Good morning teachers, students, parents, and everyone else gathered here today to commemorate what is really a milestone in this year’s graduating class of 2016. I’m honored to be speaking before you today and congratulate each and every one of you on the effort you’ve put forth these past 12 years in anticipation to this point.
I want to thank all the teachers for the incredible support system they’ve built during my time here at Taft and truly appreciate the example they’ve set - an example that’s been a source of inspiration and energy that I believe has had a profound impact on all of us. It’s been a great experience working and collaborating with my teachers and I am proud to say that I have a newfound sense of confidence in how I continue to develop as a person and student from their guidance.
The one thing I want to emphasize today is the importance of insecurity. As we all part ways on separate paths and pursue different things, we can’t forget the value in the unknown. I recall walking into ___ on the first day of 9th grade with a massive backpack and 20 sharpened pencils, 19 of which I lost shortly after. I was terrified of how many people were packed into the halls, questioned why there were foreign stains on the floor, and overall, simply felt overwhelmed. With no set direction in a completely new school, I was able to open myself up to new things; I tried out a few clubs and met unforgettable people that I’ve created fond memories with. I discovered new interests and learned to adapt to the climate of ___.
At the conclusion of these two years, I’ve grown to embrace insecurity as an opportunity to embark on a kind of personal metamorphosis. As you move on through college, stop focusing on set goals, certain careers, and molds. Ever since you’ve started school, you’ve probably been asked what you’re going to be when you grow up or which college you hope to go to, but the key to growth is learning to think past that and acknowledging that as we get older, our environment will change and we’ll inevitably change with it. The dreams that you have now will drastically change over the next four years and beyond as you question where you’re at and move forward out of natural insecurity, a crucial component to identity and maturation.
There’s a zen proverb that says, “When you reach the top, keep climbing”. This quote in particular stood out to me as I scoured the Internet for graduation speech material, because it seemed so relevant to the transitory period we’re standing in now. To me, it represents the beauty of ambition and going the extra mile - seeking out opportunity in the vast abundance that is the world around us. We should strive to encounter the next chapters of our lives with this attitude and remember that the mind, not the sky, is the limit.
So in closing, on the horizon of summer and the end of this speech, I would like to thank again all my teachers for their guidance, my family for their support, and above all, my fellow graduating class for contributing to what has blossomed into a community of talented, bright people that I am honored to have been a part of.