Moldovan president's message at Olympians' Gala

Dear pupils,

Esteemed teachers,

Dear parents,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Today, we celebrate excellence. We celebrate perseverance, diligent work and the results achieved through much discipline and passion.

But above all, we celebrate those who, through their achievements, have carried the flag and the good reputation of Moldova to the highest podiums of international and regional school competitions.

Every medal, every mention, every award got at these contests is proof that, when diligent work is combined with determination, we, Moldovans, can achieve everything we set out to do.

Dear pupils,

You have competed alongside peers from the most advanced educational systems in the world and have proved that you can stand proudly among the best. We thank you and are proud of you.

You have got remarkable results in essential subjects for our present and future: mathematics, physics, computer science, chemistry, biology, science and engineering, robotics, foreign languages.

All these fields are fundamental for our century and for the way modern societies will develop and face changes.

We live in a world where technological progress is quick, where artificial intelligence transforms entire industries and where climate change, energy challenges and security problems demand smart and responsible solutions. The knowledge you have showed is exactly what the world will need in the coming years.

Of course, these remarkable achievements would not have been possible without the support of your teachers.

The teachers who have guided your steps, who have stood by you for hours, who have trained you and believed in you even when you may have had doubts.

Dear teachers,

We are grateful for your effort, for your rigor, and for choosing to invest in young people. And because, through your daily work, you contribute directly to the future of Moldova.

I also want to extend my congratulations to the parents. I know you are very proud of your children. We thank you for the effort of raising true champions - and for sharing with all of us the chance to rejoice in their achievements.

Dear pupils,

Even though today you receive your well-deserved diplomas and awards, the true reward is that you have surpassed your most important competitor: yourselves. That you chose to sacrifice time, effort and perhaps some joys or entertainments of your age, in order to move forward, to be better.

These qualities - perseverance, rigor, the desire to progress - are what matter most in life. They will help you not only in exams or competitions but in any path you choose to follow.

Also, I'd like to urge you never to forget to use knowledge only in the service of good.

Technology, science and innovation are powerful tools, yet their true value appears when used responsibly, for the benefit of people, communities and our common future.

I know that participating in international competitions has given you the opportunity to interact with young people from other countries, to see other educational systems, other cultures other perspectives. It is natural that some of you might think about or choose to continue your studies abroad.

Of course, all of us, led by the Ministry of Education and Research, are constantly striving to make local universities more attractive, more competitive, and better connected to the European academic space. And we wish for more talented young people to choose to attend college here, in our country.

But the choice is yours, of course. Yet, what I want to say, now, on the verge of the holidays, is that wherever your path leads you, it is important to keep Moldova in your heart.

Maintain your connection with your country and help it as you can in the years to come. Because we are going through an important historical stage where we are building your future Moldova - European Moldova - and we need your talent and ambition.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The performance awarded here is not a coincidence nor an isolated success. It is the result of sustained work, of a system that works when pupils, teachers and responsible institutions pull in the same direction.

Because excellence can become a constant only when there is vision, consistency and real collaboration among all involved.

In conclusion, I want to thank you all once again - pupils, teachers, parents - for what you do.

Congratulations and I wish you great success in everything to come! Happy holidays!