UMT Graduation Ceremony 2017:

Mr Stephen LAM, 2017 UMT MBA Graduate Representative

Mr. Hon Kwong (Stephen) Lam used his stories to encourage fellow graduates to take a chance on doing what they love. Besides, he shared with us an individual will only ever have two choices: love or fear. Choose love, and don’t ever let fear turn you against your playful heart.

On behalf of my fellow MBA graduates, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the university for conferring degrees on us. I would also like to thank the UMT for asking me to speak on behalf of my fellow graduates.
I am excited to be here, not only to address the UMT 2017 graduation ceremony but to graduate in same year as my younger daughter (Sheryl) whom graduate from kindergarten.
Excuse me if I seem a little low energy tonight. I slept with my head to the North last night.
Life doesn’t happen to us, it happens for us. How do I know this? I don’t, but I’m making things better, and that’s the important thing. Sometimes, I think that's one of the only things that is important. Just letting each other know we are here, reminding each other that we are part of a larger self, and we could be a better self.
Four years ago, I worked as an IT Manager in Macau and started my MBA program in UMT. Pursuit of a MBA degree is my lifetime.
Fear is going to be a player in our life, but we get to decide how much. We can spend our whole life imagining ghosts, worrying about our pathway to the future, but all there will ever be is what’s happening here, and the decisions we make in this moment, which are based in either love or fear.
My father could have been a great business man, but he didn’t believe that was possible for him, and so he made a conservative choice. Instead, he got a safe job as an accountant, and when I was 10 years old, he was let go from that safe job and our family had to do whatever we could to survive.
I learned many great lessons from my father, not the least of which was that you can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.
I’d like to acknowledge all you wonderful parents — way to go for the fantastic job you’ve done — for your tireless dedication, your love, your support, and most of all, for the attention you’ve paid to your children.
Today marks an important day in your lives – yet, it is a beginning of a journey.
You are ready and able to do beautiful things in this world and after you walk through those doors today, you will only ever have two choices: love or fear. Choose love, and don’t ever let fear turn you against your playful heart.
Thank you. UMT. I’m so honored. Thank you.

Stephen LAM
MBA, UMT US