Well, my fellow graduates, this is really it. We are all probably feeling mixed emotions right now. Some feeling sweet relief that it is finally done, over, and finished. Maybe a twinge of sadness and nostalgia because pretty much all you have known for a good majority of your life has come to an end. I am sure by now we have all heard that question, "What are you going to do after high school?" Some of you do have definite plans and know exactly what you are going to be doing. But, if you are anything like me, you have probably rolled quite a few things around in your head and you have a pretty good idea of what you might do. Maybe all you have thought about is getting the heck out of here and meeting new people. But no matter what you do or whoever you meet, those new people and places are going to have one less thing in common with you. They won’t know what is was like going to a small school and knowing everybody’s face, or running to the lunch line on Wednesday for a hoagie, or hatching corny skits for assemblies, or marching in the parade at Homecoming. All of us in this room tonight have something in common, and high school is not something you forget. It only happens once and you can’t go back! (For most of us anyway.) So since we can’t stay here, we have to go somewhere else and make something of ourselves. But what are we going to do? What do we want to do? Sometimes, what we want to do isn’t exactly what we end up doing. We all have dreams. Everyone does, like myself for example. I know exactly what I want to do, but it doesn’t happen to be what everyone else likes to do as well .... and that’s to act. Whether it be a commercial, on stage, or in a movie, I like to act. It is what I love doing. What do I have to lose in trying. What do all of you have to lose in pursuing your dreams? I’m going to try my hardest to do what I love, even though members of my family and some of my friends are concerned that all I will get is a pimple cream commercial, or an insignificant role as "Crowd Member No.
It's unbelievable how each year, since the beginning of high school, my perfectly laid plans for myself have unavoidably deteriorated. When I entered my freshman year, I had aspirations of being a doctor (something I had wanted to be since I was a child). Now, here I am entering my senior year in high school without any idea of what I want to do. Now seems to be the time to start taking life seriously and making responsible, educated choices.
Like you, we all understand that it’s an honor and a privilege for our children to be a part of the U-High family. Our children have been given the opportunity to attend a truly special high school. As parents, we have worked hard to provide our children with every advantage. We are all proud of the rich heritage, the quality education, and the many opportunities that a school of U-High’s caliber provides. Our children are able to choose from a large number of clubs, activities, and sports to enhance their high school experience. The quality of those experiences is directly impacted by YOUR generosity. So, your U-High Booster Club works hard to raise needed funds to support your students and the entire U-High community.
No amount of education can completely prepare us for the world that lies ahead of us. Because it presents many unknowns, it is exciting yet at the same time frightening. I know that there are still so many things that can only be learned through experience; a challenge with which we will soon all be faced. I would like to read a letter written by a woman by the name of Avril Johannes which was published in the book "Chicken Soup For the Soul." She writes this letter to the world upon her son's and his classmates' graduation and it relates some of these same ideas.
South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu wrote, "You are a very special person - become what you are." These words encourage us, the graduating class of 2012, to recognize the goodness and potential in each and every one of us and to go out and excel in the world. We are a diverse group of different aspirations and backgrounds, bound for different corners of the earth to carve out our won individual niches. Before we leave behind Lee Falls High School and each other, we must ask ourselves how we have become who we are.
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:
Five of the greatest years of your life occur throughout high school, what makes these years so great is not overly obvious until they’re actually over. You experience times that you’ll always remember; great sports moments with your favorite high school teams, and you get the great feeling of closeness and structure from the school, along with the people you’ll never forget; this half-decade serves as a great period to form new bonds that may or may not last an eternity, and to strengthen friendships that already existed going into this new period of life. When these years are done, you’ll be a changed person, in most cases, for the better.
Students, faculty, family, friends, on this exciting day, I speak to optimism, laughter, and grins.
As you inhale the aggregate odor of your senior class for the last time, I’m sure there are many burning questions racing through your minds: “Will I find my place in the world?” If you’re lucky. “Am I really going to graduate a virgin?” Yeah, probably. “Who is that incredibly handsome young man addressing us, and how long do we have the privilege of listening to him?” Howdy, Andrew Gonzales here, and hopefully not long; I realize that your robes are making you sweat, your thongs are making you uncomfortable, and my use of the words “virgin” and “thongs” is making your parents sweaty and uncomfortable.
Graduates congratulate yourselves on a job well done. Sitting here tonight shows a great deal of work and dedication. Seriously, look back on what you have done in just that last four years, let alone what you have accomplished in all your years of school. It is astounding what we have done. Congratulations, your perseverance has finally paid off. But also, we must remember to thank our parents, for it has been with their help and support that we have achieved our goal.
Often high school is perceived as a time when a youth finds themselves. While I agree with this, I think it is not only important to figure out who you have been, but also to figure out who you have become and who you will be through growth and maturity. I know that throughout my high school career I have done just that. I have experienced so much since I first walked through the doors to Henderson High School. As a freshman and sophomore, the only major activity that I participated in was Track and Field, which I had been doing since I was 9 and continue to do now. As my junior year comes to an end, I look back on my progress, and I am proud. Recently, I was given a reminder of my newfound involvement when passes for club pictures were handed out. I
Life after high school can be easy or difficult transitions. Some people depart from with their friends, while some become more fearful mostly knowing that everything is about to change for them. It all depends on what you do or what you allow to happen in your life is what will speak for you. It is usually simple for people that are aware of what they want to do or become after high school. However, it is tougher for those who feel like the world owe them something or do not have the appropriate support. Usually after high school 65.9% percent of people go to college, while some join the military or go to the workforce. At this in stage in life, it is necessary to know what journey you want to take because they all have requirements that are crucial and that need to be met because nobody is going hand them out to you in this life.
When I first started high school I had no clue what I wanted my life to be like afterwards. My parents had planted the idea of college in my head, since both of them had gone, and said that was the only way to become successful in life so I always assumed college was going to be part of my plan. Throughout my elementary, intermediate, and middle school career I was a fairly decent student. I rarely had to worry about my grades and I never had to work exceptionally hard to do well, however in high school everything changed. I had always heard that grades were important and GPA was everything along with clubs and extracurricular activities to make us more rounded students, but none of that really registered with me until late into my sophomore year. It
Furthermore, graduating high school has to be the biggest change I’ve had in my life. No more showing up to class for 8 hours a day and being told what to do. I must say it really was one of the happiest days of my life. The overwhelming feeling of accomplishment brought a tremendous amount of joy, relief and motivation. I was prepared to begin my journey of what is today
You know, it is really strange how quickly time passes, after spending my whole childhood wishing I was an adult, now here we are and it's a little hard to grasp. It feels like just yesterday I was standing here in the same position at eighth grade graduation. Ahh, middle school, such a joyous time for all of us, free of maturity and not a care in the world. The biggest decisions I ever had to make then was deciding which group to stand with at passing time and choosing which shirt from my extensive collection of Stussy and No Feat apparel to wear. We were all naive to the danger that lurked just around the corner. We were unaware that the carefree world we lived in was about to come crashing to the ground in a blazing inferno of real school work and responsibility ... otherwise known as high school.
To begin something new, you must sacrifice something old. To enter the real world, you must graduate your childhood.