Thank you. Thank you for accepting me on April 20th, 2012. Thank you for allowing me to grow as a designer, student, and human being in the past four years. And lastly, thank you for accepting, welcoming, and investing in me as your student. In the past four years, I have made strides at my high school much farther than I could ever imagine. Old Colony began as an escape plan from Apponequet, but as time progress I really have made a place for myself within the school. And as I graduate in a few months, I look back to all the wonderful memories and progressions I have achieved while there and smile. Old Colony introduced me a skill that I would most likely would have never discovered if I had not attended. The school presented me my love for design, and I am so grateful for that. Before enrollment, I would have never thought I had even a drop of artistry in my veins but I was proved to be wrong. It is amazing to me to dig through my work from my freshman to …show more content…
If anyone has influenced me while in the school, it is you. Every conversation with Mrs. Peterson during shop, or every discussion Mr. Pedrosa at his desk during class, I appreciate every bit of knowledge I have gained from the staff of Old Colony. As being a generally shy student, the teachers really took point in caring about me as a student and individual. They respected me, cared for me, and most importantly taught me, academically and morally. Each employee set an example of what an high school educator and human being should be. I will genuinely miss the “Hi Jazz’s,” I hear while walking down the hall whether it be from Trahan, Kessler, or Mrs. Gonet. So, thank you to all Old Colony staff for making me feel like a young adult, respecting my ideas, and guiding me in the right direction, not only academically and technically, but morally. You, as a school, have welcomed me beyond my belief and have embraced me farther than being a student but as an
High school is meant to be the time of your life, but for most seniors just like me it can be some of the most emotional and crazy time. The things in my past make me who I am today, and the things I do now are the first footsteps into the future. I’ve learned a lot about myself in these past four years, and I still have so much learning to do. This is my high school story; the good, bad, and the ugly.
Looking back on my three years at Twin Cities Academy, I find myself wondering how all these years came and went so fast. I still watch myself walking through the same halls and sitting in the same classrooms as I did back in 6th and 7th grade and I’ve seen myself grow so much, mentally, socially and physically. I still remember everything that has happened throughout my years, the best of times, and the worst.
I felt as though I was watching a train barrelling towards me, an inevitable bullet that had come tumbling out of the opposing pitcher’s arm. But instead I stood immobilized, watching my team's only chance of winning whiz by me. Strike three. I heard my team from behind me shouting “SWING!” with my mind screaming the same. But my bat remained unmoving, the pop of the catcher's glove like the nail into the coffin that was our defeat. All I had to do to keep our hopes of winning hope alive was swing, and yet I couldn't. I stayed on the field afterwards, tossing the ball up in the air and swinging away, landing it on the thick maple barrel of the bat.
I have been given an awesome privilege to be able to call Hope College my home for the last four years. The memories I have had here will last a lifetime. From the friends I have developed with professors, students, to Phelps and Cook employees. I can honestly say that there has not been a bad experience with any of these people. It’s been awesome here at Hope! This experience has taught me many different life lessons and helped mold the legacy in which I feel I will leave behind when I am done. The legacy I want to leave behind entails one of respect, and hard working. I will tie all of these together will explicit examples from here at Hope and will end with how I plan to finish up on a positive note.
Chase, I apologize for taking awhile to call you by your nickname. I figured out right from the start that you were already very interested in programming, and I am very glad that you were able to continue with you education in technology at iD Tech and get a taste of Paper.js. You were always working on code during free time, which I really appreciate. I was also impressed the kinds of questions you came up with, like when you were asking about CSS. You learned a lot and was able to help others learn throughout the week, and I hope that you continue not only to learn more about programming but also to continue inspiring others to do the same.
Today, as we graduate, with degree nearly in hand, I challenge each of you to make a difference in whatever you do. Remember that life didn't end when we re-entered school. Life continued throughout our program. Even when stretched to the limit, life only got more challenging. And now, graduating, life only changes pace. Our degree completion is not really an ending as much as a new beginning as we re-enter our lives of work and home. We thank all of our family, friends, instructors and co-workers who helped see us through this process. Thank you for this opportunity and good luck to you all.
Let’s flash back in time to before our college days. Back to then we had lunch trays filled with rubbery chicken nuggets, stale pizza, and bags of chocolate milk. A backpack stacked with Lisa Frank note books, flexi rulers, and color changing pencils. The times where we thought we wouldn’t make it out alive, but we did. Through all the trials and tribulations school helped build who I am today and shaped my future. From basic functions all the way to life-long lessons that helped shape my character.
