High school valedictorian delivers moving speech following father's funeral

High school valedictorian delivers moving speech following father's funeral

"I'm very glad to be able to spread his legacy. He would have been so proud."

ByYi-Jin Yu

via logo

May 23, 2024, 4:27 PM

    When 18-year-old Alem Hadzic took the stage to deliver a speech at his recent high school graduation, the valedictorian told "Good Morning America" his arms were shaking, and his shoes were stained with mud.

    May 16 was unlike any other in Hadzic's life so far.

    "I was just shaking before my speech because I knew what I was going to say. I didn't know how I was going to say it. And it really was a rough, rough day," Hadzic recalled.

    PHOTO: Alem Hadzic said he and his late father Miralem Hadzic shared a close relationship and loved to watch basketball games together.

    Alem Hadzic said he and his late father Miralem Hadzic shared a close relationship and loved to watch basketball games together.Courtesy Alem Hadzic

    Nonspeaking student with autism gives moving commencement speech

    Earlier that day, Hadzic had attended the funeral for his late father, Miralem Hadzic, who died on May 15 after a monthslong battle with pancreatic cancer.

    The Early College High School graduate said he helped bury his dad and then drove with his younger sister to his graduation.

    "I think people could tell there was something off because I was very silent," Hadzic said. "People were trying to talk to me, and I would just kind of blow them off."

    Although it would have been understandable if Hadzic didn't attend graduation, held at the Dallas College Brookhaven Campus, or asked not to make a speech, he decided to go ahead with it and his speech ended up bringing tears and a standing ovation from the audience of students, families, teachers and administrators.

    PHOTO: Alem Hadzic, the valedictorian of Early College High School in Farmers Branch, Texas, delivered a touching graduation speech following his father’s funeral, on May 16, 2024.

    Alem Hadzic, the valedictorian of Early College High School in Farmers Branch, Texas, delivered a touching graduation speech following his father’s funeral, on May 16, 2024.Courtesy Alem Hadzic

    "When I went off script, I was just speaking from the heart. My brain was off," Hadzic recalled. "I was really close to breaking down but when I looked in the audience and … I saw people who were touched by what I was saying, I saw people who felt the same things I was feeling and suddenly, I didn't feel so alone in that moment. That's when I knew I could get through it."

    Hadzic revealed in his speech that his beloved dad had been diagnosed with cancer in January, a fact he had kept from many, and that he had died but that he wanted to share his dad's story more widely in order to inspire his peers to know their why.

    PHOTO: Alem Hadzic with his mother Indira Hadzic, younger sister Alema Hadzic, and father Miralem Hadzic, during his sophomore year of high school.

    Alem Hadzic with his mother Indira Hadzic, younger sister Alema Hadzic, and father Miralem Hadzic, during his sophomore year of high school.Courtesy Alem Hadzic

    "I said that I didn't want to be up there but I couldn't throw something away that he worked so hard for me to achieve. And that's why I'm going to college, and I'm going to work every single hour of every single day, and I'm going to do it for him," Hadzic recounted.

    "I wanted to encourage everyone to do what I was doing, even if they didn't lose anyone. Just do it, like succeed for your loved ones. Those are the people who want you to succeed the most," the high school graduate added.

    Kindergarten student brings audience to tears remembering late mom in graduation speech

    Hadzic said he and his late dad, whom he described as a "self-sacrificing guy," shared a "very, very close" relationship. They would often do things together, and in particular, they loved to watch their favorite basketball team, the Dallas Mavericks, play.

    "Me and him used to always watch basketball together when I was a kid. It's one of my favorite things to do with him. And it's one of the last things I did with him, actually, before he died," Hadzic said.

    PHOTO: Alem Hadzic with his dad Miralem Hadzic, who taught him how to replace a ceiling fan in 2023.

    Alem Hadzic with his dad Miralem Hadzic, who taught him how to replace a ceiling fan in 2023.Courtesy Alem Hadzic

    Hadzic said even though he didn't talk about his dad's health and condition in his last semester, he's grateful now to be able to speak about him while his grief journey is just beginning.

    "I'm very glad to be able to spread his legacy. He would have been so proud of me. I already know it. That's what people are telling me," Hadzic said. "It feels good doing what I know he would have wanted me to do."

    PHOTO: Alem Hadzic with his family at his mom Indira Hadzic’s college graduation.

    Alem Hadzic with his family at his mom Indira Hadzic’s college graduation.Courtesy Alem Hadzic

    Hadzic graduated with a 4.0 GPA, earning both a high school diploma and an associate of science degree from Early College. He said he is excited to start at the University of Texas at Austin in the fall and plans to major in chemical engineering.

