A valedictorian from Early College High School in Texas, Alem Hadzic, gave a powerful and emotional speech dedicated to his father just hours after attending his funeral. Hadzic, wearing muddy shoes from burying his father, revealed the tragedy during his graduation speech to his classmates. His heartfelt revelation shocked the audience, eliciting cries and empathy from those in attendance. Hadzic’s father, Miralem, had been diagnosed with cancer five months prior to the ceremony, and Alem chose to keep his father’s illness a secret from his peers.
Despite the difficult circumstances, Alem Hadzic delivered his speech, encouraging his classmates and sharing that his father was the reason he achieved the top spot in his class. The young graduate, who will be studying chemical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin, expressed his determination to work hard and achieve his goals in honor of his father. Following the ceremony, Hadzic was moved to see the impact his father’s death had on those around him, with many people approaching him to offer support and encouragement on his emotional day.
Reflecting on the experience, Hadzic shared that he felt overwhelmed by the number of people who were moved by his father’s passing. Despite being met with support from strangers, Alem admitted that he was scared to deliver his speech as his life had drastically changed since initially writing it. He made a last-minute decision to speak from the heart about his experience with his father’s death, rather than sticking to his prepared remarks. A GoFundMe page was created by a relative of one of Miralem Hadzic’s co-workers to offer support following his cancer diagnosis.
The Carrolton Farmers Branch Independent School District praised Hadzic’s decision to keep his father’s illness private in order to prevent others from treating him differently. The strength and resilience shown by Alem during his graduation speech resonated with many in the audience, who were moved by his dedication to his father’s memory and his determination to succeed in his future endeavors. Despite the challenging circumstances surrounding his graduation day, Hadzic’s emotional speech and unwavering commitment to his goals left a lasting impact on those in attendance.
