Andrew Leavitt, Ph.D. Chancellor | Official website
Andrew Leavitt, Ph.D. Chancellor | Official website
Daisy Wilson delivered a poignant address at the University of Wisconsin–Oshkosh Midyear Commencement ceremony on December 14, 2024. Reflecting on her journey, she recounted a pivotal moment during her senior year of high school when she faced the possibility of not graduating on time due to incomplete online courses. "You will not graduate on time if you do not complete your online courses by the beginning of June," an email had warned her.
Despite setbacks including expulsion and failing grades, Wilson described hitting rock bottom as a turning point. She eventually graduated from high school a year later and found work through a temp agency. Her decision to apply to UWO marked the beginning of transformative changes in her life.
"Fast forward to this commencement ceremony, my past illuminates an important aspect of our lives: some decisions can get you nowhere fast, but the value of each decision that gets you somewhere slowly," she stated.
Wilson expressed gratitude towards UWO faculty and staff who played significant roles in her development. She acknowledged professors Brant Kedrowski, Anca Miron, Quinn Chroback, Gregory Adler, Jennifer Milhalik, David Lishner, Kevin Crawford, Sheri Lense, Sarah Kofler, Cordelia Bowlus, Sabrina Mueller-Spitz, Belynda Pinkston, and Phan Hong-Lishner for their support and guidance.
In closing her speech to fellow graduates and guests at the ceremony, Wilson emphasized personal growth and the importance of decisions in shaping one's future. "Let’s all embrace and value the decisions that get us to our somewhere slowly," she concluded.
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