My Graduation Speech

In life, sometimes we are thrown a curveball.  That is exactly what happened 4 years ago when I first came to Westpark Christian Academy.  I did not want to come here, it was my mom's decision not mine.  What I wanted more than anything in the world was to go to a normal high school. I had gone to private schools my entire life, I wanted a change, I wanted this new and exciting experience that all my classmates at St. Joseph Marquette were about to experience.   

WCA and me got off to a rocky start. My computer broke down on the first day, I was placed in advanced History with kids much older and scarier than myself. Not to mention, the fact that I had to get to know an entirely new group of people. As time went on I was able to connect with these people in ways I didn't think possible. I found myself smiling, even laughing at what was said out on the playground.

Since then I have made so many incredible memories here at Westpark. Being a part of the Collide on Campus Bible study. My sophomore dance, a first for both me and the school. National Day of Prayer, where we got to get closer to God and run amuck in Walmart all in the same day. Every crazy day of spirit week where I got to see my classmates dress up at nerds, superheroes, celebrities, and 80's aerobics instructors. Pastor Colleen stealthily closing the doors and playing "Hotel California" by the Eagles at full blast. Fishing Day at Lazy F, where I got to run around in the woods with my friends. These moments will remain with me for the rest of my life, not just because I have pictures of all of them.

I have so many people to thank.  First of all, God my Heavenly Father.  You have bestowed upon me more blessings than I can count.  I will be eternally grateful for your presence throughout my life.  Mary Jane, thank you for opening the school doors every morning and for your time as the supervisor of Collide.  Ms. Susan, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to run student council this past year.  Gracias Senora Gonzales para eschuchando me espanol.  Pastor Gary, I may not have always paid attention or fully understood what you were talking about in class, but along the way you made me a better writer.  Also, because of you I will forever know the locations of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Lichtenstein, and Mesopotamia.   Ms. Judy, I can never say thank you enough to you.  You have passed on so much artistic wisdom to me, and every other student.  Thank you for volunteering your time and money, and for bringing art back to Westpark. Thank you to every other WCA staff member for doing the jobs that I would never want to do.  Mom, you have done more for this school than any paid employee, and I have appreciated everything.  If it weren’t for you the library would still look like a dump, I would have no art class, and there would have never been a lecture series.  Dad, thank you for going along with mom’s crazy schemes and helping out whenever your busy schedule allows it.  Pastor Colleen, where do I even begin?  You have been there from the very first day.  Your wisdom, guidance, kind spirit, and honesty have helped me through some very tough times. I honestly don't know what I would have done without you.

But how can I thank anyone without mentioning the wonderful people that have walked the halls of Westpark along side me: my classmates. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined a group of people quite like you.  If were to have gone to a normal high school, I would never have had a chance to get to know every person in my class personally. We have become more than simply a group of classmates, or friends, we are a family. We know each other well enough to know when someone is hurting. When one of our peers succeeds we celebrate their triumph, and in times of sorrow we are able to band together. You all have meant the world to me. Each of you has a personal story, and every single one of these stories has inspired me more than you will ever know. Words will never be able to describe what spending the last 4 years with every single one of you has meant to me.

I don't really know if I am in any place to give out advice, but I do have a few words of wisdom for you all:

Be fearless. Say what you are truly thinking. Be honest with other people, and be honest with yourself. Don't worry about trying to make friends. When you try too hard, you'll attract the wrong kind of people. True friends will be with you through thick and thin. They will never desert you in your time of need. Who cares if you make a couple of enemies along the way? To quote Kurt Cobain, "I would rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I'm not." Don't ever be in a hurry to grow up. Treasure every moment, make memories you will want to keep for a lifetime. You only have one shot to be a kid. Do not squander these moments of innocence and bliss; do not waste your time trying to grow up, you have the rest of your life to be an adult.

4 years ago I wanted to venture out into the real world, but I was not ready. My mom knew that, and deep down inside so did I. Here at Westpark I was given a chance to have a little bit more time to really become more of the person I was meant to be. That is why any student comes to Westpark, not to use the school as a crutch, but instead as training wheels. And yes, the school does have it's downsides I never said it was perfect, but being at this school has shown me so many things about God, life, friendship and myself. When I look around the campus of Westpark Christian Academy, I see that there are no kids eating their lunch alone, no child is standing on the sidelines dying for someone to ask them to come and play. Because that is what Westpark is truly about: diversity excelling, kids who would never even have spoke to one another at a public school becoming the best of friends. The 7 of us are about to embark on separate journeys, but I think I can speak for all of us when I say that attending Westpark is an experience like no other.

I would now like to close by sharing a quote that I love by none other than Winnie the Pooh. It says, "If there ever comes a day when we can't be together, keep me in your heart I'll stay there forever." You all will have a special place in my heart for the rest of my life.

Thank you, for everything.