Graduation

Grad was amazing! I was so honored to be selected by my fellow graduates to do toast to friends at our graduation banquet. I'm really sad grad is over and high school is just about to wrap up; but, I'm happy that I have great friends I will cherish the rest of my life! I was also greatful to recieve a $500.00 scholarship at the commenc

My Toast to Friends Speech

 You all may not know this but before high school I think we thought of ourselves as a one man wolf pack, but when we  got to high school we knew a few people and we considered them as some of our own and our wolf pack it grew by a few.  So there were a few of us in the wolf pack. We was alone first in the pack than a few joined in later and nine months ago when we started our grade 12 year, I thought wait a second could it be? And now I know for sure we all added 130 more people to our wolf pack.

What an amazing day, to celebrate an event such as this. It is a true testament when we can bring together over 800 people who are proud of us for reaching one of the many milestones in our lives. Yes, we’ve done it! Yes, we’ve made it to the end! We’ve received our diplomas and our hard work has finally paid off! So now it’s time to acknowledge the heroes who have been standing behind us – the brave fighters and peace makers – who make life what it is. If you haven’t guessed already, these people are our friends, compodres, and amigos who add color to this world that is otherwise a monotone black and white. These people, no matter what is wrong, support you every step of the way and hold you up when you’re falling down.

We can never forget these people, the ones guarding us through life’s hardships. They are our light, and our happiness guiding us through the darkness. Everyone we meet impacts us, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem; however, then there are the special people who touch our hearts. Who leave marks so big or so deep on our souls, that you can never forget them. These heroes will be able to tell you what’s wrong, when you don’t know yourself. They are our sunshine, our hope, our light. They will listen to your problems and give you advice when you can’t find it in your own heart. These people embrace your flaws – knowing you’re not perfect - and are accepting you for who you are.  These friends become your everything and consume what you thought life was.

I’d like to believe that the technology advances will really keep us all together in the future! Social networking, such as facebook, will enrich our social lives once we are separated from friends by long distances, bringing us together despite the separation.  We need to stay together. Our class has always been a close grade and I can remember teachers becoming frustrated with the fact no matter where they move anyone in the classroom we would continue to talk.

High school is not about the sports we’re in or the projects we’ve completed or the classes we’ve sat through. It’s not the teachers, the administrators, or the high class facilities. High school is us, the students. It’s in the diversity of names, faces, stories, and experiences to which we decorate this great province. It’s in the time we spent in self assessment, self improvement, and bonding with others who have truly become our friends. It’s the responsibility and care we’ve shown, the people we’ve helped and the friendships that come to define us. Moreover it’s the fact we will eventually go out into a world that absolutely needs us.

I can’t imagine trying to live through our schools renovations - and the several fire drills, noises, and smells that came along with it – without you guys:  my fellow graduates, classmates, and most of all friends. The stress we have all encountered with diplomas could never have been overcome without the hand of a friend picking us up when we were done and pushing us to continue.

We think about next year, moving on, and leaving all of the amazing people we have met that have got us through the many obstacles of high school and it tears me apart. The classmates, many we’ve spent our entire grade school career with, and most of the reason we come to school each day gone from our lives. I’m heartbroken that our Journey has really come to an end. The day that we have always looked forward to is here and this is where our countdown ends; but, we don’t need to be upset but filled with joy. We smile because of the memories we have to carry with us the rest of our lives, the experiences that make us a better person, the mistakes we’ve learned from, and the friends we will ALWAYS cherish! 

As Muhammad Ali once said, “Friendship... is not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything.”

Grad 2011