A speech unlike any other was delivered to fellow classmates of Alem Hadzic. This valedictorian honors his late father in his touching graduation speech. When the 18-year-old took the stage to deliver a speech at his recent high school graduation, he stood with trembling arms and mud-stained shoes. The valedictorian’s journey to this moment was fraught with profound emotion and immense strength.

May 16 was unlike any other day in Alem’s life. Earlier that morning, Alem had attended the funeral of his father, Miralem Hadzic, who had passed away on May 15 after a grueling battle with pancreatic cancer. Despite the heartache and the heavy burden of loss, Alem made the courageous decision to speak at his graduation ceremony.

"I didn’t know if I could give my speech. I knew I had to, but I didn’t know if I could," Alem recalled. His quiet demeanor and somber expression spoke volumes as he walked to the podium, his heart still raw from the morning’s farewell 45 minutes prior to graduation.

Some people, no doubt, were concerned about how quiet and withdrawn Alem had seemed. He had never shared with his classmates or teachers about his father’s battle with cancer until the moment he began his speech. The weight of grief was evident, but Alem’s determination to honor his father’s legacy was stronger.

Despite the emotional turmoil, Alem delivered a speech that resonated deeply with everyone present. His words, filled with raw honesty and heartfelt emotion, brought tears and a standing ovation from the audience. He went off script and began speaking from the heart. Alem revealed that his beloved dad had been diagnosed with cancer in January and he shared his father’s story to inspire his peers to understand their own motivations and to persevere in honor of their loved ones. 

"I said that I didn't want to be up there, but I couldn't throw something away that he worked so hard for me to achieve. And that's why I'm going to college, and I'm going to work every single hour of every single day, and I'm going to do it for him," Alem recounted. Alem was humbled and grateful that his father had built a life by delivering pizzas after coming to America as an immigrant from Bosinia. 

Alem’s words echoed the sentiment of Ephesians 6:2-3: “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise—“so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy a long life on the earth.” His speech was a testament to his father's self-sacrificing spirit and unwavering support.

Despite the tremendous loss, Alem will carry the torch of his father’s legacy and continue to make his father proud even though he is no longer with the living. Alem's journey is a powerful reminder of the strength and resilience that love and faith can provide. As he steps into the future, Alem carries with him the enduring legacy of his father's love and the profound impact of his unwavering support.

Ephesians 6:2-3 “Honor thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise;  that it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”