something about tuck everlasting
I have not felt this good, felt this sure of myself (yes, even in my uncertainty), felt this strong and right and able to breathe in ages.
Rehearsal tomorrow is too far away.
I would like to take a moment to welcome everyone to our ceremony. Thank you, administrators and teachers, for watching over us these past four years, and having faith in our abilities. Parents, be proud of yourselves. These are your precious little babies, and you’ve obviously done something right that you’re sitting here right now. And to my fellow students, I say this: I’ll make this quick. I want that diploma just as much as you do.
“Make a difference in the world.” This phrase, and a myriad of variations thereof, has been drilled into our heads since Kindergarten when we participated in our first food drives. When I found out it was the theme for our graduation speeches this year, I laughed aloud; it brings to mind posters of fluffy kittens helping each other complete some adorably impossible task. It’s a cliché, there’s no way around it. But the truth of it is, every single one of us is going to fulfill its prophecy.
There are all kinds of differences to be made, and half of them aren’t even conscious. Every single day we pass by opportunities to make small changes in the lives of those around us, simply by holding open doors, saying thank you, smiling. But look around you: look at all of the parents, teachers, administrators and guests. Look at the students surrounding you. Everyone is here because we, the class of 2008, are ready for more than simple acts of kindness. We’re ready to try living in the real world, to take chances and make real differences with the work we do. Every single one of us has so many opportunities just waiting outside, when our 13 years of compulsory education has finally come to fruition. Some are going to college, some head off into the workforce, and some have dedicated themselves to the armed forces, the peace corps or other acts of service to the global community. We have our entire lives ahead of us-how could we not make a difference?
I know what this class is capable of. After four years of getting quotes and taking pictures for the yearbook, I have seen more sides of PCEP than can be published. Some of which are kept out of the book for legal reasons, but libel and slander aside, we have achieved a lot. The class of 2008 has made sports records, placed in academic contests, made donations of time and goods to charities, put on countless performances, walked millions of miles through snow just to get to math class and somehow written enough essays to paper the halls of all three schools without completely losing our minds. If we have managed all of that in just four short years, we can do anything. And there is a lot to be done. Our country is at war. Our water and air get more polluted with each passing day. Gross injustices are being committed all over the world. It is up to us to make this a better place for ourselves and the generations that follow, and we have the power to do it. Almost all of this graduating class is eligible to vote in the upcoming presidential election. This is our first real chance to affect our world on a larger scale, and I urge you all to register as soon as possible. Do everything you can to be a global citizen-read the papers, find out what is going wrong, and then find a way to help fix it. There are thousands of organizations to join and causes to fight for, and we can make the crucial differences. If we want change, we have to instigate it ourselves.
We can do this. We may be young, but that just means we have more time to help each other, help make our world a better place to live in. Plymouth High School’s graduating class of 2008, this is our day. This is the day we change the world for the better.
Rehearsal tomorrow is too far away.
I would like to take a moment to welcome everyone to our ceremony. Thank you, administrators and teachers, for watching over us these past four years, and having faith in our abilities. Parents, be proud of yourselves. These are your precious little babies, and you’ve obviously done something right that you’re sitting here right now. And to my fellow students, I say this: I’ll make this quick. I want that diploma just as much as you do.
“Make a difference in the world.” This phrase, and a myriad of variations thereof, has been drilled into our heads since Kindergarten when we participated in our first food drives. When I found out it was the theme for our graduation speeches this year, I laughed aloud; it brings to mind posters of fluffy kittens helping each other complete some adorably impossible task. It’s a cliché, there’s no way around it. But the truth of it is, every single one of us is going to fulfill its prophecy.
There are all kinds of differences to be made, and half of them aren’t even conscious. Every single day we pass by opportunities to make small changes in the lives of those around us, simply by holding open doors, saying thank you, smiling. But look around you: look at all of the parents, teachers, administrators and guests. Look at the students surrounding you. Everyone is here because we, the class of 2008, are ready for more than simple acts of kindness. We’re ready to try living in the real world, to take chances and make real differences with the work we do. Every single one of us has so many opportunities just waiting outside, when our 13 years of compulsory education has finally come to fruition. Some are going to college, some head off into the workforce, and some have dedicated themselves to the armed forces, the peace corps or other acts of service to the global community. We have our entire lives ahead of us-how could we not make a difference?
I know what this class is capable of. After four years of getting quotes and taking pictures for the yearbook, I have seen more sides of PCEP than can be published. Some of which are kept out of the book for legal reasons, but libel and slander aside, we have achieved a lot. The class of 2008 has made sports records, placed in academic contests, made donations of time and goods to charities, put on countless performances, walked millions of miles through snow just to get to math class and somehow written enough essays to paper the halls of all three schools without completely losing our minds. If we have managed all of that in just four short years, we can do anything. And there is a lot to be done. Our country is at war. Our water and air get more polluted with each passing day. Gross injustices are being committed all over the world. It is up to us to make this a better place for ourselves and the generations that follow, and we have the power to do it. Almost all of this graduating class is eligible to vote in the upcoming presidential election. This is our first real chance to affect our world on a larger scale, and I urge you all to register as soon as possible. Do everything you can to be a global citizen-read the papers, find out what is going wrong, and then find a way to help fix it. There are thousands of organizations to join and causes to fight for, and we can make the crucial differences. If we want change, we have to instigate it ourselves.
We can do this. We may be young, but that just means we have more time to help each other, help make our world a better place to live in. Plymouth High School’s graduating class of 2008, this is our day. This is the day we change the world for the better.