my speech.
This speech took me a long time to write… not because I didn’t want to, not because I procrastinated, I just didn’t know where to begin. I didn’t want to write a speech that is heard every year, so this one is like each of us- anything but cliché. I’m not going to tell you about how crazy it is that we’re done, or how I’ll miss you all, or how we’ve all made some amazing memories with everyone- none of you want to sit and hear ‘the usual’.
So what I’m going to do is talk to you about my take on high school, and what it has meant to me. The total high school experience went much further than the classes and the everyday drama- it was mostly about those long nights with friends. It’s about realizing what and who matters. Our class has been through many change ups in the friendship scheme of things- we’ve all gained some friends, lost some friends, and gained some more friends, so I think you know what I mean when I say that your true friends are there when no one else will stay by your side, when everything seems wrong.
The drama we’ve all been through these past four years won’t be remembered a month from now- probably not even next week. What we will remember are the nights sprawled out on a friend’s kitchen floor, baring souls… talking about how little the drama means, and rising above it to begin to figure out who we are… starting with a chocolate chip cookie. It’s also about figuring out who you want to be, and making a suitable compromise between the two.
That’s part of what true success is- being who you are. Don’t change for anyone, or anything. Despite what others may say, you do not need to be “popular” to be successful in high school, nor anywhere else down the road. It’s not the quantity of friends you have that matters, it’s the quality. The friends I’ve made are indefinitely the best I could ever ask for. Those I’m closest to have been there through it all- they know where my emotions are coming from, understand me for the situations I’ve been through, and are always there for me whenever I need them. That’s a true friend.
The other night was one of these 2AM kitchen floor nights. It was one of the best conversations I’ve ever had. It’s not that we learned anything new about each other; it’s that we’ve finally begun to realize what our lives are coming to. This is truly the end of the chapter, we’re all going to have to say goodbye.
The one thing I wish for all of you is that you find at least one friendship like this.
Friendship is about late night phone calls, helping a sick friend, lending an ear or shoulder when someone is upset or just being there as a friend. The conversations you have in the middle of the night may not be remembered verbatim, but they will never be forgotten for their meaning.
As I said, the final chapter of our high school career is over, but our lives are just starting. When you go away to college, whether it be New York, Hawaii, Indiana, Miami, Boston, New Hampshire, Vermont, Florida, or you’re staying in good old Rhode Island… don’t forget what you had here. Forget the fights, but don’t forget the people. Remember the times you had and the friends you shared them with.
I wish you all the best of luck in absolutely everything that you do, and I hope you have the best summer you possibly can. To the one I wish was here tonight to graduate with us- stay safe, please, and know that we love you.
In closing, thank you to all of those who made tonight’s graduation happen- Mr. Sweet, Mr. Light, Mr. Ceprano, Mr. Tracy, the School Committee, and above all, all of the teachers who have helped us to achieve the status we’re at tonight. From kindergarten until last week- you’ve done more than you could ever know.
Graduates of the Class of 2006, Congratulations! Push yourselves to your limits, and don’t ever let anyone stop you from doing what you love. Disregard authority that tells you that you “can’t” do something, that you’re not smart enough. In fact, prove them wrong. All of you are bright enough to do anything that you set your minds to, so search out the authority that promotes your education, and will lead you in the direction you want to go. Enjoy your lives to the fullest extent, and never stop dreaming. You’ve been such an inspiration here, now go and show the rest of the world just what Scituate is about.
Congratulations, we did it!
Mollie Bergeron, Salutatorian 2006
So what I’m going to do is talk to you about my take on high school, and what it has meant to me. The total high school experience went much further than the classes and the everyday drama- it was mostly about those long nights with friends. It’s about realizing what and who matters. Our class has been through many change ups in the friendship scheme of things- we’ve all gained some friends, lost some friends, and gained some more friends, so I think you know what I mean when I say that your true friends are there when no one else will stay by your side, when everything seems wrong.
The drama we’ve all been through these past four years won’t be remembered a month from now- probably not even next week. What we will remember are the nights sprawled out on a friend’s kitchen floor, baring souls… talking about how little the drama means, and rising above it to begin to figure out who we are… starting with a chocolate chip cookie. It’s also about figuring out who you want to be, and making a suitable compromise between the two.
That’s part of what true success is- being who you are. Don’t change for anyone, or anything. Despite what others may say, you do not need to be “popular” to be successful in high school, nor anywhere else down the road. It’s not the quantity of friends you have that matters, it’s the quality. The friends I’ve made are indefinitely the best I could ever ask for. Those I’m closest to have been there through it all- they know where my emotions are coming from, understand me for the situations I’ve been through, and are always there for me whenever I need them. That’s a true friend.
The other night was one of these 2AM kitchen floor nights. It was one of the best conversations I’ve ever had. It’s not that we learned anything new about each other; it’s that we’ve finally begun to realize what our lives are coming to. This is truly the end of the chapter, we’re all going to have to say goodbye.
The one thing I wish for all of you is that you find at least one friendship like this.
Friendship is about late night phone calls, helping a sick friend, lending an ear or shoulder when someone is upset or just being there as a friend. The conversations you have in the middle of the night may not be remembered verbatim, but they will never be forgotten for their meaning.
As I said, the final chapter of our high school career is over, but our lives are just starting. When you go away to college, whether it be New York, Hawaii, Indiana, Miami, Boston, New Hampshire, Vermont, Florida, or you’re staying in good old Rhode Island… don’t forget what you had here. Forget the fights, but don’t forget the people. Remember the times you had and the friends you shared them with.
I wish you all the best of luck in absolutely everything that you do, and I hope you have the best summer you possibly can. To the one I wish was here tonight to graduate with us- stay safe, please, and know that we love you.
In closing, thank you to all of those who made tonight’s graduation happen- Mr. Sweet, Mr. Light, Mr. Ceprano, Mr. Tracy, the School Committee, and above all, all of the teachers who have helped us to achieve the status we’re at tonight. From kindergarten until last week- you’ve done more than you could ever know.
Graduates of the Class of 2006, Congratulations! Push yourselves to your limits, and don’t ever let anyone stop you from doing what you love. Disregard authority that tells you that you “can’t” do something, that you’re not smart enough. In fact, prove them wrong. All of you are bright enough to do anything that you set your minds to, so search out the authority that promotes your education, and will lead you in the direction you want to go. Enjoy your lives to the fullest extent, and never stop dreaming. You’ve been such an inspiration here, now go and show the rest of the world just what Scituate is about.
Congratulations, we did it!
Mollie Bergeron, Salutatorian 2006