You have earned it. To graduate is a great accomplishment; whether you started ten or two years ago matters not, what matters is the determination and hard work that brought you to this moment. Your moment to shine. And so, as you prepare to walk through a new door, as you set new and challenging goals for yourselves, remember to keep your eyes focused forward because the future is sure to be adventurous, full of laughter, hope, achievement, gratitude, and inspiration. Congratulations to the class of 2006 on this, the sixtieth anniversary of commencement for Stoll Community College.
That is why I have not only worked to be the best person I can be now, but how I want to continue that for the rest of my life. I believe that the most important time to transform yourself into who you want to be, is in college. That is something I have heard for many people, and is something I highly believe in. My college experience is going to change the rest of my life in many ways. There is no doubt that I will have my downfalls, but I know that I will grow from my experiences and make it a good situation to grow as a person.
So just remember, this school board, business owners and our valuable partners believe in you and want you to reach all of your dreams! We 're counting on you to be that next generation to take over all that we 're doing. So you got to be qualified, you got to be prepared, you got to be hungry, and you got to take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way. Board members, you are raising the next generation up to be great! With your dedication to the CTE programs we 're only getting started.
Each of us now have our own goals, and we are wishing everyone luck when it comes to the journey that each and everyone one of us will take now. We will never forget this journey in our life that we have shared together. It is always difficult as things come to an end, and even more difficult to say goodbye, but we cannot look at this as goodbye. This is simply a farewell until we meet again. We wish you all the best in your futures and hope that everything you achieve is what you expected and more – as we know you are all going to do great things.
While at times it may have been easy to have been drawn into the negative aspects of school, we have chosen to pursue and to accomplish. Worthy of pride, this is why I congratulate you. With the support of our parents, our teachers and our friends we made it to this day and to the beginning of a new stage of our lives. Where we go from here and what new frontiers we are meant to discover may remain unseen, but as we step out those doors tonight and stare into the first lights of what is to come and what is to be, always remember tonight's victory.
You provided us a quality education in an atmosphere that has encouraged all of us to achieve our educational goals. We are now life-long learners, responsible members of our communities, and are proud citizens of a rapidly changing world. You have provided us an equal access to educational opportunities, maintained high standards of excellence, and promoted a sense of campus community. Therefore, I APPLAUD Shelton Community College for successfully fulfilling its mission with the class of 2006. Go celebrate tonight!
I will always look back with fondness on everything that I've learned here, but I look forward with even greater anticipation on the good things to come. Tonight, let's all take a moment and look forward. Forward to our dreams, not our of fear, but with confidence that someday they will be our reality. Thank you, all of you.
All of the other students here have stories of their own to tell. Stories of what brought them to FAHS, stories of what kept them here and stories of the obstacles they have had to overcome in their lives. They are about tragedy and triumph, success and failure and of will and determination to follow their dreams. It has been the dream of each and every student here tonight to graduate and that dream is finally coming true. To my fellow graduates, I encourage you to continue to dream big.
I am honored and blessed to be the messenger of years gone by and the inspiration of years to come. This is not only a time to receive a diploma but it is an opportunity to celebrate our lives. A time that represents our past childhood and passage into adulthood. As we embark on life's journey, remember to build on the foundation laid by our parents and teachers. Apply what we have learned and embrace God's love to strive for spiritual maturity.
To those of you that came to get a certificate or learn IT or computer programming so you can get a better job, congratulations. Now that you're moving on toward whatever your next step is in life - a university, the job market, whatever - you are more prepared and ready for that next step now. Little do you know, you now hold a distinct advantage because you graduated from Bulls Community College. You can "think critically," "interact in a diverse and complex environment," "learn actively" and "communicate with clarity and originality." Bulls knew how important these would be to you, so in every class they incorporated these learning outcomes into the syllabus...and every paper, every speech, every report, every blue book exam and every time ...