Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — In his highly inspiring speech, eminent journalist Khaled Almaeena urged students to embrace values and spread their fragrance around them. "Don't let negativism control you but go on a positive mood and be truthful to yourself and people around you. There would be moments when you feel that life is cruel to you, and but if you look around, you see people die in sea, and young people are being thrown out of boats by smugglers and pirates. You should be thankful for at least being in the parameters of safety and security," he said in his motivational speech to the students. "The education that you obtained is a dress rehearsal of what is to come. Don't think that life is idealistic, for it is a cruel world outside with many challenges and domineering personalities, and you might encounter bullies at the workplace and then you might long for the calm and secure school days." Infusing confidence in the graduates, Almaeena said: "As you grow up, you face many challenges in life, and then you learn to have control on yourself. Do not be angry and intolerant but instead focus on tolerance and acceptance of other people. Be what you want to be, and be the first rate of yourself and not the second rate of somebody else. Have some kind of innate feeling of yourself that you are the best of what you are and help people around you as much as possible. "While growing up and experiencing the real test of life, never feel insecure. The idea of education is not only to get a job but also to enable you to play a vital role in life and do something for the society. First respect yourself, then respect teachers, parents and elders, and have compassion, empathy and kindness not only to family and friends but also to strangers as well." He advised students to become part of change for good for themselves, as well as for their country. Consul General B.S. Mubarak, in his speech, called "Almaeena a great Indologist, great journalist and a great admirer of India." And Almaeena showed why with his wide knowledge of India. He highlighted the richness of India that could be seen in every detail: "You come from India, which is a very beautiful country. Being a life-long observer of India, I say it is a mosaic of beautiful jewelry and it is like a beautiful painting that should be well taken care of. So do not leave politics to the politicians for each one of you has to play a vital role in the political life of the world's largest democracy. Do something to enhance the quality of life of people around you," he said, adding that your country is very rich in every aspect, and the beauty of India lies in its own culture. "So people of India do not import foreign culture and foreign type of dresses but follow theirs."
