SUTD Class of 2020 Commencement - Speech by Mr Sam Goi

30 Oct 2021

尊敬的新加坡前总统陈庆炎博士 - SUTD名誉校长、
Guest of Honour, Dr Tony Tan – Former President of Singapore and SUTD Chancellor
 
陈庆珠教授 - 新加坡外交部巡回大使、
Professor Chan Heng Chee, Ambassador-at-Large
 
黄志达先生 - SUTD前董事会主席
Mr Philip Ng, former Chairman of SUTD Board of Trustees
 
张道昌教授 - SUTD校长、SUTD老师、学生们
Professor Chong Tow Chong, President SUTD, Faculty & Staff, Students,
 
各位先生、女士们、
Ladies and gentlemen
 
大家早上好!
Good morning!

谢谢大家抽空出席，特别是前总统陈庆炎博士，在百忙之中，抽出宝贵时间来主持这个典礼，谢谢您！
Thank you all for taking time to be here today, particularly Former President, Dr Tony Tan for gracing this occasion as our Guest-of-Honour – thank you very much!
 
今天对我来说，非常意义重大，获得荣誉博士的学位，是我从来没有想过的，也是我最感恩和光荣的时刻。感谢SUTD给予我的信任和荣誉。
Today’s event is of special significance to me. I never thought that I would be conferred this Honorary Degree of Doctor of Letters. My heartfelt gratitude to SUTD for this honour and trust.
 
我中学毕业后，在我爸爸公司工作了8个月，然后自己创业。从来不敢想象，自己有一天会得到荣誉博士。 
After I graduated from secondary school, I worked for my father for 8 months before I struck out on my own. I never once dared to imagine that one day I would have an honorary doctorate degree.
 
在学校的时候，我不是一位成绩优秀的学生，也不大爱读书，而且很顽皮。
As some of you may know my story, I wasn’t an exemplary student in school – I am not the studious type and was very playful.
 
在千变万化的社会里，我虚心学习，在时代的转变中，我要求自己，在逆境中，不轻易放弃，只许成功，不许失败，时刻追求着百尺竿头，更上一层楼。
I soon realised that in a diverse and constantly evolving real world, I have to keep on learning. I resolved never to give up, to be determined to succeed and never to allow any challenges to discourage my pursuit for excellence.
 
新加坡今天的成功，我们要感谢国父李光耀先生。假如当年我没有来新加坡的话，我就不是今天的我，我可能是一位农夫，所以我感恩新加坡给我的一切。
For all that I have achieved, I am deeply thankful to Singapore’s founding father, the late Mr Lee Kuan Yew. If not for Singapore, I may not have achieved so much. Perhaps, I may have been a farmer.
 
SUTD是培养全球科技人才的重要学府之一，能够在这里得到荣誉博士，我感到受之有愧。谢谢SUTD对我的认可。
I am deeply honoured to be conferred this honorary degree from such an esteemed institution of higher learning such as SUTD, who nurtures the very best talents in innovation. Thank you SUTD for your trust in me.
 
荣誉博士，对我来说，是一种鼓励，也是一种无形的压力。鼓励我，继续学习，对社会做出更多的贡献。无形的压力，我必须做得更好。
I must say that while this honorary doctorate is an immense encouragement to me, it also adds indirect pressure. It encourages me to keep on learning and to contribute even more to society. It compels me to achieve more for society.
 
这份荣誉，也会启发更多年轻企业家，为社会尽心，为国家尽力，是每一位企业家责无旁贷的使命。
I hope this great honour will inspire young entrepreneurs to do more for society and to make a difference to our country. This is an entrepreneur’s responsibility.

我在这里要感谢我的父母养育之恩、也感谢吴作栋荣誉国务资政一直对SUTD的大力支持、学校前董事会主席-黄志达先生无私地为学校奉献。我也谢谢我的太太和家人一路来对我的支持。
I would like to take this opportunity to pay a special tribute to my late parents for nurturing me. And to Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong for the strong support that he has shown toward SUTD. I would also like to express appreciation to the former Chairman of SUTD Board of Trustees, Mr Philip Ng, for his selfless contributions to the University. I would also like to thank my wife and family for their unwavering support to me.
 
21世纪是个变化无穷的世纪，我深信SUTD会培养出更多杰出科技人才，为新加坡和全球科技创新发展，做出无限的贡献。
The 21st century is fraught with changes and challenges. I deeply believe that SUTD is strategically positioned to nurture excellent, talented individuals who will be able to transform Singapore and the world.

Please allow me to close in English. I know that some of you may not understand Mandarin and I apologise.

Today is a very important day for all graduating students. Soon you will go out into the world and contribute your talents to the good of society.

I wish you the very best.
 
Please allow me to wish everyone here the very best of health and a brighter tomorrow! Thank you.
  
最后，祝福大家，身体健康，明天会更好。