The morning of Saturday, May 9, 2026, marked the 141st Commencement Ceremony of American International College, featuring a keynote address by world-class Paralympian and alumna Femita Ayanbeku Bradley ’14. Her speech to the class of 2026 was a uniquely passionate and compelling example of how AIC alumni overcome challenges and consistently reach new heights.
The following is a transcription of her address, edited for publication.
Standing here today in front of you all feels surreal, because I remember sitting exactly where you are. I remember, I was full of ambition, full of uncertainty, full of pressure, but best of all I was full of possibility.
I don’t want to stand here and say what I’m sure you’ve heard many times: that the world is your oyster and you just have to go out and embrace it – although that is true. Instead, I want to give you something real. Because once you leave this campus, the applause fades and reality will hit you. Although that sounds scary, it is the beginning of something great, if you choose to take this moment seriously.
We often celebrate graduation like it’s the finish line, but the truth is, it’s only the starting point. Success is not a viral moment. It’s not a big paycheck. It’s not a social media highlight.
Since I graduated from AIC, I’ve gone on to pursue my master’s degree, I’ve competed in three Paralympic Games, and I’m currently the fastest female amputee in the United States. On a personal note, I’ve gotten married and have two beautiful little girls. I say all that to say: without my experience here at AIC, my path in life would have never led me to all of these things.
I remember waking up for class in the morning, catching the shuttle in time so I didn’t have to run from Edgewood to main campus. I know many of you have been there before and those runs definitely wake you up for class. But imagine the discipline you had to learn or the responsibility that you had to commit to, like being a 3.0 and above student, or being a student-athlete. Whatever your journey has been, I know one thing for sure: the environment that you experienced here has undoubtedly contributed to getting you ready for the world. I really encourage you all to look at the smaller details of everything you had to learn, adapt, or adjust, to ensure you were able to be sitting in one of these seats today. It’s not a small task and it’s not an easy one, but keep that momentum going when you leave here today.
The real success of college is not simply getting your degree; it’s the things you do after you get your degree. Be purposeful in the things you seek and be intentional about accomplishing those things.
As a wife, a mom and a professional athlete, I’m not standing here today because I have it all figured out. I’m here because I love every one of those titles and I choose everyday to make it work. Every single one of you has had a moment where life doesn’t go as expected. And in those moments you’ll be faced with a decision: Do I stop, or do I keep building?
As I was training for my third Paralympic Games, we found out I was pregnant with our first daughter, and for the most part everyone counted me out. The moment I found out I was pregnant, it hit me that I would have to make a decision: do I continue training or do I sit down somewhere and get ready to have my baby? I had been training for Paris 2024 ever since Tokyo in 2021 and I wasn’t ready to give up on that goal. Thankfully, my husband was supportive of the idea of me training while I was pregnant, and that’s what I did. I trained all throughout my pregnancy and gave birth to my daughter in January of 2024.
That same summer, not only did I reclaim my national title as the fastest female amputee in the United States; I also qualified for my third Paralympic Games at six months postpartum. Life did not just challenge me through athletics; It also expanded me through marriage and motherhood. Becoming a mother changed everything. It gave me a new perspective on strength. Strength isn’t just about pushing your limits; it’s about carrying responsibility, showing up daily and still choosing to grow. It taught me that your identity doesn’t have to be one-dimensional. You can be ambitious and present. Driven and grounded. Successful and fulfilled.
I want you all to really understand this, because in this world of social media and competition things get a little crowded, but I want you to know that your life is not a race against the person sitting next to you. Some of you will move fast. Some of you will take a little more time, and some of you will change directions completely. Whatever your path is, you are not behind. You are building your own path, and no two paths will ever be the same.
Last year when I was pregnant with my second daughter, I did something that has never been done before. I became the first paralympic athlete to run in competition at thirty weeks pregnant. My journey of being a mom and being a professional athlete is not something new. But the path that I am on is not like anyone else’s.
So I want you to remember that just because you see people around you doing the same things you’re doing, or even doing things that you have not yet done, you should not compare yourself; you cannot compare yourself, and you better not compare yourself. Because even if we have the same goals, the way to those goals will be different than anyone else and, most importantly, it will be true to you.
I couldn’t imagine my life without all of the obstacles I’ve had to overcome; without all of the victories that I’ve been able to celebrate. I am not just saying this in a speech to you today, my life shows you that what I’m saying is real. My testimony for all that I’ve been through tells you that these aren’t just words. I need each of you to leave here today confident in the fact that you got yourself here today. Yes, I’m sure you’ve had family, friends, professors, mentors, coaches, and many people that have helped guide you and push you to this day. But if you did not put in the work, if you did not take action with the help that you were given, you would not be here today. That tells me one thing: you have the ability to succeed. You have the ability to persevere.
Many people look at my story and tell me all these wonderful things about the type of person I must be, and most of these people don’t know me at all. But the things I’ve accomplished become things they assume about me. I was once in those seats so I know what it takes to get here. Your story is just beginning but you’ve started something amazing. You’ve shown yourself and the world that you have what it takes to dedicate your time, efforts and energy to completing something. You’ve chosen a path and you’ve done everything necessary to get to this finish line.
No matter what you majored in, completing a degree shows certain characteristics that can be applied to all other areas of your life. Critical thinking, problem-solving, time management, accountability, adaptability, self-discipline; the list goes on. I want you to know that what you’ve done here over these past few years is not something to take lightly. Understand that you have just begun to see the true potential that you have and don’t let this be wasted energy. Take everything you’ve learned over these years and really apply it to the world out there. You are capable, you are deserving, and you are worth everything that you put your mind to.
As we leave here today, remember this: your degree is just a piece of paper, but what it signifies is so much more. It is proof that you showed up, you pushed through and you refused to quit when things got hard – because we all know at some point, things got hard.
So run boldly toward your purpose. Build something that outlives you. Love deeply. Fail forward.
Class of 2026, the world is not going to wait for you to be ready, it is waiting for you to be brave enough to chase your dreams. I am proud to be standing here today, and you should be too.
You have set yourself up for greatness, so go be great!