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West High
Congratulations graduates of West High School
By: D'Amber Collins
Topics: graduation,
speech,
class of 2007,
West High School
Posted by citizenjournalist
Fri Jun 1, 2007 13:12:48 PDT
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Graduation Speech, Class of 2007
I would like to welcome everyone to this special occasion and congratulate all of the graduates who have worked so hard to be here tonight. It's been a long, tough road and a journey worth while. Thirteen years to be exact... maybe a little longer for some of us. But, the important thing is that we're here and we've made it. But a lot of us wouldn't be here if it weren't for those special people in our lives, whether thy are teachers, family, or friends. The ones who pushed us and made us belive that we're worth more. Those who grabbed us to keep us from falling. When we wanted to give up, convinced ourselves that we just weren't ready for this world. They didn't hesitate to provide encouraging words.
After thanking God, first and froemost, mine personally, among a few others, is my mother who has been the driving force in my life since day one. She nevver turned her back on me no matter how hard it got, i don't know how i could've made it without her and all the comfort and support that came from her arms. She always tells me that when i make it to the top to make sure i give her her alkalades. So, here is the first of many. this goes for all the parents and inspirational figures. Our class would not be here if it weren't for you.
From this day forth we will no longer be seen as seniors in highschool, but as mature adults who must learn to take on new responsibilities. I would love to say that after this commencement, all of our hardships will come to an end. But reality is that they are only beginning. Now is the time for us to prove ourselves, to make use of all the things West High School has taught us since our freshman year. Because life doesn't end here, life doesn't get put on hold, there will be so many more obstacles lying ahead of us. Waiting to pounce at any second; to rob us or our goals, our dreams, our happiness, our determination, our aspirations, the fight that lies within us that forces us to keep striving, to keep believing. We will not give up and we refuse to settle and become another statistic. Silentepidimic.org reports that every 29 seconds a student will drop out of highschool, making up 1 million a year and 1 half of those being minorities. We've already beaten the odds, we've taken chances, and run the right risks to have it all pay off right here, right now to show we ARE the generation that will make the difference.
There are some of us who are honors students with 4.0 g.p.a, then there are those who are athletes, many of us are on our way to trade school. Although we are all unique, we are still somewhat similar. For if you scratch all the grades, froget about all the clubs we were members in, and disregard all the events we've participated in, and were to simply strip us down to what we were truly made of inside our hearts, looking at us as a whole instead of us as individuals, you will see pride, you will see power, you will see honor, you will see confidence, you wil see a West High Viking... committed to academic achievement, committed to personal excellence, and committed to a lifetime of success.
There is an old proverb that reads "only fools despise wisdon and instruction." "Take firm hold of instruction... She is your life. Incline your ear to wisdon and apply your heart to understanding." Our generation will not love simplicity, but will struggle. "To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven.." well class this is our time, our year to shine bright the brilliant colors of green and gold. We will persevere fro "the race is strong." And in the end we will be able to stand tall. We will shout and warn the world to look out, for we are the graduates from West High School, and the proud class of 2007; we are on our way to a bright and liberating future thanks to all of you. Thankyou.
D'Amber Collins competed in a contest at West High School and was chosen to be the speaker for the class of 2007. She plans on attending California State University Northridge after high school and majoring in psychology.