Dear Class of 2024...

Good morning Class of 2024, Seniors. This might be one of the last days you’ll be called by this name. Although I’d love to be cliche and say I can’t believe this day has come, oddly, I can. Even from our freshman year, we’ve seen the upper-class graduate, move on to greater things, and leave the old memories behind. But it’s kind of insane how fast time flies and it’s crazy that we’re the old ones now and that the same will happen to us. But before we part ways, I’m standing here today to share one of my main high school takeaways and give you all one last piece of advice.

Remember to cherish every moment. I know this too may sound cliche, and you’ve already heard it in the speeches before me, and you’ll continue to hear it again in the speeches to come, but it’s important, and it’s something everyone realizes, some just later than others. 

In elementary school, all we ever wanted to do was ditch the idea of being a kid. We’d look up to grown-ups and admire them, wishing we had their seemingly carefree and unrestricted lives. Then when we became teenagers we got upgraded to middle school, believing we were one step closer to adulthood. We tried to find freedom in our own ways: rebelling against our parents, trying to fit in, and acting like we were too cool for school. Then another four years later, middle school graduation was probably one of the most exciting days of our life. We all aspired to experience the life depicted in movies, cheering at football games, partying late at night and thought we were ready to enter the prime stage of our lives. Fast forward to today, I wish I could do it all over again and now I wonder, where did all that time go?

Many people say life is like a rollercoaster, but instead, I would argue that our life is like an amusement park. Each adventure in our life is a different ride. Some are cute and fun like Slinky Dog Dash and others are horrifying like the Tower of Terror. But each roller coaster has its highs, lows, moments that make us scream at the top of our lungs, cry with laughter, and eagerly await to get on the next ride after the last one is over. In the past four years, I’ve lived life the same way. I’ve experienced low self-esteem and self-doubt and on the opposite side of the spectrum, found confidence and a strong conviction within myself. I’ve had my share of tummy-aching laughs and days where I could barely haul myself out of bed. 

But one thing you realize about roller coasters is that they all happen so darn fast. And after you finish the ride, you find yourself immediately waiting in line for the next. Similarly, life goes by too fast to not enjoy each moment. It seems as if even if you close your eyes for just a second, you miss out on the thrill of life. So before going on the next ride, look around. Look at where you’re at, who you’re with, and the terrifying but exciting drop ahead. Cherish each moment while you’re going up and down the roller coaster you’re on so you can remember who sat beside you and held your hand the entire time.

​While writing this speech, I’m so grateful to have had the opportunity to remember. And right now, I want you all to dive into your pasts and remember with me. From the first day of our sophomore year, I remember seeing the shy waves, awkward smiles, and nervous faces while I walked past you all in the daunting, foreign territory of B Hall. I remember our first homecoming when I wore heels, moshed, sang my heart out, had a random dude spray water on me, and came home tired from dancing with bruises on my feet. I remember being surrounded by a field of green and gold at football and basketball games while chanting “We are SR!” and the occasional “You can’t do that!” to the terrible referee calls. I remember our silly group chats with really odd names filled with inside jokes, code names, and shocking tea. I remember frantically arriving to class before tests and praying that we would recall the formulas we crammed in our brains last night, the ones we still didn’t know how to use. And if I wanted to, I could take another hour standing here, listing all the memories I took for granted, funny events that happened, and unforgettable experiences that I’d somehow forgotten. 

I know it’s easy to forget, especially when time flies by so fast, but in these moments when we pause to remember, I hope these old high school memories bring back a smile on your face and that they’ll motivate you to savor every moment continuing forward in college. 

So before I conclude, I want to give a quick shoutout. To all the people who have been with us since day one, to all the unexpected friendships we’ve made but now can’t imagine living without, to all our families who have stuck by our side through thick and thin, to all the teachers who have watched us grow…no matter how far apart we far, or how many times you’ve made me cry, or how much homework you assign, thank you. Thank you for entering my amusement park and riding the same rollercoaster as me. Thank you for all the precious memories, endless laughter, and ugly tears. I’m proud to have been a wolf for the past four years and to be able to call this place my home. 
Now, I confer you all with a new name, congratulations incoming college freshmen, for having made so many special connections with the people you love, for bravely embracing the uncertainties of tomorrow, and for taking the first step into the unknown. Thank you.