By Nur Iman Eirfan
GOMBAK, 6 December 2022: “You can’t be paralyzed by fear or failure,” said Muhannad Munir Lallmahamood in his valedictorian speech at the third session of the 38th IIUM Convocation Ceremony on 4 December.
Muhannad began his speech with an inspiring tale during his first year, where he was selected to participate in the Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition, but lacked critical knowledge of the subject matter.
“I was worried that I couldn’t handle the pressure and planned of quitting the team after two months,” he said.
After making mistakes in his first competition, Muhannad realised he was afraid of making mistakes and didn’t have faith in himself. Upon accepting his failure, he became the 9th best speaker in the competition.
Following the inspiring story, he shared to the audience that, “Don’t be afraid to fail, and have faith in yourself.”
He also shared an Arabic proverb which he translated to, “Even if you make mistakes, you should see them as lessons and grow from them.”
Muhannad thanked his friends and family who supported him along his journey especially his mother. “She took care of me in such a way that I never felt lacking in anything,” he expressed.
He ended his speech by asking graduands to look back upon their journey in IIUM with fondness.***