Graduation Speech by Faculty Essay

WOW! So much has happened since June. The SV FFA and ag department had a rough start to our year losing three of our students who were on the FFA officer team to other schools. Even with this bump in the road, the four officers that remained visited Mt. Shasta City and had a blast bonding and learning more about each other at their officer retreat in August. Once school started we found three new officers and attended COLC (Chapter Officer Leadership Conference) where the entire team learned about their diverse leadership styles and were able to bond together as the official Surprise Valley FFA Chapter Officer Team for the 2017-2018 school year. If you see them around, congratulate President Cindy Hinze, V.P. Maddison Seely, Secretary Maya

I once read that life is well represented as a pearl deep within an oyster. The pearl symbolizes each person's potential, or the things that are going well for them in life. Just as a mere grain of sand that enters an oyster can grow into something of great worth, there is a fragment of excellency within every one of you that over time can be shape you into an individual who will make a difference in the world.

No matter your hatred or love for this place, it’s all you’ve got and it’s given you all you need. It has blessed you with a preview of the big, real world and all the struggles life will throw your way. Along with this great privilege, we are taught lessons we will remember forever. Senior, Hannah Dennis, says she will never forget that, “You can do so much good, and people are still going to point out the negatives. Keep trying and never give up on your dreams.” Whether you believe it, or not, all the hardships you are being faced with today are only sculpting you into your own individual.

Edgar Allan Poe once said, "All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream."

High school is a time where everyone discovers who they genuinely are. You manage to decide your entire future in four short years. You could meet the love of your life and establish friendships that last a lifetime.

I would like to thank all of you for coming on such short notice. After all, 18 years hardly seems like enough time to prepare for graduation. In fact, as I stand up here and looking at all of my classmates, I wonder if I am ready to graduate.

High School? Many people would agree that some of their favorite memories occurred during this portion of their lives. I view high school as some of the most critical years in a young person’s life. The trials and tribulations that you will go through during those four years can set the tone for important future events to come.

A boy once approached Socrates with the desire to obtain wisdom. Without saying a word, Socrates led the boy down to the edge of the sea and walked in, beckoning him to follow. When they were standing waist deep in the water, Socrates pushed the boy down, completely submerging his head. He held him thus for a couple of minutes, until the boy was almost to the point of death, before letting him up. Sputtering and angry, the boy demanded to know why Socrates had held him underwater for so long. In response, Socrates asked, "when you were under the water, what did you want more than anything in the world?"

I am extremely proud to be given the opportunity to address you all during this wonderful and momentous celebration. Each and every one of you deserves the greatest congratulations. You have paid a price to be here; put sweat, frustration, anger, effort, tears, blood and now triumph into your years at Napier High School. You all should be incredibly proud of yourselves. You know that you make your life whatever you want. And what you put in, you get out. Like the cross country girls' motto: "Where you find success you find sacrifice," if you give, you shall receive. But don't expect results right away. Some things take time. And don't expect your goals to come easily. Life is filled with adversity; expect obstacles at every corner. Why?

I like that word, graduates. In fact, I like that word so much, that I decided to look it up in the dictionary for the heck of it. And beyond the obvious definitions I found, there was one that plainly stuck out. "To change gradually". Now if you think about it, I guess that sums up all our years of schooling right there. I mean, I can still remember back to first grade and racing home to watch the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles defeat Shredder and the evil foot soldiers. Of course, Michelangelo was my favorite because he was the care-free surfer turtle that every boy dreamed of being like. Well, cartoons didn't last long in junior high, and my first real change occurred because of the

Our graduation is our coming of age, our right of passage. As we walk across this stage we are writing the closing pages to our Chapter I and heading into the great unknown. It's kinda scary -- but hey, don't you cry, even though high school is over, the times we've shared and the friends we've made will never be lost. The clock is ticking, time is fleeting and nobody lives forever. But true friendship is something we can count on never dying. I hope wherever we go in life it will be happy and even if we all move to remote island countries we can all count on the memories and laugh at all the stupid things we did.

[Go up with Senior Homecoming t-shirt and hold up front and back so everyone can see]

My mom drops me off in front of the large store, “good luck Sarah you will do great! See you at 6” she says as I quickly jump out of the car. I walk up the automatic door with butterflies in my stomach while repeating to myself, “don 't worry you 'll be fine” over and over again in hopes if I say it enough it 'll become true. The automatic doors open with one swift motion I then walk towards a second set of automatic door. When these doors open I am greeted with a gust of nice cold air and the constant sound of beep beep, shopping carts wheeling around, the sound of cash registers opening, receipts printing off, and bustling people. I freeze trying to figure out where to go in this large store but before I can start to panic I am greeted by a small masculine looking women in her mid 20s with an extremely laid back attitude. “Here” she says as she tosses me a navy blue polyester smock with the words “Crosby’s Marketplace” embroidered on the pocket and a cross tie.

It has been said that the best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up. But as I reminisce about our years together at Lafayette, I realize it takes so much more to attain your dreams. Struggles, victories, joys, sorrows, understandings, confusions, these conscious experiences have paved the way for us to be here tonight, leading us to the realization of our dreams.

“Your high school years will be some of the best years of your life.” That is the most common thing that most people tell you when you’re starting your high school years. The reality is high school will be some of your most awkward and confusing years of your life. High school is the time when you grow up and start discovering who you are, you start making important life decisions during those next 4 years.