked the housekeeper to keep an eye out while cleaning. After school, the student came back to her room, saw a note on her desk: “I found it,” right next to her necklace. The housekeeper didn’t have to search. It wasn’t her job. But she did it. She cared. She took the time to find it, left a message that made a heartbroken girl smile again.
With this story, we want to recognize the Housekeeping, IT, Maintenance, and Security teams — the quiet guardians of our everyday life. They fix what’s broken, protect what matters, and do the little things that often go unnoticed. Today, we thank them — for holding us up in ways we rarely see, but always feel. Let’s not take that for granted.
There was one day — a graduate student almost didn’t go to MUN trip. After two years in the Elite Pathway Program, he hesitated, feeling overwhelmed and unsure. But the staff didn’t give up. They encouraged him, and said something simple but powerful: “You only live once—and this is a chance you’ll never get back.” So, he went, breaking through of his comfort zone, started being the best version of himself, living with courage.
With this story, we want to recognize the SLD staff, the UPO the Guidance team, and Admissions — those who quietly walk beside us, guiding and believing in our potential. Today, we thank them for their impact echoes in who we’ve become. Let’s not take that for granted.
A graduate student who fell sick late one night, feeling exhausted and feverish. At 4 a.m., she called the front desk, just asking for some fresh air. But the staff didn’t just say yes—she walked with her, stayed with her, and made sure she was never alone. When she needed to go to the hospital, they found someone to go with her and waited by her side for 4 hours. In that moment, the student didn’t just feel cared for—she felt loved.
With this story, we want to recognize the Residence staff, the Medical and Wellness team, and Chartwell — the ones who care for our health, well-being, and daily life. Today, we thank them for showing up with quiet compassion we always feel. Let’s not take that for granted.
There was one semester when a teacher of a graduate student had to step away—she was diagnosed with cancer and went on sick leave. We all expected her to rest. But near the end, she came back to visit her student. Still weak, still recovering—but she stood in front of the class anyway. Not because she had to, but because she wanted them to know that she was going to be okay. And in that moment, we didn’t just see a teacher. We saw resilience, love, and someone who reminded us that the most powerful lessons aren’t always taught from a textbook—but shown through actions.
With this story, we want to recognize the teachers, the Academic Office, and the Accounting Office — the ones who guide, support, and hold this place together. Today, we thank them for making learning possible through care, presence, and quiet dedication. Let’s not take that for granted.
Before I end the speech, let’s take a moment to thank the people who made all of this possible — our parents. They gave us the chance to come here, to grow not just in school, but in life. They trusted us to live on our own, to become independent. That trust is a gift. It’s not easy to let go of the child they’ve cared for many years. But they did it, because they want us to have more, to go further, to live a life full of opportunity. Our parents want us to have a better future than they had. And for that, they’ve sacrificed more than we may ever fully understand. So, if your parents are here today, please make sure to give them a hug after the ceremony. If they’re not here, give them a call.
We’ve come a long way — not just in what we’ve learned, but in who we’ve become. And none of that happened alone. The kindness and care we’ve received from so many isn’t an obligation — it’s a choice. Looking back at our journey, we can see how much we’ve been given — and how often we took it for granted. From teachers, friends, staffs, and parents every bit of it helped shape us. All of this wasn’t just given, it was earned with love and dedication. So today, let’s recognize all that we’ve been given, and let’s never take it for granted again.
As we move forward, let’s carry the same spirit, the spirit to appreciate, to give back, and to honour those who care us with love. Thank you for listening.
