at this point in my life, the only thing that got me through talking in a microphone on stage to about 5000 people was repeating a certain phrase in my head over and over again (s/o to reddit for this tip). in hindsight, that might've not been the best idea.
anyways, here's a snippet of the speech: Hi everyone! ...I’m very honored to speak here today and I hope that you’re entertained by this speech. I wrote this speech in the spirit of how I wrote everything in high school- started it yesterday evening, lost focus and dropped by several grad parties, snapped back to reality and stayed up all night, took a few internet breaks, and cried. But if at any time you’re bothered by one of my jokes, please feel free to write me a very long, angry letter of complaint. Uh, these can be sent to me at Alex.Balzarano@hotmail.com.Class of 2017, we are about to graduate! High school has undoubtedly been a crazy time that has changed us in many ways. Take me, for example. Four years ago, I was a young kid, full of ideals...and vigor. I used to believe in myself. Look at me now...
But in all seriousness, we have all been through similar struggles- trying to balance work and sports and clubs, taking one for the team in group projects, surviving bomb threats, and trying to avoid dubious minutes on MemBean.
Yet it would be foolish to ignore the good that has come with these struggles. Your personal improvement. The people you cherish. The all nighters, tests, and projects due on the same day only forced you to learn how to manage your time. The people who only hit you up for homework helped teach you what having and being a real friend means.
Take a deep breath. I know you're apprehensive and not exactly willing to part with everything. Especially the people you've met two weeks ago that you wish you'd met two years ago. You'll be okay. We desire forever, but all we get are second chances. Don't waste that opportunity poring over what could've been, nitpicking meaning out of senseless sarcasm, finding little things to argue over. It’s good to be open to life and to realize that most of the things that we fear either will never happen or won't be nearly as bad as we think.
Examining how I used every moment in high school, I don’t regret a thing. Sure, I made so many mistakes on the way, but what I do have is a collection of experiences with amazing people. And I’m sure you do as well. Remember these faces around you because these are the faces that have motivated you, that love you … There’s not one person here today who’s grown into who they are without the help another person. You are here because someone was there for you, whether it was your family, your teachers, your classmates, your teammates, or God or Buddha or Ricky Le. Whoever you prayed to. Someone is supporting you and that should make you feel less alone...
Here is a random quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson that kind of fits in, "To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded."
So, I love you Beavercreek because it is thanks to you that I am who I am today. We have struggled, and because of it, we are all the more stronger.
I would like to end with this speech with a quote by Abdullah Ahmed, who is sitting right here in the front row - "You can take a man from Beavercreek High School, but you can’t take Beavercreek High School from the man."
I should’ve just flunked out of senior year so I could experience it all again. PYSCH!!! We’re out of here! Congratulations and peace out fellow Beavercreek kids! My light is always green.
as with any ending, leaving high school was bittersweet. i could spend all day being at home and summer 2017 was the best summer of my life (so far). it was hanging out at midnight at steak and shake and driving fast at 3am and playing manhunt and 7 wonders and volleyball and reconnecting with some old friends and reading new books. and i cleaned up my house, digging through all my old files and documents from the past four years and organizing them into neat folders, cyberspace boxes packed in nice cyber-storage.
