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Congratulations BHS Class of 2007
Topics: graduation, speech, class of 2007, Bakersfield High School
Posted by citizenjournalist Fri Jun 1, 2007 13:11:25 PDT
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0 responses 0 comments Looking out at my fellow graduates, over 500 of you, I see many different faces. I see the familiar faces that I call my friends, those that I share passing glances with in the hallways and those that I now wish I could have been better acquainted with.

I wish I could say that we all knew each other well and that we could all reflect on the same memories because it would be so much easier to recount specific experiences that have impacted each of our lives. I wish we could all have shared irrepressible laughter over Ms. Richard’s circus stories that taught us verisimilitude or vented frustration over Mr. Reynier’s project that made us explore the deepest recesses of the Cal State library. NOW, we may not have sat next to each other at a football game, but we have all rooted for the same football team; we may not have cheered for the same person at the talent show, but we have all marched to the same beat of our band's drums and sat under the same stifling sun during our first rally. And it wasn't too long ago that we tasted that same anxiety and uneasiness as freshmen.

Three and a half years ago, I was in the same state of mind that we will all be in in a few short weeks when we go to college. Having just moved here from Massachusetts, my heart was filled with vexing emotions of uncertainty, questioning and self-doubt. Would I ever fit in? Even the language made me feel like an outsider—my bubbler—your drinking fountain, my frappes—your milkshakes and my jimmies—your chocolate sprinkles. Away from my comfort zone of my middle school on the East coast, I had to carve new friendships and formulate a perfect impression. But gradually, I found my place in the mosaic that is BHS. And as my high school career comes to an end tonight, it STRIKES me for the first time that in this ever-morphing mosaic, our individual contributions will never be forgotten. We will forge the beautiful pieces we worked so hard to create over these last 4 years into the foundation of the masterpiece that will be our lives.

What I’ll miss the most about BHS is not its arduous academics, the welcoming campus or the insightful instructors, but the invaluable personalities that entertained and enlightened me over the years. No matter how diverse Berkeley may be, I doubt it could harbor someone as brilliantly bizarre as Henry Blanton or the hilariously inappropriate yet softhearted Mark Kimball. What campus but our BHS could foster a character such as Phillip Thomas who not only raps like Ludacris and plays like Jerry Rice but maintains an inspirational level of humility, modesty and compassion.

People like these make me realize how fortunate I am to have spent my high school years at an extraordinary place like BHS. Who knows what the future holds in store for us?. We’ve learned from our parents, our friends and ourselves that we’ll make mistakes and shed more than our share of tears. But what matters most is that we’re leaving as unified, strong Drillers. Armed with perseverance, tenacity and determinacy, I know that we WILL accomplish whatever we put our minds to. We’ll learn from our mistakes and emerge stronger than ever. We have the freedom to dream, the freedom to dare and the freedom to unlock ALL of our potential.

Words can’t express my gratitude to Molly Porter and Mark Kimball for some amazing tips on my speech. I’d also like to congratulate my fellow valedictorians, Michael, Alyssa and Isabel--it’s truly a privilege to share this honor with you.

We may be moving on as future Golden Bears, Bulldogs, Tritons, Generals, or for Angelea Selleck, Dutch in a whole new country, but we started out on this journey as Drillers and although it may take us places, we will always come back as Drillers. Congratulations, Class of 2007, and God Bless.

Shaibya Dalal gave this speech at the Bakersfield High School graduation.

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