Good evening, students, school board members, faculty, and family members. I would like to thank each and every one of you, especially the parents and guardians that spent countless hours helping us achieve this moment by assisting with our numerous projects, making sure we were ready for school, and being our role models each and every day, along with our amazing set of faculty that continue to go the extra mile for all of us as our athletic coaches, club advisors, and sources of much needed wisdom. [private]
Tonight marks the end of what, for many of us, occupied the last thirteen years of our lives. From playing with friends in kindergarten to cramming for our last set of final exams, our individual journeys have transformed us into the people we are today.
As many of my peers know, I have not been in the Berlin Central School district my entire life. Because I was raised in a military household, I experienced my first seven years of schooling in two other states prior to coming to Berlin. I moved to the area just before the beginning of seventh grade, which we all know is the pinnacle of the painfully awkward period of middle school; however, I was eagerly welcomed into the school community, and friendships quickly formed with some of the best people I know. The purpose of telling a brief background about myself is mostly for my peers. Having lived in three states over the course of the last thirteen years has enabled me to make friends with many incredible individuals, and these friendships are still very much intact today. Although the seemingly constant notifications of Facebook, Twitter, or other social platforms can be irritating at times, we have the luxury of growing up in the digital age where we can stay in touch while being oceans apart. Do not be scared or sad about the end of our high school journey; we will always be the Class of 2016, and nothing can take that away from us.
I would like to share a quote that applies to all of us tonight. “There are those who say that life is like a book, with chapters for each event in your life and a limited number of pages on which you can spend your time. But I prefer to think that a book is like a life, particularly a good one, which is well… worth staying up all night to finish.” This quote, elegantly composed by Daniel Handler, expresses life’s inevitable passing of time. Tonight, a chapter in each and every one of our lives, whether it be us graduates, the parents, or the faculty; a chapter in all of our individual books has been completed. For us graduating seniors, especially, it may seem bittersweet, and in some regards, it certainly is; however, be proud of where we are. We have risen together as a class to overcome our many hardships, supported one another in our times of need, and celebrated each other’s triumphs. In no way was this accomplishment easy. From late nights of homework, balancing sports with academics, English 11 or quite honestly, all of junior year, we achieved what could easily be considered as one of our largest accomplishments to date. As this chapter comes to a close, a new one will begin tomorrow as we begin our own personal journeys.
It seems surreal for this chapter of life to be completed, but I am not worried or intimidated, for I know that each and every one of us have many chapters still to be written, and I am certain that they will be full of inspiring stories that we will be telling each other in years to come.[/private]