The impact of technology on professional life, the importance of following one’s calling, andteamwork were among the topics addressed in the speeches at the second Annual Graduation Ceremony of Universidad ORT Uruguay. The event took place on September 10, 2019, at the Dr. Adela Reta National Auditorium of Sodre.
The ceremony honored graduates from the university’s four schools: the School of Business and Social Sciences, the School of Architecture, the School of Communication and Design, and the School of Engineering.
In addition, the Academic Achievement Award was presented to graduates who stood out for their adherence to institutional principles, their academic performance, and their high grades.
Initiating Change in Uruguay
Pamela Nogués, a graduate of the Bachelor’s Degree in Management and Administration, spoke on behalf of the School of Administration and Social Sciences. She began her speech by recalling the time she went to the school to pick up her graduation tickets. Although her plan was to pick up the tickets and leave, she ended up staying for quite a while, chatting with various people and feeling right at home.
“When I was in my first semester, I wanted to graduate. Now, I’d love to be a student again,” she reflected, highlighting the bonds she formed with classmates, as well as with professors and coordinators who influenced her not only academically but also personally.
“Graduates: I want you to look around. Do you realize how many partners we have to bring about change in Uruguay? What are we waiting for?” said Nogués, adding: “There will be things that go wrong, but if we’re here today, it’s because we have all the tools we need to overcome any obstacle along the way.”
Bringing ideas to life
Architect Camilo De los Santos, speaking on behalf of the School of Architecture, recalled how, as a child, he was captivated by the landscape of Montevideo: “I’ve always loved architecture. As a boy, I witnessed the construction of the two World Trade Center towers. I was struck by their sheer scale and how they were built.” Since then, he has come a long way.
His degree provided him with the tools to become a professional, as well as the opportunity to understand the importance of teamwork and the connection between architecture and society. “Architecture is one of the tools for bringing the imagined to life,” the graduate concluded.
Technology and Humanity
“No one ends up studying multimedia design by chance. I don’t think we would have made it this far if it weren’t for our personal histories and life experiences,” said Florencia Yannuzzi, a graduate of the Bachelor’s program in Multimedia Design, speaking on behalf of the School of Communication and Design. In her case, she recalled that ever since she was a child, she had enjoyed playing with robots, conducting experiments, and was also interested in technology.
He emphasized the importance, as multimedia design graduates, of“bringing a creative vision to the digital world in which we live,” and highlighted the “obligation to put what we have learned into practice” and to combine “technology and humanity in order to evolve as a society.”
A moment for planning
“Today marks a very important moment in our lives—so important that society rewards us by changing our titles and adding new ones: ‘Engineer,’ ‘Accountant,’ ‘Bachelor’s Degree Holder,’” reflected Leticia Esperon, a graduate in Systems Engineering, speaking on behalf of the School of Engineering. She added that, if life is a staircase, graduation is “a landing,” since “it allows us to pause for a moment and plan for the future.”
Esperon encouraged the graduates to reflect on why they chose the path of engineering and not another: “Whatever the reason, always keep it in mind, because that is what will keep you on track. As a generation, we all experience this journey differently, at different paces, driven by different motivations, but we all arrived, and starting today, we go our separate ways. What matters is laying your head on your pillow confident that We've given it our all, and we're going to keep doing so”.
A quest for personal fulfillment
“Graduating as a professional requires skill and dedication, learning to delay gratification, working as part of a team, reaffirming or reorienting one’s career path, leaving behind the high school student you once were, and becoming a college student: more responsible, more independent, more mature. It requires determination and resilience “in the face of inevitable setbacks,” said Dr. Jorge Grünberg, rector ORT.
“Our mission isn’t just about teaching them professional techniques. It’s prepare them to learn, make decisions, and be critical and self-critical. The spirit of ORT is to provide a quality education that opens the door to a dignified and independent life. We are proud of what we have achieved throughout our history, but Our focus is on the future”, said the rector.
“Always set ambitious goals, choose challenges that push you, and work with people from whom you can learn. Remember that your life isn’t a race to success; it’s a quest for self-fulfillment”, he added. “Try to always see the world through your senses, not through your prejudices.”
“Remember that the threat in this new world is not free trade, immigrants, or robots,” the rector concluded. “The threat in this new world is ignorance”.
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