Graduation - at last! I thought we'd never get here. Only 13 years ago, we started our first day of kindergarten. It may be easy for some of you to recall those memories. Remembering those magical days of elementary, hop-scotch, tether ball, swinging on the monkey bars, playing the map game, boys chasing girls on recess, and for us girls, day-of-the-week underwear were a big hit.
If only the days were as simple as those. The six years flew by quickly and we were off to middle school and soon to junior high or Cedarcrest. Now we were into dances, telephone numbers, big hair, lockers, and the girls were chasing the boys. Who can forget the rivalry between the "Downtowners" and the "Cedarpreps"? There was one focus and one focus only, victory.
Four more years gone by and we are "squashmores." It seems like only yesterday when we stepped foot onto County High School. We looked with amazement at all of the different buildings and the numerous classrooms. It was the seniors that frightened us the most. Those helpful seniors: the tapings, the directions, even raw eggs.
We soon ventured into our junior year, we were now the Class of 2012. We had made new friends and discovered that Mr. Thomas was the most versatile of all schedule organizers. By now most everyone had their license, and up and down, and up and down, and up and down State Street we went. What fools we were, or maybe some of us still are.
Finally, we became the big bad seniors we once feared. There have been numerous memories that one will never forget and will always cherish. These memories include: dodging seagulls, sneaking past security, formal dances, eating lunch on the forum, tea, the picnic and now graduation.
As we choose our own paths, some will continue their education, while others will go straight into the work force.
...someone will be successful as an adult, college degree or not. Not to mention the obstacles that may get in our way through the course of years in us getting to the point of adulthood or the balls that on must juggle in their adult life. The teaching and learning that helps individuals to succeed, perhaps needs to come from parents and role models, as we are learning values, which begins to happen before we ever enter our years of formal education.
...ation for the career of their choice. As Gatto so eloquently points out in his article, “We have been taught (that is, schooled) in this country to think of ‘success’ as synonymous with, or at least dependent on ‘schooling’…” (Gatto 150). If he is correct, and success is reliant on our schooling, only the few elite students even have a chance at becoming successful. And that is truly unfair because every student in our country’s education system deserves the chance to be able to become something great.
Congratulations, County High Class of 2012, our thirteen-year marathon is over. Some of you may know I am a distance runner, part of an immensely successful cross-country and distance track program. We were fourth at the state cross-country championships, and we are the best senior boys team in the state. My involvement in athletics truly linked me with our school and granted me friends whom I will remember for a lifetime. One of the most important aspects of my time in high school was getting involved. Wherever your next journey takes you, don't sit back and watch the action. Take the initiative and you will experience the benefits. Just look around you. These are the people you grew up with, the people you were teammates with and the people you have survived dozens of classes with for the last four years. They are not merely faces in a yearbook. They are your people, your community, your family. They are the greatest benefit of being involved.
Walter Kirn successfully unearths some of the worst aspects of senior year. However, these reasonings are not sound enough to condone the discontinuation of it. Any issues found are the fault of the student or the school administration, not the grade level itself. Senior year is worth holding on to for both the persistence of learning and for solidifying relationships. Kirn mentions with pleasure his choice to leave high school early. Nonetheless the four year high school experience should not be demoralized by those who wish to value it for the irreplaceable opportunity it is.
Good morning teachers, faculty, administrators, family, friends, and of course students. It is a great privilege to be standing here today and representing our class on our eighth grade Class Day. Can you believe it? Four years ago, most of us walked into this school as nervous as we were the first day of school. We were the tiny fifth graders, the youngest students in this middle school, not knowing where anything was and how to navigate the school. Now, those same four years later, we’re leaving this school behind to a whole new school being just as nervous as we were when we first arrived. It has been a long four years as well as a short four years. Long because of all the tests, quizzes, finals, and projects, but short because of the lifelong friendships, the lasting memories, and the truly interesting and amazing things we learned in-between. The Abington Heights Middle School is definitely a welcoming, fun, memorable, and great school that I will never forget. These four years spent with these wonderful classmates has been an extraordinary journey with many cherishable memories.
