Moving Forward: A Graduation Speech

For four years we’ve sat in hard concrete chairs, listened to the lectures and received a great education. But that’s the least we can say, because we have an extra six weeks under our belts. We have tried and tried again, and now we succeed. Not just academically, but as a person we are mannered and we have established morals through experience.
Our lives were lived in the halls of our schools, and we will always have the memories. They all began our freshman year, walking into school for the first time. There was always that stereotype that incoming freshmen should be afraid of the upperclassmen. But to be honest, how many of us actually were scared?
I remember once, between classes I was standing by a pole, waiting for my friends. A girl walked over to me, and practically yelled at me, she had been “standing in this spot for FOUR years.” I had an attitude, of course, and just glared at her for a moment. I eventually walked away, but thought to myself, that she didn’t have the right to control me.
But now as a senior myself, I see how she did have the right. By your fourth and final year you create tradition. Tradition is something strong that exists among all schools, whether it’s waiting by a pole, screaming at pep rallies, or going to a Friday night football game. Your friends were there for those moments of tradition, and they will be here to remember them. The greatest things I’ve received from my journey are the friends that I’ve made. We share the qualities that we’ve obtained. Because of the traditions, academics, and friends I have, I am proud to represent my school, as we all should. People will knows us for the personality that we have gained and the character that we show.
After establishing your character and your personality, you become a person, an adult, a role model to others. You first began by shaping yourself and molding your personality. Our whole lives we've been creating ourselves, who we are today, and who we will be tomorrow.
We all have our own role models; we follow them, and want to be just like them. We look at them as perfect and unattainable. They become a kind of hero, as we will to others. Can we become superhuman and impenetrable to the pressures of today's society like our heroes? When we look up to them, we pattern ourselves after the traits that we so admire. In doing so we may even seem impenetrable. People will look up to us as role models, siblings, peers, and one day maybe our own children. Don't let the image you create for yourself go beyond who you actually are. Be aware during all of your actions that you are creating not only your own path, but you may be laying a path for someone else. Stay true to yourself and become the person you most want to be.
Life can be seen as a game, whether you believe it or not. Play your cards right, and take chances. But don't forget to play them smart. Remember, "It's not the cards you are dealt in life, but how you play them," that matters. Life is also a blessing that should be lived to the fullest. As each day comes enjoy the simplest and appreciate the finest.
From here on out, all "you have to do is decide what to do with the time that is given to you." Some of us may go to college or the military; others will venture into the real world. But no matter which path we take, we will all look back on this day, a day of accomplishment, a day of relief, and a day to mark a new beginning. I once heard, "My interest is in the future because I’m going to spend the rest of my life there." And it is now the beginning of our future, a place and times lies before us. A place and time in which we will spend the rest of our lives.
From our freshman year to now, we've gone through struggles, but I'm proud to say we have all played our cards right, and we've won this hand in the game. Congratulations to us, the Class of 2007. And congratulations to our peers, our parents, our administration, and to our teachers.