Dear High School Graduates!

Today, first and foremost, I would like to congratulate you on completing secondary school. This is a major step in your lives. I know that many of you worked very hard to achieve this goal. I am very proud of you. This is an important moment in your lives, one that you will certainly remember for many years.

In a few days, you will face one of the most important examinations of your lives so far, not without reason called the maturity examination. An enormous responsibility and pressure rest on your shoulders. In a few weeks, you will learn your matura examination results and, regardless of what they are, remember that you have many opportunities and paths to choose from. This is only one stage of life, and it does not completely define your future. Today, reality offers many paths, and the regions of the world have become closer than ever. The most important thing is that you do not lose your passion and faith in your own abilities. Every experience allows us to grow and learn. Of course, I wish you the very best and fulfilled lives. We will celebrate every success of yours. And this is not about fulfilling the “American dream,” or encouraging competition and the “rat race.” Quite the opposite. Find your place on Earth, your own unique space and idea for life. What is best and most important for YOU… is good for YOU. A wonderful side effect of such a situation is well-being, balance and happiness, which each of us strives for, even when we do not openly admit it. There is no one proven recipe for this. Each of us is a bit of an amateur, aiming to improvise. All the more so because young people today are searching for new definitions, as many systemic suggestions and traditional hints are no longer relevant. As Steve Jobs wisely said: “Our time is limited, so do not waste it living someone else’s life. Do not let yourselves be trapped by dogma—which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Do not let the noise of other people’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”

Remember that in this fragile and brief gift called Life, the most important thing is Life. Do not allow others to define it for you, let alone diminish it or subject it to hate.

At the same time, I would like to say a few words about the future that awaits you in this complicated world. We live in times full of challenges and uncertainty, where many problems concern not just one country or region, but the entire world. However, you should not be afraid of what lies ahead. Quite the opposite. Look ahead with optimism and faith. You are young people who have much to offer the world. Believe in your talents and abilities, and you will achieve a great deal in life. The future may seem uncertain and difficult, but it is also a time of great opportunities. You are part of a generation that will have the chance to shape the world according to its needs. Use your energy, enthusiasm and creativity to bring about positive changes in a world that increasingly needs your sensitivity, reason and courage.

I wish you success on the rest of your journey through life. May your dreams and goals always lie ahead of you, and may each day bring new challenges. Remember that nothing is impossible if you believe in yourselves and work hard.

I also congratulate the parents, form teachers, teachers and headteachers who, for years, have helped shape the success of our education system, which, as is already customary, consistently ranks on the podium in the Lower Silesian voivodeship in rankings and industry comparisons.

Finally, I would like to wish Our Graduates every success and remind you that our County will always support you. Once again, congratulations on completing school, and I wish you all the best. Whatever your next steps may be, remember that you have an influence on your future. In a word… Reach boldly for what is yours…

And today, celebrate, dance and laugh. This is your time. Honor it and be grateful, because time passes relentlessly and quickly. Make the best possible use of it :)

Good luck
Bolesławiec County Head
Tomasz Gabrysiak