The former Indian Consul General, Upjit Singh Sachdeva, alias Jeety, has implored graduates of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion University (AMEZU) to prove their worth as graduates, as university life has given them considerable disposition to start a working life.
Jeety’s statement was contained in his speech delivered on April 22, 2021 when he served as Commencement Speaker at the 30th commencement convocation of the A.M.E. Zion University, held in Po River, Bomi County.
Speaking on the theme, “Setting Higher Expectations”, Jeety told the graduates that their dreams and aspirations cannot come to reality if they do not set expectations, and in setting the standard for their expectations they must follow two golden rules: risk and imagination.
According to him, risk takes away fears—as fear blocks one from achieving his dream. “Fear does not give you the courage to direct all energy into finishing the only work that matters to you. The fear of loss causes you to freeze into a mode of inaction, thereby putting your dreams on hold—perpetually,” he said.
“We all have goals and have fears, but how you handle those fears will determine how quickly you reach your goals. Not every risk ends up as a success—when it is not successful, learn from the mistakes made, and take the necessary remedial actions through your next moves,” Jeety urged the graduates.
He said one will never truly know himself and the strength of his ability until he takes risk, as such knowledge is a true gift that is painfully gained but worth the experience.
Jeety referenced how he quitted college for a business opportunity in Liberia. He informed the gathering that, while he pursued his second law degree at the Guru Nanak Dev. University, Amritsar, India, where he obtained his first law degree, he decided to quit for a business opportunity in Liberia—a decision that left his family gravely heartbroken, angry and furious, as they wanted him to become a lawyer. He said because being a lawyer was not his calling, he took the risk to quit law school and pursue his dream.
“I had a dream of becoming a business tycoon, and decades later that dream has now become a reality. However, this realization would not have happened if I had not taken the risk to abandon my law studies to pursue what I love doing the most—business,” Jeety explained.
Jeety further told the AMEZU graduates that, in order to take risk, one must follow imagination. “You cannot take risk just because you want to do so; it must be backed by imagination. In my case, I had an imagination of becoming a business tycoon, and I took the risk to implement it,” he added.
He emphasized that no one wants to be a failure; however, to be successful one has to take risk and follow imagination. According to him, Bill Gates, Elon Musk, Jack Ma, Mark Zuckerberg, Aliko Dangote and many more successful people did not close their hearts to their imagination—they follow them instead of being trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people’s thinking.
“Dear graduates, do not allow anything to deter you from taking the first steps toward your imagination. In addition, do not spend so much time trying to choose the perfect opportunity that you miss the right opportunity. Know that there will be failures and obstacles, but this should not be a reason why you will not want to follow your imagination,” he urged the graduates.
He thanked the graduates for the hard work and for the countless nights and days they took to study in the midst of the many difficulties and challenges. He also thanked the AME Zion University for affording him the opportunity to serve as Commencement Speaker for the 30th Commencement Convocation, as he felt greatly honored to be selected among many notable and many distinguished personalities who would have served otherwise. “I say thanks for the trust and confidence you all have reposed in me,” Jeety noted.
Meanwhile, the African Methodist Episcopal Zion University has conferred an honorary doctorate degree on its 30th Commencement Convocation speaker, Jeety.