Hat’s Off, It’s Graduation Season: Defining Who We Are, Not Just What We Do

I recently came across a TikTok video of a graduation speech from an NC State student (Go Pack 🐺) named Kelsey O’Connor, and it really resonated with me, especially in relation to our company manifesto. Her speech centered around a question that really had me thinking: What are you going to do next? vs. Who are you going to be?

Kelsey, after suffering a career-ending traumatic brain injury, began to challenge the labels she had attached to herself—labels based on what she did, not who she was. She realized that what we do doesn’t define us as much as who we are. In her speech, she shared how she began to heal by changing the way she saw herself and others. Instead of describing her roommate as “an engineer,” she chose to say “a kind, intelligent, adventurous girl who loves her family.” She reminded us all that we are more than titles—we are defined by our attitude, the way we treat others, and our unique beauty.

This resonated with me because it ties into the heart of our manifesto at Garman Homes. We believe that everyone has something special to offer, and we encourage each other to let our lights shine brightly and unapologetically. We don’t define ourselves or others by titles. We define ourselves by the impact we have and the kindness we spread.

Learn more about our company manifesto here.

The quality of our experience with each other—whether it’s with our buyers, developers, trade partners, or brokers—isn’t about avoiding mistakes. It’s about how we respond to them and what we bring to the table when things don’t go as planned. Like Kelsey, we know that mistakes are inevitable. What matters is how we move forward, how we lift each other up, and how we strive to be better, kinder, and more authentic every day.

Let’s remember the wisdom of that graduation speech and challenge ourselves to see people for who they truly are, not just for what they do. Together, we can continue embracing the beautiful diversity of talents, perspectives, and dreams that make us who we are—both as individuals and as a company.

We all have the ability to be something greater than a job title. We have the ability to be change agents, to heal the way we see ourselves and others, and to define who we will be—not just what we will do.