Valedictory Speech of The 31st PolyU School of Design Congregation (Second Session) - GONG Yanni

Dear guests and faculty members, families and my fellow graduates of the Class of 2025 – Good afternoon.

My name is Yanni, though many of you know me as Coco, a graduate in Environment and Interior Design.

Each of us will carry our own unique reflections from our time here. So, It is an immense honour to stand before you today sharing mine.

The first thing I wish to express is gratitude. To individually thank every person who helped us reach this grand finale would take hours. To fully credit every moment that contributed to our growth would take years. So, allow me simply to say: thank you. Thank you to our professors, our support systems, and to each other. For every lesson, every laugh, and every late night - I am profoundly grateful.

These years, woven with both exertion and joy, have given us memories we will long treasure. The experiences and lessons learned here have become our foundation. But as I held tight to these shared memories, I began to wonder: if these experiences define us collectively, then what defines me individually?

This brings me to my second point: the balance between our collective and individual identities. Our lifestyle, as designers, is a study in beautiful contradictions. Chaotic schedules versus organised boards. Waves of abrupt emotion, countered by deep wells of patience. We are known for immersing ourselves in the studio, forgetting sleep and meals, yet we also champion the art of living - travelling, exercising, and seeking inspiration.

But we are more than just designers. We are also grandchildren, children, siblings, and friends. We have other duties, other loves, other compromises. It is precisely at the intersection of these roles - where the "designer" meets the "person" - that we truly find ourselves. If our lifestyle defines us as designers, it is our life that defines who we are.

Every profession has its demands, and it’s not just designers who find themselves stretched thin. I've come to realise the immense sacrifices made by our families and friends, who supported us when we were too busy to be present. While I am grateful for their understanding, I also aspire to be someone who can offer that same support in return, all while staying true to my professional calling. It is a difficult balance, and no one said it would be easy.

However, to achieve this balance, it is either start now or never situation, which leads me to my final thought: the power of gentle accumulation. This applies to studies, work, and interpersonal relationships. True efficiency of managing things is built through steady accumulation. From small beginnings. We are often flooded with tasks, and in those moments, it's easy to feel overwhelmed and want to give up. So, my message is this: be gentle with yourselves.

Try not to give up on communicating, because someone will always listen and understand.
Try not to give up on pushing your limits, because one day, you will achieve your goal.
And try not to give up in moments of quiet reflection, because that is often when the most meaningful changes begin.

While we share the common bond of this graduation, each of us carries a unique story. As a collective force, we gather; as a skyful of stars, we scatter. It is because we have supported one another here that each of us now has the courage to move forward, carrying the blessings of this entire community.

To our loved ones who supported us, and to us, the beloved Class of 2025 - Congratulations!

Thank you.