As the class of 2024, we have only had one slightly normal high school year. Our freshman year was completely online due to covid, our sophomore year was partial in school and online and our senior year was cut short due to a teacher strike and a massive ice storm. Even with these roadblocks, it is amazing to see this class thrive, to see how far we have come and how much we have grown.
Many of the people you see graduate today, I have known since middle school and even as far as elementary school. It is crazy to think that today is the day that we all start such a huge chapter in our lives. When I started High School I thought Graduation was a crazy concept for me, I genuinely did not believe I would walk across this stage today but here I am speaking in front of you about doing that very thing. I know how much sweat, tears, effort, and energy drinks went into getting all of us here today and to that I applaud you. Our friends and family applaud you. We are ready to make our marks in the world.
I feel like senior year has been this big, looming concept since we were in middle school. Oh, colleges look back at your grades, oh watch out for that senioritis, oh, this is going to be the best year ever! Since I was young, there were expectations set in my mind for my “perfect” senior year. But here we are, the actual thing and to be honest, it has been just like any other year. Sure, we’ve known the date for our graduation and have all decided what the next steps are after high school but we’re still just the same kids we’ve been for the past three years. We’ve still been showing up to class everyday (or we don’t), we’re still doing our favorite extracurriculars, and we’ve still hung out with the same friends we’ve had for years. The only difference, there have been these little voices in the back of our heads, reminding us, “You’re a senior. This is the end of high school. You are about to be a grown up and be responsible for your own choices.” So here we are, at the all hyped up last moment of High School. All our accomplishments, the set state records, the multitude of competitions, the productions, concerts, games, this is the culmination of all we have worked toward. And that is something to be proud of. So as we set off into the world, and take whatever next steps we have planned, I want you to remember one thing. We did it, peace out!
Congratulations class of 2024, Good Luck and Go Riders!
I would like to thank our Editor and Chief Ellie Weiner for her contribution to this speech!
