Kylie Moon is the first First Ascent Scholar to graduate from the University of Utah David Eccles School of Business. At a recent dinner honor current and new First Ascent Scholars, she delivered this speech.
In light of this annual celebration dinner, I want to start by saying congratulations to each scholar, new and old, here today. For those of you I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting, my name is Kylee Moon. It was only about three years ago that I was in your shoes. Today, I stand here as the first First Ascent Scholar to have graduated from the University of Utah. Having never imagined that I might one day set foot in a college classroom, graduating nonetheless was a monumental moment in my life, and I can assure you it will make as large of a difference in your lives as it has in mine.
By the raise of hands, how many of you never imagined you’d make it to college? High school was going to be the end of the road for us, right? Yet here I am. And here you are. This deserves a round of applause. The fact that we share this room together speaks volumes about the person each of you are today and the person you want to become. I may not yet know you personally, but I know that because you are here means that above all else, you take action and for me that has made all the difference in my story this far.
Personally, I can say that the chapters of my story prior to attending college are almost unrecognizable from the chapters I’ve since written. There was a time when my father’s alcohol addiction and abuse had flooded my home completely. I viewed my mom being held back by a destructive 15-year marriage. With no college degree, she had little to support her children with when she took the risk of leaving. But like all of you, instead of choosing to be a victim of circumstance, I took action. I continued to pursue excellence in my high school education while trying to heal alongside my family. And never did I feel like my actions had paid off more than when I first learned I had been chosen as a First Ascent Scholar.
For me, receiving this scholarship meant the possibility for me to gain a college education that would translate into a career and a lifestyle. A college education meant the ability to excel after struggle and grow beyond limitations that others in my life weren’t able to surpass. It meant I could finally find success no matter what financial disadvantages I may have experienced in the past. It meant that as a first-generation college student, I could be the role model for my two younger siblings. Now that I have that college education, I can stand here today and tell you all those things I wanted for myself a few years ago, I have today.
More than anyone else, it was my fellow First Ascent Scholars, board members, mentors and donors who allowed me to shape the chapters that followed my personal struggles. Together, we filled them with all-night study sessions and passed tests, first plane rides and destinations that previously seemed impossible to reach and, most importantly, friends that have turned into family. It was those of you in this room who reminded me time and time again that my story has no limits. And now as a graduate of the University of Utah, I know that you were right all along.
So to my First Ascent family, I owe you one of the biggest thank yous I’ll ever give. And to the newest First Ascent Scholars, I want to leave you with one piece of advice that I hope helps you write your own story: You are here because you followed your heart and took action. One of the greatest gifts you can give yourself now is to not stop taking action. I hope that all of you will let your actions continue to speak so loud they drown out any fear of failure. Thank you and best of luck.