My life hasn’t been all rainbrows and sunshine, I 've struggled and clawed my way to be where I am at right now. It wasn’t the ideal situation I wanted to be caught up in, but in the end it just proves that the bigger the struggle is, a better outcome will come. Everything started at the end of 2014, where my struggle truly began, and when I overcame all of it.
‘Finally graduation time,’ I thought to myself while I was in my math class, as I was in my own little world while the teacher was talking about the final and graduation lines. But as uninterested as I was, I started to go deeper into my thoughts, nervously, I started worrying about my math AIMS since I didn’t pass that portion of the test last year. With just one test my whole High School career would be a flop, I need to pass all my classes with at least a D or better in order for that to be excused. I sighed in relief, trying to avoid getting too deep into the thought of not graduating, thinking I had everything planned relieved some stress and anxiety away. “Here”, getting interrupted in my thoughts, I saw my classmate handing back the final, it took me a minute to respond when I finally said “thank you” with a smile, taking the paper and placing it on my cold desk.
Walking to the guidance counselor with a million thoughts in my head wasn’t exactly the feeling I was hoping for, the halls were empty, everyone was in class, and it was quite and peaceful. The door creaked as I opened the office door, I signed in and waited to be called in by the guidance counselor; I started to look around trying to quiet my racing mind and relax my nerves. Seconds turn to minutes and minutes turn to a great deal of anxiety, ‘God what is taking this lady so long, I know she’s not doing any...
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...d to go to New Jersey, I think it’s best for now”. I looked at her, her bright blue eyes, and her concerned look on her face, she was worried and sad, I got angry and said “stop, we’ll find something and I don’t even want to go to Jersey”. The next couple of months turned into the best months ever, we found an ideal apartment called the Cimarron, and it had the best ratings out of all the ones we looked at. More good news, my counselor even called and said I was eligible to graduate! Plus, as a bonus, I got called for the job at UPS. Everything came together with patience and hard work, I was so close to giving up and calling it a day, but with everything now coming together and falling into place it really pushed me to do further things in life now like going to college. As a person, I furthered myself and exceeded expectations -- which is all that I ever wanted.
To the County High School Class of 2012: As you sit in front of me, I know what most of you are thinking at the moment. There are those who are already pondering about what life without high school will be like; those who are debating whether or not to tell your crush tonight about your whispers of adoration you’ve secretly held for four years; some simply want to get out of that ungodly chair, get that thing that isn’t really a diploma but only tells you when to pick up the thing, and then be the first one on the green bus to the grad party — you know who you are. And the rest, well, the rest aren’t even paying attention, you’re thinking, “Great, here comes one of the valedictorian speakers. Next up: a boring speech straight out of the pits of scholarly hell.” And it’s OK, I don’t mind — that sort of thing comes with the territory. But tonight, I ask that you give me a chance to break that stereotype so that I may address you in the full splendor that you deserve after 13 grueling years of work. I do not want to be known as your “valedictorian” as I stand here, c’mon guys, there is no time left to place labels on people anymore, instead I ask that you accept me as one of your peers — and as a man who will enjoy becoming a graduate alongside you.
When I was in elementary school, I loved to read. I was a total nerd back then ... okay maybe I still am, but one thing has changed. Now I don't so much like reading. My favorite poet was Shel Silverstein, who wrote "Where the Sidewalk Ends." He seemed like he was a total hippie, but that's cool because I like hippies. My grandma is a recovering hippie. I like her too. Anyway, Shel Silverstein wrote about the coolest things. He wrote about magical erasers, eating whales and a boy with long hair flying away from people who were taunting him. He captured all of the things that I loved without knowing that I actually loved them. Now you may ask, how does this hippie relate to our graduation? Well, he wrote a poem entitled "Traffic Light" and this is how it goes:
I feared I wouldn’t be able to uphold my family’s standards. All the work given to me from my five core gifted classes and the stress started accumulating. My life was spiraling right before my eyes. I lost control of the steering wheel and ran myself right into a ditch; a ditch, more like a bottomless pit of scum. I thought I was strong enough to hold on for the ride but apparently I wasn’t. I reluctantly handed over the wheel to my parents and let them guide me to where I needed to be. Eventually, tenth grade rolled around and I put myself back together. I was broken glass taped together trying to refurbish myself. At this point I just had to make it through high school. At the end of tenth grade, I aced every class I had taken from band to chemistry. Eleventh grade creeped around the corner and the anxiety started to build up again. I wanted more for myself. I was no longer satisfied with being every other person in Hialeah Gardens High School. My options were to either get into dual enrollment or finish high school all together. Dual enrollment was ruled out when my test scores were not at the new passing score they had recently made. There were two months left of school and it was until then that I decided
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!
