"Today is My Someday" Amanda Lisonbee 2016 WGU Summer Commencement Speech
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 4 ต.ค. 2024
- "Today is My Someday"-- Amanda Suni Lisonbee 2016 WGU Summer Commencement Speech at Western Governors University in Salt Lake City, Utah. July 16, 2016
Out of 8,047 students graduating from Western Governors University, a mother of nine kids was chosen to give the final speech at the summer graduation ceremony Saturday.
Amanda Suni Lisonbee grew up in Oregon and moved to Kimberly, Idaho, with her three children. She met and married her husband in 2010, blending her children with his three kids.
She started her degree in 2012 at the nonprofit online college based in Salt Lake City. She considered herself a "pro" stay-at-home mom.
That changed when her husband was killed in a motorcycle accident on his way home from work, one week before his 33rd birthday.
"We were having a birthday party for him, so my kids were hiding behind curtains," Lisonbee said. "But he wasn't the one who came to the door."
She was six weeks away from delivering their third child together, bringing the total number of children she cared for to nine. All of the children were under the age of 14.
"It was potentially a derailing situation," Lisonbee said. "More than ever, I needed to get this degree. This whole idea of it being off in the future just got crushed.”
A first generation college student, the 33-year-old mother decided to become a teacher and get her bachelor's degree in special education. She could work the same hours that her kids were in school and not miss parenting.
But completing her education still posed a challenge.
"I’ve literally done my homework in the bathroom,” Lisonbee said, laughing. "There have been weeks where I think, 'No, I think I’ll live in my bed.'"
Her advice to other single parents working on completing their education can be found in the theme of her commencement speech: "Today is my someday."
"Someday gets here no matter what you do. Everyday is going to pass and eventually you’re going to be at someday,” she said. "All you have to do is today. Then tomorrow, you’re going to be that much stronger and that much better. Tomorrow’s you is going to be more equipped to handle tomorrow.”
Lisonbee admitted to feeling nervous when she was selected as a commencement speaker for Saturday's ceremonies at the Jon M. Huntsman Center, but she wanted to share her story.
"I’d love to be able to share my journey because I feel like it’s something that a lot of people can relate to," she said.
Western Governors University public relations manager Jeff Burton said he interviewed over 70 graduates from around the country who applied to give commencement speeches.
When Lisonbee told her story to his committee, he said there wasn't a dry eye in the room.
"This is my fifth or sixth commencement and I’ve never been moved like I was with her story," he said. "The thing that’s amazing about her story is the perseverance."
Lisonbee said she recognizes that her journey was not made alone. She credits her success to her family and her WGU academic adviser, Lori Ellwanger.
"We’re academic advisers and life coaches, basically," Ellwanger said. "I’m a teacher, and the role of an educator is to help prepare our students for life."
Lisonbee has communicated with her adviser via phone, but she met Ellwanger face to face for the first time Thursday before Saturday's graduation.
"I love when I have the opportunity to meet my students,” Ellwanger said. "This meeting is special.”
Now that she has graduated, Lisonbee plans on teaching at a local elementary school in Kimberly where she finished her student teaching. She will be working with special education children in kindergarten through second grade.
Lisonbee said she wants to teach her kids and her classes to have faith in their future selves.
"If you can have faith in your future self that by the time you get to those things that look so overwhelming, you’ll be a different person. You’ll be a stronger person," she said. "A year from now, you’re going to be saying the same thing, ‘I survived all of this’ and it might as well be something worth something.”
Story by: Deseret News
This is about the 30th time I've listened to this speech because as a night owl, I am so proud to be recognized with people like her! Go WGU Night Owls!
I LOVE YOU MOM GOOD JOB!😀😊😄👍
Your mom is a truly inspirational woman, & has an unimaginative amount of strength & courage. I bawled while listening, & even had to pause the video to compose myself. I hope you all are doing well, & thank you for sharing your story!
BRB, I've got to go ugly cry now.
Seriously, your story is amazing!! Congratulations on all your success!!!
This is what we're all about at WGU. So proud of this graduate and so glad to have been in attendance to watch her share her story. #NightOwls
Thank you for inspiring me with your story, Amanda. Very brave of you to share.
Wow! I don't even know you, and I'm super proud of you! You have been through a lot and you didn't let that stop you, although I know there were probably times you just wanted to give up. Thank you for sharing your story and reminding those of us who are going through tough times to just keep moving forward. Congratulations on your success!
Thank you for sharing your story! Your students as well as their parents will love you! Special education teachers are truly angels from heaven.
So proud of my strong, intelligent, beautiful cousin!
Wow! There are no words that could truly describe what you and your family faced. Thank you so much for having the courage to share your story. This has not only inspired me to never give up, but to ensure I don't ever take my family for granted. Thank you, thank you. May God Bless you and your family!
I cried. So emotional. Good job. Thank you for sharing your story
Thanks for sharing your story! I pray you and your family are doing well and living a very blessed life!
Ok, note to self. Do not wear makeup to graduation because you will ugly cry and that’s not a good look. What a story of strength and perseverance. She is awesome and so is her family. RIP to her husband.
Amazing! Thank you for sharing your story!
Such an amazing and inspirational speech. Thank you for sharing.
Wow! That was incredible!
Congratulations. So motivated not to give up💯🤗
I want this to be me