A real education is something that everyone should value, and all of us should strive to live up to our true potential. Contrary to popular belief, heading off to a four-year college to reach that true potential may not necessarily be the right choice for everyone. Vocational training is not only less expensive than college, but it is also a better use of time and provides students with skills critical for their job of interest. In six months, the class of 2014 will put on their caps and gowns and walk across the stage with their diplomas. All of those graduates will be excited to move onto the next chapter of life. But what path will they choose? Will they go with the flow, or will they take a walk down the unbeaten path?
Today is our first day of being the leaders, doers, and problem solvers of the future. Those who persevere, who give it their all and approach each day with optimism will ultimately meet success and happiness. Of course, there will be many a failure on that windy road of life, but with dedication, we can do anything and make any dream come true. But, as we grow older and encounter success, we must not forget those who have had it rough, whose lives may have hit some potholes on the way, and we must take care of those who need a helping hand. As each of us leaves our mark on the world, be generous and be happy, and always remember the good times, good friends, and lessons learned at Marefat.
Being a senior to me means more that just one thing. It means my last ten football games, senior project and, graduating. It seems like yesterday that I was in eighth grade watching my brother play football on the same field I am now. Back then being a senior in high school seemed so far away that I never took the time to think about it or anything. Now that it’s here I wonder where the time went.
The book Taking Sides- Educational Issues states that, “individuals who have attended college have greater work opportunities and tend to have skills that can be easily applied in different job settings”.
Good evening parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings, and friends. I would like to thank you all for coming to this very special day. I know how proud you must be. As we have grown over the years, there are many stages we all have gone through. From learning our shapes and colors, to getting our first kiss in middle school, or how about explaining to our parents why we skipped school because the principal called home. As we remember these days, things that we've done will be with us forever. But this is only the start of our journey. The day has come where we say goodbye to the big yellow buses, assemblies, assigned seating, and attendance policies. Are you really gonna miss it? For some of us maybe not right away. But eventually we will so for us to be here it is not necessarily an achievement, but a privilege. All of us have been in school over half our lives. To graduate is one more step we've taken in our lives.
Ok, its 12:15 and I just walked into my house from seeing a movie with three of my best friends and I have to write this speech. A speech that’s suppose to inspire all of you, and tell you how the future has so much to hold for the class of 2015, how the possibilities are endless. Right now I’m probably standing in the front of the class and supposed to be addressing all of you as “fellow graduates, or to the class of 15’”. But that’s not what I’m going to do. I put this off as I do with the majority of my work thinking I would just write something everyone expects to hear, but instead I wrote this.
Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Sitting in the backseat of the car, I used to bombard my family with these questions. On our summer road trips I was so anxious for the destination that I failed to appreciate the journey. However, as time passed and I grew older, I realized that it was the journey that was important and not the destination.
Even though we weren’t peas in a pod, there definitely are many memories we share together. Like the grade twelve bonding sessions that consisted of eating ice cream and cake in the foyer. Cassy having multiple hair styling requests each morning in homeroom, or the doggy piles on poor Dylan in gym class. I can say that having dance sessions in gym while Mr.Hardern tried to take us seriously is something I will...
We simply go to school to learn, and get educated, so that someday we can get a job, or start a business to supply for our families and ourselves. How would we acquire these jobs without college degrees, and the knowledge that we gain from our teachers and professors?... ... middle of paper ... ...2014. The 'Standard' of the 'Standard'.
Graduation was the most important day in my life. I waited for this amazing day for twelve years to reach my dream and move on to college. For most people, graduation is a memorable day. It is hard for me to forget it even after a hundred years. The day I woke up realizing it was my graduation day, I was smiling all day long knowing that I had made my family proud of me. I remember everything about my graduation day: my party, cake, dress, makeup, hair, cap and gown, and the gifts I got from family and friends.