Over the past four years, we have grown from insecure, immature freshmen to successful, focused and confident young adults. This incredible transformation has been the result of our entire high school experience. Everything from that first homecoming game, to late night cramming, to the last dance at prom. These experiences have pulled us together as a class and we have learned to love and respect our fellow classmates.
I couldn’t believe this day was finally here. I would get my high school diploma and get out of this town forever. I was finally going to get the chance that I had been waiting for so many years. I was going to start a brand new life, someplace away from here, where no one knew me. As my mind was lost in plans of the future, I tuned out my surroundings, until, a loud noise snapped me out of my thoughts.
Will you be who you were meant to be, or will you be who everyone wants you to be. It is up to you to decide your destination, but it is the events along the way that shape the final outcome. As we sit here at graduation, having suffered and prospered through four years at County High School, it is hard to forget the memories we've shared. At the same time, it is easy to see how the past four years have shaped who we are today and impacted our future forever.
Henry Adams once wrote "A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops." This is so true, every teacher here has taught us much more than the textbook curriculum. Every teacher here tonight has given us students something we will use or remember for the rest of our lives. I really don't think people understand or appreciate the time and effort our teachers have put into us. So tonight I'm not going to give everyone advice on the future, I'm not going to tell you how life is a journey we've just begun, and I'm not going to brag about how great the class of 2006 is. Since we have eight outstanding Valedictorians this year, I'm sure all of those bases are already covered. So instead, I'm going to take a few minutes here to thank some of the teachers and staff that have made a difference in my own life, and by doing so I hope that everybody present tonight will see how important each and every teacher and staff member is at Amos High School.
Well guys, we've made it. We've made it through four years of one of the most highly involved times in our lives. We've seen all, we've done all, and at this point in the year, most of us have probably had enough of it all. If you think about it, four school years is really a long time. four years of high school is equal to 720 school days, 4,320 class periods, and if you're a busy guy like me and you tend to count things by the minute, then it might surprise you to know that we've been in class for about 237,600 minutes. Class of 2006- are you ready to graduate?
It is probably a mistake that I am standing here giving a speech for graduation. In fact it is probably a mistake that I am even graduating from this school at all -- believe me, just as most people in this class I have tested the limits of attendance, of sleeplessness, and of procrastination. At the beginning of my high schooling, I was even testing dropping out ... and if that wasn't a mistake, I don't know what was. After four years of Starr altering our minds, it seemed most fitting for me to spend my four minutes talking about mistakes. Thank goodness for them, by the way -- it is only when we truly screw up big time that we are ever stopped in our tracks -- stopped, briefly, to learn lessons of worth.
I can almost remember that day like it was yesterday, I awoke like on any other school day. It was a gorgeous May morning, the rays of sun flittered through my miniblinds blinding me as if I hadn’t seen light in days. I sluggishly dragged my limp body out of my warm bed, retiring to the bathroom to perform my normal morning rituals shower, shave, brush my teeth, get dressed, do my hair, and all the other regulars. As I looked at myself while combing my hair, it hit me like a speeding express train, I was about to graduate. I couldn’t help but smile, but at the same time I felt like a part of me was drifting away. A tear came to my eye as I realized what was about to happen to me.
Imagine it is one’s first day in high school. Standing in front befalls the entrance way to your new future, thinking of what lies ahead from the perspective of a middle school grad. One would perhaps have mixed emotions as to what to expect. Observing the new students around the corridors, it transpires as if they are dragging their feet to progress inside, for the reason that they are fresh from the blissful summer days; they are in exchange, yet again, to the reality of school homework, projects, reports and tests. Some have queries and doubts in their minds; what does one expect of themselves getting into a high school life such as this? “What remains in store for me, I wonder…” “This school year is going to be subsequently much tougher
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.
Good afternoon everyone. Friends, family, staff members, honored guests and fellow graduates. On behalf of the Grad Class of 2016, we were selected by our class to give some parting words. Today is our day. After thirteen years of knowing only these walls around us, our time here has come to an end. We are officially stepping forward into our futures. No longer united on one path, as we are now branching off on our own, taking our own paths.
High school. I never realized it would bring so many changes. As I walked on to campus my freshman year, my mindset was the same as it was in eighth grade; the young are invincible. And although I was excited to come to high school I had many fears. Would the classes be too hard, would I make new friends, what could I become involved in, and most of all -- what if I get lost? All of these fears eventually subsided and I, along with all of you, found the right classes and the right teachers. We all made new friends. We all got involved in something. During my freshman year, innocence surrounded me and although eventually my shell would crack, not until this year have I broken through. This year I decided that it is time to soar on my own. Graduation is the beginning of a new flight for all of us, the class of 1997.