High school valedictorian delivers poignant graduation speech hours after father’s funeral

High school class valedictorian Alem Hadzic was unusually somber before delivering his commencement speech on May 16.

“People were coming over to wish me luck and I was kind of blowing them off,” Hadzic, who lives in Texas, tells TODAY.com. “In my head, I was thinking, ‘Can I do this?’”

Unbeknownst to his peers, Hadzic, 18, had just come from his father’s funeral. Miralem Hadzic died of pancreatic cancer at age 52.

Somehow, Hadzic’s legs carried him to the podium. Then he delivered a powerful speech that has been seen and shared by thousands on social media.

“My father died yesterday, May 15, 2024, and I attended his funeral today, right before graduation,” Hadzic told the audience, his voice thick with emotion. “That’s why my shoes are muddy and my arms are shaking. I had to carry him to his grave and bury him.”

Hadzic’s revelation was met with audible gasps. He had only told a few close friends that his dad had passed away.

“I can’t stand up here and pretend I want to be doing this speech right now,” he continued. “But I can’t throw something away that he worked so hard for me to achieve.”

Hadzic will study chemical engineering at the University of Texas at Austin in the fall. And he plans to make his late father proud.

“I am going to spend every hour of every day working as hard as I can to achieve all my goals because that’s what he wanted and I’m going to do it for him,” he added.

The Early College High School graduate received a standing ovation.

Hadzic says he had his speech written out, but he went rogue when speaking about his dad.

high school valedictorian delivers poignant graduation speech hours after father’s funeral

Alem Hadzic and father. (Courtesy Alem Hadzic)

“I had a new influx of emotions and I couldn’t just read off a script,” he tells TODAY.com

A few weeks before his passing, Miralem called out for his son to come downstairs. He was watching basketball, and needed Hadzic to narrate the game.

“He couldn’t see the screen and he asked me to tell him what was going on,” Hadzic recalls. “So I stayed there with him and I did just that.”

It was particularly poignant for Hadzic.

“One of my favorite memories from growing up is watching the Mavericks with my dad,” he says. “It was so comforting to be able to do that with him one last time.”

Since Hadzic’s speech went viral, he has been inundated with emails from people across the country.

“It’s so comforting. Strangers are sharing their experiences with me so that I don’t feel so alone,” he says. “I’m responding to every single person.”

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com

OTHER NEWS

23 minutes ago

Video: Michael Phelps says false doping accusations eroded 'a lifetime of mental health growth' - and now regulators turning a blind eye to accusations of China doing just that

23 minutes ago

Video: Nigel Farage makes thinly veiled swipe after being booed by crowd as he wins best news presenter at the TRIC Awards

24 minutes ago

Newly sworn-in ANC MP Zizi Kodwa: State’s case against me is ‘nonexistent’

24 minutes ago

John 5 Responds to Accusations of Guitar Miming With Motley Crue

24 minutes ago

Despite political uncertainty, Cape Town's office rental market thrives

24 minutes ago

Labor’s renewables-only approach ‘can’t’ stabilise Australia’s energy grid

24 minutes ago

Medihelp reports strong growth, more younger members join

24 minutes ago

Never (really) too young to have a will

24 minutes ago

Exciting call for nominations for the 2024 AWIEF Awards

24 minutes ago

Blockchain vs Crypto

24 minutes ago

Texas A&M beats Florida 6-0 to make CWS finals for 1st time as Gators shut out 1st time in 2 years

24 minutes ago

Generative AI sent to the dock in RIAA ‘BBL Drizzy’ legal action

24 minutes ago

The Matric mandate: a barrier to employment for South African youth

24 minutes ago

One of 2024's biggest new anime series will be shown in cinemas – one month before its Netflix and Crunchyroll release

24 minutes ago

Money Show host Bruce Whitfield to leave Primedia

24 minutes ago

Great Wolf Lodge water park in Webster will open earlier than expected, according to website

24 minutes ago

Employers' role in health and wellness to promote employee well-being, by Medshield

24 minutes ago

How environmental toxins and pollution affect our health, by Medshield

24 minutes ago

LA broadcast TV legend Tom Van Amburg — who gave Regis Philbin his daytime start — dead at 83

24 minutes ago

Video: Shocking moment thugs armed with Rambo knives fight in the middle of the day on residential London street

24 minutes ago

Everything you need to know about changes coming July 1

24 minutes ago

Coalition slams Prime Minister for not expelling rogue Labor Senator Fatima Payman

24 minutes ago

Former Fremantle Dockers and Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale and wife Julie Neale announce baby news

24 minutes ago

Toronto's Zach Edey eyes top 20 pick as Raptors continue rebuild in NBA draft

24 minutes ago

Aston Martin Valiant: A Hardcore Track Star With a Manual

24 minutes ago

Wes Streeting says Labour's rail nationalisation plan would bring down fares

24 minutes ago

Anthony Joshua set to land chance to become a three-time heavyweight champion against Daniel Dubois on September 21... as Oleksandr Usyk VACATES his IBF belt after taking rematch with Tyson Fury

24 minutes ago

Kevin Rudd joins Julian Assange as he arrives for court appearance

24 minutes ago

Now Nigel Farage suggests Zelensky should make peace with Putin

24 minutes ago

Multi-talented Kea Zawadi first female presenter of Algoa FM Top 30

24 minutes ago

5 free agents Kaizer Chiefs could bring to Naturena to bolster their squad

28 minutes ago

ESPN analyst ranks Patriots defense as top-five unit in NFL

28 minutes ago

Daybreak Foods, YES Programme partner to combat youth unemployment

28 minutes ago

CNBC Daily Open: Nvidia rallies after sell-off, lifts S&P 500 and Nasdaq

32 minutes ago

Gavin Newsom blasts 'delusional California bashers' in speech

33 minutes ago

Dragon Age: The Veilguard is Teasing Answers to a Big Qunari Mystery

33 minutes ago

Fed's Bowman Says 'Not Yet' Appropriate to Cut Rates

33 minutes ago

Why Dunkin' Donuts' New Commercial Actress Looks So Familiar

33 minutes ago

Costly election pledges in France stoke fears of splurges that risk pushing country deeper into debt

33 minutes ago

Mark Cuban offloads 14 NFTs from his collection in two days