Graduation Speech

811 Words2 Pages

As graduation has approached, I have contemplated my life's direction and the elements of my past that have combined to place me here, in this moment, as I'm certain we all have. What has inspired us? Do we have regrets? What are we going to do with the rest of our lives? Most importantly, are we truly happy? Frankly, I'm ecstatic! How about you? But what has made me happy in the past? Well, Baskin Robbins, Old Navy, and Survivor to name a few things...But on a more meaningful note, my life has been enriched by compassion. The small kindnesses of others have brightened many a weary day of mine, and my services in return have strengthened my sense of peace. However, I would like to share a memory with you of which I am not proud, one which has minutely haunted me over the past 10 years, and one in which, as hard as it may be for some of you to believe, I did not act as kindly as I should have.

One of the many activities I enjoyed as a young girl was my weekly Sunday School class. Even though I was only about eight, I wanted to be an impeccable Sunday School student. Surprise, surprise! However, one looming obstacle stood between me and my desired "Ideal Student" status. Her name was Jamie Taylor. She had this annoying habit of reverently volunteering to say the prayer just before I could raise my hand, and the teacher absolutely loved her for it. To top it off, the way she flipped her hair drove me crazy, and her flouncing to the front of the room was so obnoxious. One night, my friend and I were giggling in the corner of our darkened church as Jamie called our names and asked us to play with her. I realize now that she did not have many friends. Jamie did not notice our presence, and she simply returned to her parents. How eff...

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...overpower our fear.

You know, in reflecting over my behavior towards Jamie Taylor, I have now decided to make compassion a larger part of my life. Edward Everett Hale eloquently phrases my feelings, as he says, "I'm only one. But still, I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something." As we graduate from high school, let us allow compassion to have a place in our lives by doing something for someone else. I thank my parents, twin brother, teachers, and friends for their inspiring examples of kindness. Jamie Taylor, thank you for crossing my path and helping me renew my commitment to compassion. It is my hope that our hearts will not be burdened with "bits of heartache" because we allow opportunities of service to vanish, and that when asked the ultimate question, "Are we truly happy?" we can respond with a resounding, heartfelt "Yes!" Thank you.

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Graduation Speech

Spanish Honor Society Reflection