jessie's graduation speech
Good evening, everyone.
I remember in the Class of 2017 graduation, I was sitting right there (points to band section) watching everyone walk down the stage and receive their diplomas. As I was sitting there, I thought, "Wow. That's me in a year." And a year seemed so far away; I was just a little 7th grader in the band! I couldn't picture myself in a cap and gown. Well, Class of 2018, we're here, on this same stage, in our caps and gowns. Finally. In a few minutes, we'll walk across this stage, our diplomas will be handed to us, and middle school will officially be "the good old days". But before we move on from this chapter in our lives and start a new one in high school, I want to take a few minutes of your time to express my gratitude for all of the things that Golf Middle School gave me. I know that thank you's usually go at the end of a speech, but I wouldn't even be standing at this podium without the help of every one I'm going to mention, so I feel that this should be dedicated to them.
First, I think I speak for all of my fellow graduates when I say that I wouldn't be here tonight without the help of my parents. To all of the parents in the audience tonight, thank you for always being there to guide us on the right path, and for knowing us better than we know ourselves. Thank you for pushing us to be better than we were the day before, and for knowing when to hold our hands and when to let go. Thank you for putting up with our attitudes and for giving us hugs when we need them. And most importantly, thank you for working so hard and for loving us so much. We love you, too.
I am also incredibly thankful for the staff here at Golf. They all helped me to find my voice, and taught me how to speak up and seek justice for those who cannot do it themselves. My teachers taught me how to write eloquently and how to apply it to my newfound passion for social justice and public speaking. Without them, I would have never realized how much change one person can make within a community, particularly a teenager, and from them I have learned, in the wise words of Mahatma Ghandi, to "Be the change [I] wish to see in the world".
I want to thank my fellow graduates, because at Golf I became a part of a family. The Class of 2018 is the most tight-knit, lovable, and accepting class I could've asked for. In this class, I learned to love myself, I learned to have loud, unapologetic fun, and I learned what it feels like to be a part of something. In this family, I can be myself and I can be my best self. The Class of 2018 taught me to dance like no one is watching in a room filled with people. And for that I am forever grateful.
Lastly, I would like to give a few specific thank you's. Thank you to Mr. Gilman, for having such an impact on my writing and for believing in me. We're all going to miss you. Thank you to Mrs. Gould for picking me in eenie-meenie-miney-moe to code for our group project, without that I wouldn't have become interested in the world of computer science. We'll all miss you as well. Thank you to Mrs. Boyle for being the coolest of cucumbers and for being someone to whom I can tell anything. And thank you to my sister for putting up with me every day and for being so nice to me even when I don't return your sweetness. You are so kind-hearted and such a role model.
Saying goodbye is hard, but I picture all of us coming back in 20 years having learned and grown into successful and admirable leaders. Golf has given all of us the potential and the opportunity to "be the change", and I know that the challenges life throws at us are no match for the Class of 2018. Thank you.
I remember in the Class of 2017 graduation, I was sitting right there (points to band section) watching everyone walk down the stage and receive their diplomas. As I was sitting there, I thought, "Wow. That's me in a year." And a year seemed so far away; I was just a little 7th grader in the band! I couldn't picture myself in a cap and gown. Well, Class of 2018, we're here, on this same stage, in our caps and gowns. Finally. In a few minutes, we'll walk across this stage, our diplomas will be handed to us, and middle school will officially be "the good old days". But before we move on from this chapter in our lives and start a new one in high school, I want to take a few minutes of your time to express my gratitude for all of the things that Golf Middle School gave me. I know that thank you's usually go at the end of a speech, but I wouldn't even be standing at this podium without the help of every one I'm going to mention, so I feel that this should be dedicated to them.
First, I think I speak for all of my fellow graduates when I say that I wouldn't be here tonight without the help of my parents. To all of the parents in the audience tonight, thank you for always being there to guide us on the right path, and for knowing us better than we know ourselves. Thank you for pushing us to be better than we were the day before, and for knowing when to hold our hands and when to let go. Thank you for putting up with our attitudes and for giving us hugs when we need them. And most importantly, thank you for working so hard and for loving us so much. We love you, too.
I am also incredibly thankful for the staff here at Golf. They all helped me to find my voice, and taught me how to speak up and seek justice for those who cannot do it themselves. My teachers taught me how to write eloquently and how to apply it to my newfound passion for social justice and public speaking. Without them, I would have never realized how much change one person can make within a community, particularly a teenager, and from them I have learned, in the wise words of Mahatma Ghandi, to "Be the change [I] wish to see in the world".
I want to thank my fellow graduates, because at Golf I became a part of a family. The Class of 2018 is the most tight-knit, lovable, and accepting class I could've asked for. In this class, I learned to love myself, I learned to have loud, unapologetic fun, and I learned what it feels like to be a part of something. In this family, I can be myself and I can be my best self. The Class of 2018 taught me to dance like no one is watching in a room filled with people. And for that I am forever grateful.
Lastly, I would like to give a few specific thank you's. Thank you to Mr. Gilman, for having such an impact on my writing and for believing in me. We're all going to miss you. Thank you to Mrs. Gould for picking me in eenie-meenie-miney-moe to code for our group project, without that I wouldn't have become interested in the world of computer science. We'll all miss you as well. Thank you to Mrs. Boyle for being the coolest of cucumbers and for being someone to whom I can tell anything. And thank you to my sister for putting up with me every day and for being so nice to me even when I don't return your sweetness. You are so kind-hearted and such a role model.
Saying goodbye is hard, but I picture all of us coming back in 20 years having learned and grown into successful and admirable leaders. Golf has given all of us the potential and the opportunity to "be the change", and I know that the challenges life throws at us are no match for the Class of 2018. Thank you.
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