As graduation season sweeps across the nation, commencement speakers are taking the stage, sharing their words of wisdom. Among them, Lydia Owens, the valedictorian of Woodmont High School in Piedmont, South Carolina, captivated the hearts and minds of her classmates with a speech that has since gone viral. What made her speech so unique? Lydia fearlessly infused her faith into her message.
Like many speeches, Lydia’s began with a personal story of hardship and triumph. She reminded her fellow graduates that their worth extended far beyond academic achievement. “You are so much more than how well you perform,” she declared. With unwavering conviction, Lydia posed a thought-provoking question: “If you place your identity in what you accomplish and believe you’re only good enough when you succeed, what happens when you fail? What happens when you face financial challenges or a lack of companionship?”
