by Ency Burhans
It is hard for me to believe that we are here, sitting on this stage about to graduate high school. It seems like only yesterday that we were sitting in kindergarten getting to know each other over crayons and puzzles. And yet as I look back, I could not be more proud of my classmates as I look at how much we have grown.
For each of us, high school was a different experience. Some struggled, working hard to reach this momentous occasion. Others seemed to float on air, waiting for the next challenge to be defeated, and
others still found themselves doing just fine, in the class of 09. But I think I can speak for all of us when I think of the fun times we have shared and the lessons learned for the future. It hasn’t always been easy for us, but as a class we have done some amazing things.
When I look out at you, my classmates, I am reminded of all that we have done together, of our many jokes and secrets. Some of our field trips were the best times that we have had, and who could forget the best trip ever, to Virginia Beach. It seems like our Senior trip really hit the spot. From the hot tub to the beach we have so many memories to think about. I won’t ever forget the board games we played, (who knew we were so terrible at Taboo?), the rides we rode, our dining experiences in the rain, or “the towel incident.” All of our little quirks will stay with me, and I don’t think that they will be able to top this trip for many years to come (the underclassmen definitely have some big shoes to fill).
Thinking about that trip, I am reminded of all of the hard work that we have put in this year, and not just us, but all of you, the parents, teachers, advisors and family who are sitting in that audience right now. I want to say thank you to all of you, because I know that, even though it is corny, and said at every speech or gathering of this type, without you, we wouldn’t be sitting on this stage. I want to especially say thank you to all of the parents, because without you we literally wouldn’t be sitting on this stage. I mean we have all taken enough health classes to last us a life time, so we’ve figured this out. (You guys remember that class right – the video – in the library, 2nd period, uggh). Nice work. You all deserve a good pat on the back. I especially want to thank my parents and family for always supporting me and for teaching me those valuable lessons that can only be learned the hard way, from experience. Mark Twain really hit the nail on the head when he said, “It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.”
And where would we be in this life without friends. I think that’s the only way we have all survived what can sometimes be described as the tortuous event of high school. From lunch table to locker we have all had so many experiences, most of those experiences good, but some questionable. We all have our little things making us laugh, our nicknames, I mean, who could forget AMan- (DA)!, and games that we play to amuse ourselves (MARCO!)-(POLO!).
The nostalgia of the past will always be sweet, but it is to the future that I now want to look. I can hardly wait to embrace the new beginning that we will all be shortly facing. Now comes the important part of the speech, where I tell you what you should all be doing with your lives, and my hopes for you, but I find it impossible for me to put all of that into words. So instead, I will only say this: you all know who you are and what you can be. Always keep true to yourself, pushing past the ordinary and into the impossible. It is not until then, that you will be truly astronomical.
I will leave you with one last thought, from an African Proverb. “Every morning in Africa, an antelope wakes up. It knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows that it must run faster than the slowest antelope or it will starve. It doesn’t matter whether you are a lion or an antelope – when the sun comes up, you’d better be running.” So here is to the class of 2009, the last class to make you say OH!