Your cap and gown has been neatly pressed and it's hanging in the closet. It's ready to be worn by you in front of your family and friends as you close one chapter and start another. This is the day you have been waiting for and dreaming about — twelve years in the making. No longer are you that terrified little kindergartner, walking in class hand in hand with your mom and dad. You've been driving yourself to school for a few years. You are about to be a high school graduate!
You, along with your other fellow classmates, have come a long way. The days of elementary school are now over as nap times changed to study halls and learning to add and subtract prepped you for geometry and those long algebra equations. And whether you realize it or not, you will look back and realize that your teachers really weren't trying to torture you with all those long nights of homework, they were only preparing you for the next phase in your life, college.
As you walk across that stage shaking the hands of your principals, superintendent and others, remember to stop, look out in the crowd and smile. Take in all of those faces starring back at you. Those people in the crowd are there for you. They've watched you grow from a baby to a student, go from elementary to junior high and now they see you as the person you are today — a high school graduate. You have made it! All those tears streaming down their faces are tears of joy. Not only have you made your parents proud, but you have also made your teachers proud. They have also watched you grow into the person you are today. And not only should you thank your parents for everything they have done for you, be sure to stop and thank your teachers. They have helped to mold you and prepare you for this thing we call life.
Now, it's up to you. Where do you go from here? Is college in your next chapter? Whatever and wherever life takes you, remember who you are and remember where you come from. Even though you are your own self, you are still a reflection of your parents and your teachers. No matter what you do, take pride in who you are and make a name for yourself. I have no doubt that many of you will go on to become our future doctors or lawyers — some even professional athletes that we will cheer on as we watch through the living room television. And even if your profession has you sitting behind a desk waiting to become the next manager or boss, do your job the best you can because you are making a difference.
It's true that life is what you make of it. Your next chapter is filled with blank pages just waiting for you — waiting for you to fill it with the things you will accomplish and the plans you will make. The sky is the limit and just like your teachers and parents, we all believe in you and know that you will go far in life. Congratulations and good luck as you take your next step!
You, along with your other fellow classmates, have come a long way. The days of elementary school are now over as nap times changed to study halls and learning to add and subtract prepped you for geometry and those long algebra equations. And whether you realize it or not, you will look back and realize that your teachers really weren't trying to torture you with all those long nights of homework, they were only preparing you for the next phase in your life, college.
As you walk across that stage shaking the hands of your principals, superintendent and others, remember to stop, look out in the crowd and smile. Take in all of those faces starring back at you. Those people in the crowd are there for you. They've watched you grow from a baby to a student, go from elementary to junior high and now they see you as the person you are today — a high school graduate. You have made it! All those tears streaming down their faces are tears of joy. Not only have you made your parents proud, but you have also made your teachers proud. They have also watched you grow into the person you are today. And not only should you thank your parents for everything they have done for you, be sure to stop and thank your teachers. They have helped to mold you and prepare you for this thing we call life.
Now, it's up to you. Where do you go from here? Is college in your next chapter? Whatever and wherever life takes you, remember who you are and remember where you come from. Even though you are your own self, you are still a reflection of your parents and your teachers. No matter what you do, take pride in who you are and make a name for yourself. I have no doubt that many of you will go on to become our future doctors or lawyers — some even professional athletes that we will cheer on as we watch through the living room television. And even if your profession has you sitting behind a desk waiting to become the next manager or boss, do your job the best you can because you are making a difference.
It's true that life is what you make of it. Your next chapter is filled with blank pages just waiting for you — waiting for you to fill it with the things you will accomplish and the plans you will make. The sky is the limit and just like your teachers and parents, we all believe in you and know that you will go far in life. Congratulations and good luck as you take your next step!
I teared up reading this. My baby graduates high school next year... I hope she enjoys her last year at high school and takes it all in. I'm so not ready to let her go.
ReplyDeletegreat post Joy!
ReplyDelete