I was puzzled and wasn't sure what to talk about tonight. I had to prepare this speech ahead of time and turn it in for approval. I much prefer doing things spontaneously, using all the skills I have developed over the years, you know, sorta letting people (being the teachers and parents) know that we really were listening! It's much more fun interacting with other people, watching their reactions, and playing along with them. But, I had to do the right thing, So while I was contemplating my topic, it came to me - this is what I want you to take with you as we depart the Bryan Station School District and move on into life. I want you to remember the small, seemingly insignificant things that happened to you while you were growing up. You know, like the simple smile that your best friend gave you when you were really down and needed a boost. Like the many times you walked down the hall, high-fiving your buds, showing you cared without getting all goofy about it. You didn't even realize that they were down and just knowing they had a friend in you boosted them to face the next school challenge. Remember the time you were really thirsty in third grade, and went into the room after recess, only to remember that there was a party today, and there would be cupcakes and Kool-aid served in a matter of minutes? Remember saving a seat for your friend to sit on the bus, knowing that you were gonna share all the cool stuff you did yesterday? And how glad you were to be able to share this? Everyday, everything we do affects someone, somehow. My wish is for all of us to recall a kind gesture, a happy moment that happened unplanned, that really sticks in our minds, that made a big impact on us, and relive those moments in our future. Pass on that joy/hope/support, whatever you got out of it. Remember that you will be making new friends, that those people you have shared every day with for four or maybe 12 years will be going their separate ways. You will have many moments where you won't have anyone around to boost you up, where you won't be told if it is the right thing or the good thing to do.
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.
If, by chance, you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you.
My flashbulb memory occurred on July 14, 2008, at 3:35am. I had just turned 14 years old nine days earlier. My mom came into my room, obviously upset, and woke me up to tell me that my grandma had passed away five minutes before. She had just gotten off the phone with my grandpa, and he wanted us to come to the hospital and say goodbye before the mortician arrived. I was overwhelmed with grief as I was sitting there on my bed in the dark, with nothing but the light from the hallway shining in. I jumped out of bed, threw on a pair of pants and a Relay for Life t-shirt, and soon was in the vehicle on my way to the hospital, that was a few blocks away, with my parents.
There is a distinct difference between knowledge and wisdom. I can tell you that as honor society president I have seen many smart people do stupid things. Let's just say that mixing a very large lunch with a bobbing ship and an admissions officer from the University of California equals a vomitous situation.
...onight is our night to shine and also our time to set new goals. After we leave tonight's ceremony a new life for us begins. It will be time for us to move on to bigger things and it will be our time to overcome more obstacles. We will move on to college, work, starting new careers and starting families. I have faith in each and everyone of you that you will make your dreams become reality. Just remember that if you stay focused on what you want, do what you want and be who you are, your accomplishments will be endless. All of the obstacles that we have encountered and come face to face with during our high school journey, just proved how determined we were to reach our goal of graduation. To add to the long list of "firsts" I would like to be one of the first people to wish Conolon's first class of the new millennium congratulations. Congratulations class of 2006!
At times it may have been extremely difficult for some of us to predict where we would be today, but now we can embark upon our goals and congratulate ourselves for always striving to conquer our missions. No longer do we need to reminisce about what we were unable to accomplish - for we have accomplished the first step in our education.
I did not get to know many of you. So, I cannot be certain of how you feel, but, as for me, this year has been, by far, the most enjoyable and eye opening one of my high school career. Enjoyable because of the new, interesting friends I've made and of the fun times I've had, and eye opening because of my being forced to look towards the future. Not just day dreaming and imagining about the rest of my life, but finally having to sit down and make some definite decisions concerning it. For me and many of you, colleges have had to be applied for and decided on and scholarships filled out. Some of you have been looking into vocational schools or the military, while others will be going straight into the work force. Whatever your case may be, we've all had one thing in common in that we've been planning for our futures. Since the decisions we make now or soon will impact the rest of our lives, I'd like to take this time to share some advice with you all.
Yet, I also remembered how good it felt being able to run a mile. While the person I hated is barely breathing. Nailing my solo, or any part that is considered hard. I remembered how much I love my sock tan. How fun competitions were. This band; although they might be dysfunctional, is my family. I’m proud that I didn’t give
Laughter echoed throughout the car as we traveled down the highway. It was a gorgeous mid-summer morning, the tank was full of gas and our parents had given us permission to go wherever we pleased. We got lost on a dusty back road that rarely saw people, ended up somewhere in Idaho, got trapped in a rain storm, and laughed until tears rolled down our cheeks. Those are the types of memories I choose to hold on to. When you are younger, you think nothing will ever come between you and your best friend. Unfortunately, sometimes you are forced to learn that jealousy is a stronger manipulator than you ever imagined possible.
Most of my favorite memories are from being back on Peachtree. It’s mi Ama’s old house and all my close family got together to be with each other and to have a good time no matter what’s going on. I remember all the good times we had, especially when our family was bigger. It’s not the same it
Each night before I go to sleep, I write my highlight of the day in a little yellow journal. The entries vary from a line to a page, but the question I ask myself at 9:30 remains the same: what was the best part of today? I don’t go to sleep until I can find one. Some days I’m challenged with having to choose between many, like the day of an action-packed sleepover. Other days it’s truly about appreciating the little moments, like April 19th, 2017: “Maybe the conversation with my friend in the locker room.” One that stands out to me is three words that I don’t remember, but they spoke an infinity on January 16th, 2017. “Car ride back.”
As a child, the event that I remember most was an evening at the park with my siblings and dad. Although my dad spent numerous days and nights working, he would always find a way to fit in time to spend with his kids. It was a lovely spring evening in Cathedral City when my siblings and I wanted to go to the nearby Panorama Park. My dad didn’t hesitate and the next thing I remember was packing our new bikes into the trunk of his truck. We quickly rushed over as the sun was setting and as soon as we arrived it was nowhere to be seen but we were determined to play for as long as possible. Before we left, we begged my dad to play one round of hide-and-go-seek in the unlit park and soon enough we were running around like chickens without their heads. Many rounds passed and my dad found each of us every time until he could no longer catch his own breath. As children, most of us don’t want the newest toy or the shiniest jewelry but instead memories like these that will forever stay with us. Not only have events like these brought me joy, but people do as well. About two years ago, I started my first job as a host for a Mexican Restaurant named Pueblo Viejo Grill in Palm Desert. This first job experience made me appreciate people and realized how much joy they bring into my life. Of course, as an employee of a restaurant, there will be those customers that make it their hobby to complain as much as they can just because
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.
I’m going to write about the day I lost someone most important in my life. John Doe, my dad was a very hardworking person, he never missed a day of work and was always willing to do anything for anyone. He was so energetic always so happy and was rarely mad. I feel blessed that I was raised by a wonderful person like him and hope to follow my dad’s footsteps one day. I would always refer myself as daddy’s girl and for quite a while I don’t know what got into me, but I never seemed to get along with my mom. It was always my dad I wanted to be with. The right words never came across my mind when being around my mom.
To begin something new, you must sacrifice something old. To enter the real world, you must graduate your childhood.