June 12, 2006
Embassy of the United States of America
Belgrade

Ambassador Polt Congratulates Graduates of International School of Belgrade

On Saturday, June 10, Ambassador Michael C. Polt joined Serbian Minister of Education and Sports Vuksanovic and the staff and students of the International School of Belgrade to celebrate the first graduation of ISB students. The following is an excerpt from Ambassador Polt's speech:

"How fitting it is that the first graduation ceremony of the International School of Belgrade will signal the end of one stage and the beginning of another for both an American and a Serbian student. [The students] have been extremely fortunate to be able to study in an environment such as this, a place of internationalism, a place of openness, a place where cultures come together, learn from, and appreciate each other -- in a region where cultures clashed not long ago in a bloody conflict, a region where Serbians, Americans, and Europeans are looking for common solutions.

"We are here to recognize a period of change and with change comes opportunity. Transition is rarely easy, and the adjustments they will make over the next several months and years as these two students continue on to college or other ventures will be some of the most important of their lives.

"There will be opportunities to succeed and opportunities to fail. Both successes and setbacks will help them to grow. Only wasting those opportunities would be a real loss. Positive change involves risk, it involves courage, and it requires personal leadership. As these two forge new trails in life, they will, if they aim high enough, also meet resistance. Robert Kennedy once said 'if there's nobody in your way, it's because you're not going anywhere.'

"There is no doubt, if you aim high enough, that you will be confronted by those who say that your efforts to change the world or improve the lot of those around you do not mean much in the grand scheme of things. Some may even actively oppose you. But no matter how impotent you may sometimes feel, you can make a difference, not necessarily by your physical strength, but by the force of your convictions.

"Serbia is also facing a time of change and opportunity right now. Some of this is clearly painful. The country is struggling with the challenge of reaching for a higher goal, a brighter future, or succumbing to the ghosts of the past. The jury is still out which way Serbia will go. I know what the Serbian people deserve -- success. Success in acknowledging and shedding the past. Success in creating a just, fair, and democratic society. Success in creating hope for a new generation of Serbian citizens. Success in joining in partnership with Europe and the United States. And finally, success in 'going somewhere,' in Robert Kennedy's words, and not letting the ghosts of the past stand in their way."

Ambassador Polt addresses the audience at the International School of Belgrade

Minister Vuksanovic, Ambassador Polt and the graduates of the International School of Belgrade

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