“There are always ups and downs... focus on the good times we had”

Good afternoon, and, on behalf of the senior class, I would like to thank everyone that has helped us get to this special moment.

To the administration that has made all of the tough calls to keep us directed and informed, thank you. To the maintenance and janitorial staff that keep our schools clean and presentable, thank you. To the lunch ladies that make sure we get plenty of food throughout the day, thank you. And, thank you to our two retirees, Mr. Pennington and Mr. Wilson. These role models have sacrificed so much for us and our education. Mr. Pennington has lost his voice on multiple occasions trying to teach us all how to sing, and Mr. Wilson has lost his fingers trying to teach us about shop safety. Thank you for your years of service, and we are all happy for you, no matter how hard it is to see you go. To the teachers that have tried their hardest to teach us, regard- less of our complaints, for the extra hours given to us in the form of study groups and practice for extracurriculars, thank you. To all the families of graduates today, for all the support throughout the years, for standing by our sides and keeping us safe, and also for inspiring us each and every day, no matter what challenges come your way, thank you. Finally, thank you to my family. Some of them have traveled a great distance to be here with us today, and I appreciate your support. And, of course, my parents for always pushing me to work for the things I want and serving as excellent examples of how to lead a fulfilling and happy life.

I stand before all of you today as the representative for the Class of 2023. And we have all been through a lot together. For example, COVID. I think we all remember the virtual learning, masks, and awkward Homecoming dances. That was the only time I had seen people stand six feet away from their date since middle school. But, we have also survived some less global obstacles, but challenging nonetheless. Things like trying to balance school, work, extracurriculars, and family, or just trying to keep our heads above water dealing with homework and heavily-weighted finals. But, no matter how much has been thrown our way, we have been able to accomplish a lot in academics, sports, music, art, and extracurriculars. People from our senior class have competed on every stage, between local teams and all the way up to the state and national levels.

And throughout all this stress, fatigue, and accomplishment, we have all gone through it together. Which makes this day all the more difficult to deal with. Because, for the first time, we will be going off on a great adventure to conquer new objectives and face new obstacles without our classmates of 13 years to support us. It’s like the finale of any great sitcom. We all work to- gether, have been around for one another, and no amount of drama, breakups, or bad acne can tear us apart. But, there is always one thing that will stand in our way, one thing that forces us apart, and one thing that we have all suffered before and will continue to dread in the future: the bittersweet moment that comes after achieving something great and before the next chapter in our lives. The point where we have reached the end of a long, unique journey and have fostered great relationships along the way. And, the point where we are forced to move, grow, and find new mountains to climb.

Most of the people around us will focus on the “bitter” part of these events. Our parents, primarily. They think, “My baby is leaving me forever,” or, “They are going to be all alone.” And, for a while, we will be. It won’t be pretty at first, leaving home and learning our way around a new school, job, or other situation. But, I encourage all of you to focus on the “sweet” part of these moments. Think about all of the new friends we are going to make, not the people we must leave behind. And dream about what all we will accomplish, not about the struggle that lies ahead. Because these moments happen to everyone, and they are absolutely vital for us to figure things out on our own. Plus, life is too short to just focus on the sad parts of every moment. We all live on the clock, and it’s hard to believe 13 years of education have already come and gone. I have always thought that by the time I’m twenty, I’ll do this, or by the time I’m thirty, I will have done this. But, the truth is, I’m closer to being thirty now than to being born. BOOM, right? I feel old, and I’m still considered a kid. Life is going by, and I think we fail to realize that constant fact until we have a bittersweet moment that makes us think about how things have changed and what is going to be different forever.

So, as we celebrate graduation today, reflect on all the good things we have done as a class. Take a few seconds to think about all the fun we had at Prom, state competitions, and senior sunset. You know, when I eventually finished my calculus final, that’s when “the last day” really sunk in. I was walking to the last 15 minutes of fourth block, and I started thinking about how everything was over and how I wouldn’t be going to chemistry or ag in the morning. But, later that day, senior sunset reminded me of what high school was all about: having fun with our friends before we go off into the “real world.”

There are always ups and downs during periods such as this, but I ask you, fellow graduates, to focus on the good times we had, and take time to dream about what is to come. Thank you for a fantastic 13 years, and I encourage you all to lead a life full of bittersweet moments.