My Second Attempt At Writng A Graduation Speech_Entry 1_Week 20

“What.” W-H-A-T. A simple, four letter word used in the English language on a regular day-to-day basis. In the fourth grade, I did not know how to spell that word, let along many others similar to it. I struggled to figure out what nine multiplied by two equaled, and my social skills were horrendous due to the fact that I was too shy to interact with children my own age. If someone had told me when I was younger that I would have the opportunity to attend the best school in Washoe County, I would have found it very hard to believe them. I thought I was an unintelligent kid who was going nowhere in life. But when I came here, to AACT, both my teachers and my classmates have shown me that I have the potential to lead, to think for myself, and to make something of my future.

             We were considered to be the “different” kids- the ones who drew in the margins of our homework papers; the ones who would rather repair an old bike than buy a new one; the ones who would rather spend their Saturday night learning how to bake a new recipe that they discovered rather than partying.  We were the kids who weren’t quite sure what we wanted to do, or if we could even do it, but we knew we wanted to do something. Something great.

We often question ourselves, wondering if we are brilliant enough, gorgeous enough, talented enough, and fabulous enough. One such person, by the name of Marianne Williamson, responds to human’s constant negative thought- process with a brilliant answer: “… Who are you not to be (brilliant, gorgeous, talented, and fabulous)? ...  As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”

Every graduating student in this room had to endure the nerve- wracking interview process in hopes of getting accepted into this wonderful five star career- technical based high school, just so we could have a chance of being a part of one of the best educational programs in Northern Nevada. We were accepted because the teachers and the school saw something special, something different, and something wonderful about each and every one of us. They saw the potential that some of us couldn’t see in ourselves.

             We have worked hard to be where we are at now, and after four years, we are finally at the finish line of our high school career and the starting line of the rest of our lives. As a class, we have created community service projects, have received hands- on experience through internships and job shadowing, and have competed in various organizations such as SkillsUSA, ProStart, HOSA, FFA, and Moon Buggy. As individuals, we have endured twelve years of emotional breakdowns, inadequate pencil stubs, crumpled up pieces of paper, and have had late night coffee shots to help keep us awake in order to finish that one essay we only remembered to do at 11 p.m.

Life isn’t always going to be easy- and it certainly isn’t ever going to go exactly as you planned. But that’s alright, and you’ll be alright. Just remember to always do what makes you happy, and the rest will fall in place.

I wish each and every one of you the best of luck. Not only are we the class of 2014, but we are the graduates of we made it.