I have dedicated this space to honor Juliana Yazbeck (Class of 2006) for the speech she gave during her class graduation back in the summer. I was present and her delivery was simply electrifying! Enjoy.


Ladies and gentlemen
Good evening.

When a thought mixes with an emotion, what is the result? It is not a clash, but rather a harmony. It is this harmonious message which I hold in my heart and in my mind that I present to you tonight. It begins with my first day at Saint Joseph School.

Twelve years ago, as I recall, I was handed a blue card with my name in Arabic on it. At first, I was intrigued. I kept wondering whether that could possibly be my name. But then I was asked to write it. In a flash, interest turned to fright. I had never imagined what the Arabic language looked like, let alone that I would have to write in it. Before coming to Lebanon, it had never occurred to me that maybe things were actually different here, that even my name – my very own personal private name – would look and sound completely new. Juliana Yazbeck suddenly became Jouliahna Yezbik.

Soon enough, I was able to create in this language – not just copy. But I did not learn it alone. It was the love of the Lebanese. They taught me everything about them; not by dictating, but by loving, by making me a part of them.

The point of this anecdote is to emphasize my appreciation of the Lebanese people. They made me belong, even when I may have felt alienated. They shared everything – from playing “Botte sauvée, merci Botte” to protesting in Martyr’s Square. But it would be highly inconsiderate of me to overlook the fact that all this sharing and loving happened in one place: this school.

Lebanon has taught me that perhaps true love does conquer all – not just in Walt Disney’s fantasy animations. It has taught me that some people do care, and that there is good and evil, and it is possible that good prevails in some cases. It has taught me that wounds can heal and that good times lie ahead. It has taught me that SJS is a school that protects, shields, advises, and above all loves.

The first thing Saint Joseph School taught me was Arabic. Arabic is a beautiful language. It can do things no other language can dream of doing, not with all the money in the world. Arabic is beautiful, therefore SJS has taught me beauty. Arabic is noble, therefore SJS has taught me nobility. And all this I learned during my first year at school.

However, there is something else which took me twelve years to learn: Life. I must admit that it was not until this year – specifically a few months ago – that I began to appreciate the true beauty of life. That I began to tremble every time I looked at the sky and thought: “I am life.” That Lebanon’s sunsets and full moons began to make me cry. That my favorite place on earth became my great uncle’s old traditional house in Ebrine, Batroun. I began to love the simple things in life. I began to notice Lebanon’s wealth.

Lebanon’s wealth is in its people. By saying “I am life,” my voice is that of the student body present tonight. We are life. The graduating class of 2006 is an outstanding model of the Lebanese people.

The biggest treasure in the world is life, and Lebanon possesses enough life for another Earth. We are rich. We are alive.

I suppose that someday I may be on the brink of death and still be thinking: “Life. What an amazing thought.” But at least I would not have forgotten. Of that, I am certain. I am certain that I will never forget this moment. I will never forget that at eighteen, I stood up in front of a crowd and declared: “I am life.” I will never forget the love and life of the Lebanese. I will never forget how I learned about all this love; about how to love and how to live. I will never, ever, ever forget where I first learned that my mother is not the only person who loves me: right here at Saint Joseph School.

Fellow graduates, love your school.
Love your country.
Love your life.


God bless you all with as much life as possible.
Thank you Lebanon. Thank you SJS.