Mount Allison student delivers moving speech after home burns down

CTV Atlantic: Valedictorian speaks despite tragedy What should have been a time for celebration proved a time of great concern for a Mount Allison University student this week.

A Mount Allison University student has delivered a moving valedictorian speech, just two days after his family home was destroyed by fire.

Thomas Williams’ grandfather watched as the home near Miramichi burned to the ground.

“My daughter called me around 12…and said ‘dad, the house is on fire,’” says Joseph Williams.

No one was injured and the family’s dog is safe, but all of their belongings were destroyed in the fire.

Devastated by the blaze but committed to his speech, Williams decided not to tell his fellow students or school administration about the loss he had suffered.

“I don’t know how composed I would have been on Monday if everyone was coming up to me, talking about the fire, as opposed to talking about the speech. Also, I didn’t want to take away the graduate experience for all of my peers,” he says.

“The main point I tried to convey through my speech was that my fellow graduates should try to embrace change. It can be scary, but it’s a very important part of life.”

Staff and students say they are impressed by his selflessness.

“He did not say a single thing to anybody, because he just did not want the focus to be on him,” says Ron Byrne, vice-president of International and Student Affairs.

“It is not surprising, but I am shocked he was able to do that,” says student union president Heather Webster.

When one of Williams’ friends found out what happened, she wanted to help, so she and another friend have set up a fundraising page for the family.

“The response has been crazy,” says fundraiser Justine Cawley. “We set it up last night and within the first hour we already had $800.”

More than $2,200 had been raised by 7 p.m. Thursday.

With files from CTV Atlantic's David Bell