Catanduanes State University President Dr. Gemma G. Acedo challenged members of the Class of 2026 to ensure that their success never comes at the expense of the people and communities that helped them reach graduation day.

Delivering her message during the Cluster B Commencement Exercises on June 24, President Acedo departed from the traditional focus on careers, achievements, and professional aspirations, instead centering her address on gratitude, relationships, and service.

"The world will pay you for your skills, but the world will not love you," President Acedo told the graduates, reminding them that professional success cannot replace the support of family and community.

Speaking both as university president and as a mother, she called on graduates to recognize the sacrifices made by parents, siblings, teachers, and loved ones throughout their academic journey. She urged them not to overlook those sacrifices in the pursuit of wealth, status, or career advancement.

President Acedo highlighted the role of families in sustaining students through years of study, acknowledging parents who worked, sacrificed, and persevered to provide educational opportunities for their children. She likewise encouraged graduates to remain present in the lives of their families even as they pursue their ambitions.

The University president also turned attention to the graduates' communities, reminding them that their accomplishments were shaped not only by individual effort but also by the environments in which they were raised.

"Do not use your education to escape your family. Use it to elevate them. Do not use your success to mock your community. Use it to restore it," she said.