My daughter just graduated from high school and she was the valedictorian. Here is her speech:
Good morning everyone. Since I know you are anxiously awaiting “the traditional walk” that many students across the nation partake in, I promise to keep this brief. I just want to say good luck and congratulations to the entire senior class. Thank you. (walk away and come back again)
Well as much as I know that you are sitting in your seats thinking how awesome it would be if that really were my speech; and trust me, I wish it were too, but there are a few reasons why it really cannot be that way. For one, there are those ladies in the audience, who keep the Kleenex Corporation in business on just this day. And that one in particular sitting back there dabbing the corners of her eyes since the moment I woke up this morning. Yeah, that’s my mother. And those men next to them like that guy next to her…Hi Dad! Reason number two, all of those teachers, like Mr. Magee, who have spent hours preparing us to write well, would probably be just a little bit disappointed. For a third reason, you can add Mr. Herman, Dr. Pfennig and his administration, the School Board, the Pocono Mountain district staff, and even security. But, I think you get the point.
Since I could not just make my speech short and sweet, I was presented with the dilemma of what to actually include. So my mom, not being happy with four simple sentences, decided to volunteer what she felt the focus should be. It was absolutely necessary to encompass my unbounded work ethic, relentless commitment to detail, and reluctance to succumb to the easy way out. She wanted me to share stories about how I stayed up many nights until 1:30 in the morning to do all of my homework, just to set my alarm for two hours later to continue perfecting the assignments. Or how I took over the living room for entire weekends at a time with books, folders, binders, and, of course, my laptop. Oh, and I cannot forget the numerous times I paced my living room, wanting to pull my hair out in fear that I would fail the upcoming test the next day. Sound familiar? But when I heard her suggestions, I immediately knew I was not going to talk about myself for fear of sounding vain.
When I discarded my mother’s ideas, I, then thought of what the teachers might be proud to hear me say. Not just the high school teachers, but all Pocono Mountain teachers. They would want me to elaborate on all of the memorable educational lessons while engaged in their classes. They would not expect me to say I remember the year that this war started or the meaning of that twenty letter word. They would tell me to reminisce about the rocket that still sits on my dresser from eighth grade. How many hours we spent attaching every piece with an exact amount of glue in the precise position for weeks. How we held our breath waiting to see if we would be the person stuck looking in the woods for our rocket when we never saw it come back down. Or the fun laughs during and after school that we shared preparing for skits that we were scared out of our minds to present in class. Acting out plays and books with our own interpretations, only to realize we were never meant to be Macbeth or Farewell to Arms actors. And they definitely would not let me forget the infamous planes. I mean, almost half of the student population here are now practically aeronautical engineers. Come on, we all know it took numerous tries to figure out how to make a real paper airplane. Or of course, the endless discussions in Senior Health Class. Sitting and waiting for someone to ask the one question you know everyone is thinking, but is too embarrassed to ask. Or actually being that person. And you know this is true; the teachers would love to hear me brag about how their class was the best. But honestly, sitting here today in your graduation gowns, are you really thinking of your classes?
So there was only one more route to go. I could present the speech that I think administration would want me to say. A good speech would be encouraging and motivating. I should tell you how this is only the end of one major obstacle in life and how graduation is marking the beginning of our lives. We have all made it through thirteen years, only to realize it all boils down to this day. And I would also like to emphasize how we got here by hard work and persistence and now have the chance to follow our dreams. We are all capable of making tremendous change in this world because of the people we have become while attending Pocono Mountain West. And of course, we are the people we are today because of this high school. We were given so many opportunities since the moment we walked through the doors, that every single person had the chance to find their calling. I think you know where I’m going with this and I 100% agree with everything I just said, but let’s be honest. You do not care if someone like me is preaching about all of the wonderful things that you have accomplished. I mean, it’s graduation. Obviously, everyone is proud of our achievements or they wouldn’t all be packed back there in the parking lot, glad that they received one of your seven tickets.
And do not misunderstand me, all those ideas would have been wonderful for a simple graduation speech, but it was not what I was really looking for. So I turned to someone who has never given up on me, my mentor and favorite teacher, Mr. Siegfried. He would once again make everything ok. And you know what he told me? He said, “Jenn, it’s YOUR speech. Say what YOU want to say.” And although he was right, I was left thinking, some help he is THIS time! But then I realized the irony in his advice. The ideas I had been thinking were simply topics I could focus on; it was a variety of words. And that’s just it; they are only words. To double the irony, Mr. Siegfried did make everything ok with a proverb he always references, “Actions speak louder than words.” Which is one thing I learned in high school that I will never forget. It is not about the things we say. Words did not allow me the chance to stand up here today. Words did not make you the people you have become. Words did not bring us to this milestone in our lives. That all came from our actions, actions we displayed throughout more than a dozen years of school. So with that, I start my speech here saying, good morning everyone. And since I know you are anxiously awaiting “the traditional walk” that many students across the nation partake in, which by the way is a far greater action than any words spoken today, I promise to keep this brief. Many of you have been saying you cannot wait to graduate and start the next phase of your life. Whether you plan to attend college, enroll in a trade school, or immediately join the work force, it will always be your actions that determine your success. So get out there and act. You do not need my speech. Simply remember, actions speak louder than words.