In front of me, I see a fragment of my generation who have moved through the rungs of each year, from the first day of school, to finally the last. I appreciate everyone that has attended today, thus I’ll grace you with a brief -ish speech. Before I begin rambling, I want to thank the principal and his supporting staff for this school, the teachers and their dedication, the parents for their fruitful and exhausting efforts and most of all my peers that used this opportunity in education and stuck through to the closing moments. Thank you.
Now I would like to take the time to thank everyone who has helped me get this far. First of all, thank you to all the teachers. None of us would be here without you always pushing our academic abilities to the fullest. Jessica Parker a.k.a. my partner in crime as Mr. Tri would refer to us. You made everyday coming to school worthwhile. Hillary Laswell, who would leave third period to go steal flowers from horticulture and give them to Mrs. Granillo with me. My brother Jeramie who always said, "If anyone is mean to you, I'll take care of it." My Mom, thank you for always believing in me and putting up with me when I was a real jerk.
Through these fun and challenging times each one of us has built strong relationships. Whether it was with friends or a teacher, we have developed connections and memories that will be with us forever, even if we lose contact with those individuals. Some students have discovered they have a passion for writing through a creative writing class or want to have a career in business from taking Mr. Ide’s inspirational marketing classes. Others have participated in CLIP or summer school to catch up and make it possible for them to be here today. I went to Heights Elementary and have spent the last 12 years with the same group of people. Attending school with the people I’ve known since elementary and middle school, and making homecoming posters with them for four years in a row, has given me a chance to get to know the people around me better than I ever thought I would.
In conclusion, I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for enabling me to express myself. I would be very thankful if I am offered an admission in your esteemed university.
But most of all I want to thank all of the Career and Technical Education students that are here to welcome the new Administration and yet again show their abilities, readiness and desire to be responsible leaders in the career path they have chosen. How about a round of applause to all of these hard working guys and gals who are the future of our country. “Applause” We are here today because we have faith in in you! We’re here because we want to make sure that you get all the skills and education you need to reach your dreams and desires. We’re here because we know your dreams are so big and astonishing and also realize that you need all the support you can get! We’re here because we know one of the best ways is through career and technical education also known as CTE. Thanks again, for letting me and your new school board be part of your dream! “Applause”
These past four years have really been a life changing experience. From a childish freshmen not only at school but at home too, to a still sometimes childish senior, one who knows when and how to control himself. This school and its teachers have taught me so many lessons that will not be forgotten any time soon.
Valedictorian Speech Good evening fellow graduates, teachers, family members, friends, and distinguished guests. It is a tremendous honor to be the valedictorian of our graduating class. My job is to somehow be the voice of the entire graduating class, and take five minutes to say a few words on behalf of all 539 of us. Like most valedictorians, writing this speech was not an easy task for me. Not because I did not have anything to say, but because I was overwhelmed by how much I wanted to share with you all on this day. Tonight, we have one common purpose, to celebrate. We are here to congratulate, to look towards what the future holds for us, to wish each other well, and to, most importantly look back on our time spent here. So, I would like to start by saying 'well done' to my fellow graduates, who have all worked hard during the past several years to reach this milestone. I would also like to express my sincere gratitude to the graduating class for selecting me to speak here tonight. Ever since the news broke, many people, some who've I've never really met before, have come up to me and have wished me well. Perhaps this speech would be incomplete if I don’t say something to the teachers. On the behalf of my entire class, I would like to thank all my teachers: thank you. Thank you for teaching us, for leading us, for building us up as adults. I know that we have not given back to you the respect you deserve. I know that we have not told you how much we appreciate you taking time out of your schedules to help us. And I know that we have not said thank you for giving us a wonderful education. So, I hope that as I say thanks, you can forget our shortcomings and remember us for who we are and not from the mistakes we have made. ...
Let me begin by saying that I am very honored to be addressing the County High School Class of 2012 as students of this institution for the last time. We've spent these last four years creating some serious memories: four years of chieftain power, leaking roofs, questionable Homecoming skits, and musical principals. Four years of good teachers, bad teachers, new teachers, old teachers. Four years of youth, music, growing up and breaking free. Four rubber chickens, four yearbooks, four ASB presidents and four chubby bunnies.