Salutatorian's speech

Good morning, and welcome to the Graduation Ceremony for the class of 2012, those good-looking people to my right. We are privileged to have you here with us today. I’m certainly glad I’m going first, for I have a fully awake audience to work with; however, I can make no promises on that condition when I’m done, apologies, Austin, Mr. Schutz, Mrs. White.

Joking aside, we would never have gotten to this point without many of you – our families, our friends, our teachers, our coaches and our community. All of you have played a unique role in our lives – whether known to you or not – and as such we stand the products of the influences of many people. Whether you were the one picking us up when we fell, literally or figuratively; whether you were the one cheering from the stands or the one yelling from the sidelines, we would like to take the opportunity to thank each of you. Part of the role you have played has been as advisors, imparting wisdom and warnings to help us get through our day. Phrases like “If it seems too good to be true well then…it probably is,” “Tie your shoes and pack a good lunch.” “Be nice to people.” “Don’t run with scissors and don’t eat that glue.” “Be who you are.”

Even Teddy Roosevelt had some advice that is both inspiring and useful:

It is not the critic who counts: not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat, who strives, who errs and comes up short again and again…who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best, knows, in the end, the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly.

To my classmates I say this: Be in the arena Theodore Roosevelt described. Do not take the easy road; face challenges with a smile on your face and tackle them with everything you possess. Our futures hold both triumphs and failure, but do not let the possibility of failure deter you from pursuing your dreams. For it is while striving greatly that you will reveal your true potential.

We are certainly not perfect, though we would like to believe it; we are not going the same directions, though we sometimes wish we were; we do not have the same dreams and aspirations, though we have developed them together. The one thing we do all share? Full lives once our time here is done. There is no one I would have rather spent the last 13 years with than the unique individuals seated to my right. We are all here to celebrate our futures and so--- Here’s to us! Thank you.