Today we are talking to Asif Ali Gohar about his recent experience of speaking at the latest college graduation. This is an honor that is reserved for prior grads who is considered to be successful and to have wisdom to share with the grads. Now, we can hear about the experience from his side.
How does it feel to be considered a success by your old school?
It is a wonderful feeling to know that the people who taught me my business skills are proud of what I did with those skills. I was already running a business by the time I got to college, so I was putting into practice the things that I was learning, and it is a huge compliment to know that they are proud of me.
Do you think that the things you said will stick with the grads or was it maybe too exciting of a day to take in much?
I think in situations like that you remember key things. They will remember the feelings more than the words, and the direction of the speech without the details. Hopefully it will be enough that it meant something, but they are all recorded, and they can play it back later if they think they missed something. If each student takes away one thing from what I offered, then it will have achieved the goal that I set.
When you were in school did you remember all the speeches, or do you think those things are just for the moment?
Haha Well I remember some, and I don't remember others. The speeches at grad can be overshadowed with the feelings, the excitement, and the thoughts that are going through your mind are loud. You may even recall things later that you didn't catch the first time, you will just be doing something, and it will bring up a memory.
Was it stressful for you to do the speech? All those fresh grads looking for encouragement, praise, or something that may apply to them specifically sounds a little stressful to me.
Oh yes, it is stressful, but it is also exciting. It is a great opportunity to share the things I learned, to give them hope and be an example of what can happen if you take chances and do things that matter. I know that they are listening and hoping for any little bit of information that will make them feel better leaving school. It is my job at that moment to provide them the energy, hope, and excitement that will help see them through the hard parts. That's a lot of pressure but it is an honor to do it and I really hope that I was able to reach someone in that crowd.
Thank you for sharing your time and experiences with us. I hope that you will come back another time to share with us, and that you were able to reach those grads, and make a difference for them.
Thank you for having me! I hope that one day I will find a message that I reached someone, made a difference for them, maybe some will even come work at my company.
