Good morning to all of you. I am glad to be here with you, sharing this important and celebratory time. We have all accomplished a great deal and it's sometimes hard to believe it is coming to an end. There are so many stories that all of us have to tell about our time at County High. I would like to share some of my experience from the last few years.
That first morning, I walked to County High in the cool September air. I remember looking up at the moon, a pale sliver, lemon-edged and sharp. I remember trying to empty myself of my nervousness, getting ready to be in a room full of strangers. I remember that County High was freezing that morning.
I was completely intimidated. Why had I come to school? Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. I had no specific goal. I vaguely wanted to finish my degree, but I was never sure if I had what it took to be in college.
I look around now, at all of us together, and I think, how did we get here? What was the texture, the character, of the intervening years?
Some of it will be a series of pictures: I see the long hallways with the lights reflecting off the floors. I see the new buildings rising up, steel and stone, with the workers tethered on the rooftops. I see the wetland, mud and green and baby trees.
But what I see the most are the faces. In the classrooms, the instructors looking at us, engaging with us. The smiles of people in the hallways. I see the faces of the people who have looked at me and seen me.
I remember, two years ago, feeling invisible. This was fine with me. It provided a comfort, maybe of not having to be responsible. I was accountable only to myself both in the classroom and out.
Surrendering that invisibility has been a crucial part of my education at Neda. I realized that I couldn't do it alone. I realized that I didn't want to do it alone. I was helped through, pulled through sometimes, by people who cared for me and who were willing to give of themselves. This extends to the numerous faculty members I've encountered throughout my time here and to you, who have walked beside me.
Having accountability to those I am in community with has made the difference for me.
cold, harsh, wintry days, when my brothers and sister and I trudged home from school burdened down by the silence and frigidity of our long trek from the main road, down the hill to our shabby-looking house. More rundown than any of our classmates’ houses. In winter my mother’s riotous flowers would be absent, and the shack stood revealed for what it was. A gray, decaying...
world: the flowers, the trees, the birds, the clouds - even those we love. Because we see things so
Good evening. Some of you out there may not realize this but those of you who attended Suntime Middle School have been with this guy for the last seven years. I would like to ask you all, not just Suntime Middle School grads and who all else, to join me in thanking Mr. Weather for his patience and dedication to the success of our education over the years. We are the Class of 2000. The first graduating class of the new millennium. The past four years have been pretty wild. We started out as a bunch of rats in a small cage, but as time went by we learned and matured and became big rats in a new small cage, but in any case, the cage door is now opening; the handlers turning us wild things loose. As we leave "Where the Wild Things Are," home to some of the best cat fights, fist fights and food fights this side of the Cascades, I have a little surprise for all of you sitting in front of me here tonight in your caps and gowns … we ain’t seen nothing yet!
I affected by what people have thought of me. I let the fear of one person in high school keep me from doing what I loved which is theater. I was afraid of Kayla because I was bullied by her. In 8th grade I was afraid to speak out because I thought I was wrong. During presentations three guys who thought they were “all that” the “jock type” the muscular guys who thought they could get any girl were mean to me. They probably had to be mean on the outside to hide some hurt on the inside. They would call me names and throw spitballs when the teacher was not looking .I looked around the room and saw the kids faces all laughing. I couldn’t speak after that. I felt like I had a lump in my throat that was preventing me to talk. After that day I felt like a ghost wandering the halls, that everyone ignored. I felt that everyone was out trying to get me for something I didn’t do. I was an easy target. I was too sensitive. I was self conscious about my body. People where telling me I was fat, I wasn’t pretty, I will never get a guy because I was a “looking like a
There’s nothing like Texas, it’s the place you come and enjoy every minute. We relax in beaches, wonder off in ranches, and enjoy good barbecue cooking. Not only are we adventurous, but we hold are grounds and stand by our own just like are nickname, “The Lone Star State.” We do everything with our courage, determination, and hard work like the old days. What can I say? We are a tough state and no one messes with Texas.
Noted authors, Brandon Chambers, is quoted saying, “If you are going to fear anything fear success. Think about what you are doing and when you succeed what life you will have.” There are several different reasons why I could stay home, work and not go to college; I could go to work every day and make more money for the house, it’s easier, and I would be less stressed. Now, on the other hand there are many reasons why I should go to school; such as further my education, make my family proud, and make myself proud. I am attending college for several different reasons. One reason is to further my education. I hate feeling like I don’t know something, I like being the person everyone comes to for information. Also, because I want to be better prepared for my major, I want to be better then the next person with the job credentials. I want to major in Social Work and Criminology. I dream to be a counselor or an clinical service social worker. I want to help people who need someone there for them someone who can guide them or even just talk too. Another reason is because I would be the first in I would be the first in my family to go to college. I feel in some type of way I am setting an example for my parents and my brother that they too can go back to school. Lastly is simply because I love school. I love knowing more and more each day. College is not for everyone, but I will be successful by grasping the benefits, preparing for the problems, taking heed from experts, and working on strategies to be successful.
Class of 2012, as we sit here this evening, I would like you to take a look at the classmates sitting around you. Many students have given countless hours of time, energy, and passion to worthy cuases that they have been a part of throughout high school. However, those aren't the only students deserving of recognition this evening. We have students here tonight, who have taken a stand for what they believe in, not even hesitating to compromise their reputations.
I went back to school with the simple goal of getting my degree and moving ahead in my career. School, education and obtaining my degree were always important to me, since my profession requires a bachelor degree to qualify for national certification, it was a better excuses than any to finally go to college and get the degree I had always wanted. As an adult student I put a lot of pressure on myself to do everything to the best of my ability, to keep the bar high and to go above and beyond what I even expected of myself; many times over extending my self and doing too much.
As a hurdler for County High, I stumble upon some pretty tough obstacles each time I race; the same is true in life. Everyone encounters obstacles, but in order to overcome them and succeed, one must never give up.
First of all, I'd like to welcome all the parents, relatives and friends, on behalf of the senior class. It has been a long, hard road to graduation and I know your presence here is greatly appreciated. My job as salutatorian is to reminisce on our past here at County High, a past that reads like a script of a soap opera.
Today completes the chapter of our lives that we have been comfortable with for the past 13 years. High school may be over, but we still have a long exciting way to go in life. From our four-year experience we will take with us the memories, good and bad, and relationships we have made with each other and the County High School staff. From these experiences we have learned and grown and will continue to do so. Growing up and moving on will be a huge part of our lives in the next few months. The decisions we will make come in-part from the choices we have already made.
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.
Hi, my name is Pat and I would like to start today by thanking the seniors of 2012 for choosing me to speak today. It is truly my honor.
To begin something new, you must sacrifice something old. To enter the real world, you must graduate your childhood.
For many people, school is one of the first times in life that someone has to challenge their image. How a student looks, whether it’s the clothes on their back or the color of their hair can make a big difference. It can cause a student to be singled out and bullied, help them to make friends, or just blend in with everyone else. Sometimes appearances can be as easy to change as an outfit, other times it’s something they have no control over. How students see themselves in school can give them the confidence to try their best or paralyze them with doubts and fears. Getting poor grades can make them feel like they aren’t smart enough to do well, causing them to shut down before they even really try. Experiences based on image can affect a person, not just only in school, but well into adulthood and through...