…As President Frazier says ‘make positive impact on the world around you’
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), African Medical Centre of Excellence, Abuja, Brian Deaver, has advised the Class of 2025 of the American University of Nigeria (AUN) to aim for excellence in their future endeavours.
The graduands were also urged by DeWayne Frazier, president of AUN, to make positive impact on the world around them.
The pieces of advice were given during the AUN Commencement Ceremony in Yola, Adamawa State, recently.
Deaver said: “Today, I will offer more than just encouragement, I will offer a challenge, a call to rise above the average, and to never settle for less than your exhaustive and passionate best. I mentioned this day being an important milestone. In ancient Rome, stone markers were placed along roads to show the traveller the distance travelled. The stones were typically one mile apart—hence the word ‘mile-stone.’
“Today, we will talk about a phrase that has and will continue to follow you into every classroom, conference room, boardroom, courtroom, hospital, studio, and startup that you enter. A phrase that sounds innocent enough, even comforting. But be very careful, this is a trap. It is a quiet assassin of potential. That phrase is: ‘Good enough.’
“’Good enough’ is the voice that tells you to turn in the assignment before checking it one more time. It is the whisper that says, ‘Why push harder when no one is watching?’ It is the satisfied shrug that kills innovation, poisons relationships, and buries dreams,” he said.
According to him, ‘“Good enough,’ my friends, is the enemy of excellence. Let’s make this very clear: ‘Good enough’ is not about effort, it’s about surrender. It’s what we say when we decide that convenience is more valuable than growth. That
comfort is better than greatness. Some people believe that excellence is an unattainable ideal. They say, ‘You can’t be excellent all the time.’”
He expressed the optimism that “If this generation, your generation, is determined to abandon ‘good enough,’ then Nigeria will not rise slowly… she will rise like the morning sun: bold, bright, undeniable, and unstoppable.”
The Health expert further advised the graduands to take perfect control of their future with the robust training they have received at AUN.
He said: “Now, you have the education, the exposure, the vision. But more importantly, you have the responsibility. Excellence comes at a cost but not the type of cost you are thinking. It will cost you excuses. It will cost you your ego. It will cost you comfort. And sometimes, it may cost you extra time. But what it gives back is immeasurable: Respect. Impact. Legacy. The truth is, most people never regret trying harder. They only regret the moment they stopped. That moment when ‘good enough’ felt safer than ‘what could have been.’
“My young friends, commit to yourselves that you will not leave this great institution with just your degree. Leave AUN with this decision: That you will not settle. Not for yourself. Not for your country. Not for your future. You didn’t come this far to be ‘good enough.’ You came to build something excellent, something lasting— something that makes people say, ‘They did it differently.’”
Advising the graduating class of 2025, he said: “You are not the future. You are the present that will shape the future. Be excellent today. Execute your plans today. Do it now. Go forward. Produce excellence. Be relentless. Be kind. Be humble.
“And whenever life tempts you to say, ‘This is good enough,’ I want you to remember this
day, this setting, our little time together… and say: ‘No. That’s not who I am. There is so much more that I am capable of doing, I will pursue nothing less than my very best, and my very best will change the world.’”
Earlier in his remarks, DeWayne Frazier, president of AUN, advised the graduands to make positive impact on the world around them.
Frazier said: “This day marks a significant milestone in your lives, and it is a testament to your determination and resilience to pursue your dreams. You have shown us what it means to dream big, to pursue your passions, and to overcome challenges with grace and fortitude.
“You leave this institution equipped with knowledge, skills, and experiences that will serve as a solid foundation for your future endeavors. Take pride in what you have achieved, and let it fuel your aspirations for the future. You all are not just educated in ‘book smarts’ we have taken the time to teach you about entrepreneurship and the value of service.”
According to him, “As you embark on the next chapter of your lives, remember that success is not solely defined by grades or accolades. It is about finding purpose, pursuing passions, and making a positive impact on the world around you. Embrace challenges, seek opportunities for growth, and never lose sight of the values and principles that have guided you thus far. As we gather here today to celebrate this milestone, let us embrace the spirit of gratitude, reflection, and optimism.”
