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Jack Johnson puts it best
Topics: graduation, speech, class of 2007, East Bakersfield High School
Posted by citizenjournalist Fri Jun 1, 2007 13:12:42 PDT
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0 responses 0 comments Graduation Speech, class of  2007

Good Evening, its an honor to speak to you tonight.  “Maybe it's up with the stars,  Maybe it's under the sea,  Maybe it's not very far,  Maybe this is how it's supposed to be.”  Those were lyrics written and sung by my favorite musician Jack Johnson, and well, I felt compelled to share then with you tonight because as a graduate on my departure from high school I have had countless questions run through my mind these past few weeks.  And these were not your usual “what are we doing this weekend? Or did we have any homework?” type questions, these were the life determiners, like what am I going to do next year? What college will I attend? Once I am there what do I want to pursue? We must now ask ourselves who it is we want to be…maybe the answer is up with the stars or under the sea, but I believe that it is not very far.  I believe this because one thing is certain, and that is East High has pointed us all in the right direction. 

    The song continues, “Looking forward as we rewind, Looking back is a trap sometimes, Being here is so easy to do, if you want to.”  As I look at the scoreboard as a East High student for the last time I am looking forward to what lies ahead.  We will all be stuck with memories from high school whether we like it or not, but being here, at East Bakersfield High School, is so easy to do when you want to.  This school has filled us with an amazing amount of opportunities to make memories, whether it be on a sports team, an academic or community service club or group, or somewhere in the arts, so there is no doubt in mind that I will not forget East High.  Later in life it may take a bit of fishing, but I will not forget my friends, my teachers, or this campus, and I know your memories will not be forgotten either.  This is why we must cherish the past, but not get trapped in it because with a few blessings we have many years ahead of us. 

We have all worked hard for these diploma’s, but let us not be complacent.  I know each and every one of you has a dream, I know not everyone can throw a 70 yard Hail Mary to win the super bowl, but let us not shoot too low quite yet.  I dream to become a doctor one day, and I know that each of you has a similar dream in mind.  I say our goal should simply be to not let our dreams be dreams. We have the foundation under us, so why not rise up from it?   We have a new picture to look at ladies and gentlemen, and it is looking beautiful.  Its beauty is in that it is left for us to paint, so let’s paint a picture that the world will not forget, just as we will not forget the mark we left here at East Bakersfield High.  In the words of Bob Dylan “If you want to keep your memories, you first have to live them.”  We have all lived out ours here at East, I wish you the best of luck living out new ones in the future. Thank you all, its been a blast, and let’s change the world class.  May God always bless the Class of  2007.

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