    Popular Reads

    high school valedictorian delivers moving speech following father's funeral

    Smith suspected added obstruction effort by Trump

    May 21, 4:50 PM

    high school valedictorian delivers moving speech following father's funeral

    Tornado leaves 4 dead, 35 injured in Iowa

    May 22, 11:02 PM

    high school valedictorian delivers moving speech following father's funeral

    Johnson disappointed with chaotic House meeting

    May 17, 3:34 PM

    In a statement, Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District, the school district which includes Early College High School, expressed pride in Hadzic's achievements and his moving graduation speech.

    "We are so proud of Alem, and the bravery and vulnerability he showed during the graduation ceremony was truly inspiring," Wendy Eldredge, the superintendent of Carrollton-Farmers Branch Independent School District, said in the statement. "It was an honor to celebrate him, and I'm confident he will do great things in the future."

    OTHER NEWS

    5 hrs ago

    Cowboys head coach Mike McCarthy 'getting fed up' with owner Jerry Jones: report

    5 hrs ago

    Who Should Steelers Hope Wins Training Camp QB Battle?

    5 hrs ago

    Goaltender's dad talks up the Oilers' chances of lifting the Stanley Cup

    5 hrs ago

    Phillies turn rare 1-3-5 triple play against Tigers, 1st since 1929

    5 hrs ago

    Discount Burger Check? Chiefs' Reid Shares Hilarious Commercial Story

    5 hrs ago

    'Devastating loss': Digital lending library, Internet Archive, removes 500,000 books after being sued by publishers

    5 hrs ago

    Iga Swiatek vs Coco Gauff vs Aryna Sabalenka vs Elena Rybakina: WTA ‘Big 4’ state of play ahead of Wimbledon

    5 hrs ago

    Would a Toronto byelection loss spell doom for Trudeau?

    5 hrs ago

    BlackSuit ransomware gang blamed for ongoing car dealership outages

    5 hrs ago

    'Unreal' injury-time equaliser saves football powerhouse

    5 hrs ago

    Nigel Farage accused of cosying up to the Kremlin by former NATO boss

    5 hrs ago

    Dagestan, in southern Russia, has a history of violence. Why does it keeps happening?

    5 hrs ago

    Marines revive a World War II airfield on Peleliu in Pacific pivot

    5 hrs ago

    Fortnite Brings Tilted Towers and Other Fan Favorite Locations, But With a Twist

    5 hrs ago

    Shadow of the Erdtree Puts the Cherry on Top of Elden Rings Main Strength

    5 hrs ago

    Anger erupts as Albo's governor-general is awarded payrise

    5 hrs ago

    Charo Makes Rare Public Appearance at Project Angel Food Event: 'Life Is Beautiful' (Exclusive)

    5 hrs ago

    Boozed-up England fans sing '10 German bombers' chant in Cologne

    5 hrs ago

    Show Respect: ‘Boys are surprised we talk about this, it’s become normalised’

    5 hrs ago

    After clash with prosecutor, judge reserves ruling on restricting Trump’s rhetoric about agents’ classified documents search

    5 hrs ago

    Peter Dutton’s nuclear plan ‘doesn’t deliver’ any ‘energy price decrease’ until 2040

    5 hrs ago

    Where to watch Netherlands vs. Austria live stream, TV channel, lineups, prediction for Euro 2024 match

    5 hrs ago

    China lunar probe to return to Earth with samples

    5 hrs ago

    Report: Knicks’ OG Anunoby declines player option, enters unrestricted free agency

    5 hrs ago

    Saints offensive line ranked 19th in the NFL

    5 hrs ago

    Senators acquire goaltender Linus Ullmark from Bruins

    5 hrs ago

    Why Qld feels like home for the Blues

    5 hrs ago

    Seahawks waive 3 undrafted free agents, make UFL champ signing official

    5 hrs ago

    Andrew Scott Frantically Runs to Hear Taylor Swift's ‘Style' at 'Eras Tour'

    5 hrs ago

    England’s Test series v New Zealand: Date, kick-off time and TV channel

    5 hrs ago

    Bills' McDermott Says Von Miller Has ‘Something to Prove’

    5 hrs ago

    US prosecutors want Boeing to face criminal charges

    5 hrs ago

    Finance Minister Michael McGrath set to become Ireland's new EU Commissioner

    5 hrs ago

    Red-hot Cardinals get huge boost in return of star catcher

    5 hrs ago

    How police use the mail to spy on you: 60,000 cases in last decade with little pushback

    5 hrs ago

    These 3 Republicans are Trump’s most likely VP picks

    5 hrs ago

    Roy Jones Jr. announces his son, DeAndre, died by suicide

    5 hrs ago

    Luxury Gyms, Like Equinox and Life Time, Are Taking Over Big Retail Spaces

    5 hrs ago

    Automobili Pininfarina PURA Vision wins prestigious Red Dot Award: Design Concept 2024

    5 hrs ago

    Pop legend Robbie Williams wears his AFL jersey to see if he still gets recognised in London - with some very surprising results