High School Valedictorian Gives Tear-Jerking Graduation Speech Shortly After Leaving Dad’s Funeral

Texas high school graduate Alem Hadzic was shaking slightly as he began his valedictorian speech on May 16. But it wasn’t just nerves. Unbeknownst to the audience, the 18 year old buried his father shortly before taking the stage.

“My father died yesterday, May 15, 2024, and I attended his funeral today, right before graduation,” Hadzic said in his speech. “That’s why my shoes are muddy and my arms are shaking, because I had to carry him into his grave and bury him.”

Gasps rippled across the auditorium as he revealed the tragic news.  

Hadzic explained in his speech that he kept his father’s cancer diagnosis mostly private because he didn't want to be treated differently during his last semester at Early College High School in Farmers Branch.

“I can’t stand up here and pretend I want to be doing this speech right now. But I can’t throw something away that he worked so hard for me to achieve,” he said. “That’s why I’m going to go to college and spend every hour of every day working as hard as I can to achieve all of my goals because that’s what he wanted, and I’m going to do it for him. And I want all of you to look to your loved ones and say you wouldn't do the same.”

The crowd rose to its feet as Hadzic, overcome with emotion, stepped away from the lectern. 

The teen told KDFW that it was a spur of the moment decision to go off script and talk about his dad. The outpouring of support he received after the ceremony buoyed his spirit.

"I didn’t know any of them but they came up to me,” Hadzic recalled. “They made me feel better. They wanted to take pictures with me. They told me how strong I was and it made me feel so much better. It made me feel so good on such a dark day. It was really what I needed.”

Hadzic told the local news outlet that he hopes his speech reminds people to cherish the time they have with their loved ones. 

In a few months Hadzic will attend University of Texas at Austin to study chemical engineering.