Graduation Speech -- Graduation Speech, Commencement Address

Christopher Columbus, reflecting on his voyage which led him to the discovery of America, said, "Following the light of the sun, we left the Old World." I am sure that after four years of high school, we have all formed our own opinion of Christopher Columbus - especially if you had Mrs. Powers - but whether you view him as a genocidal rogue or the first American Hero, I find his quote fitting for where we stand today. As we set sail, leaving behind the Old World of Coleman High School, there are many things that I am sure none of us will miss. We will enter a world without Scholarly Papers or Culminating Exhibitions; a world where we can use our cell phones freely and urinate without the permission of our teacher. In the real world, Sareth won't throw away your lunch before you've taken your first bite. Of course, if you've made it this far - if you are graduating here tonight - there are surely things you will miss about this Old World as well. Maybe you'll miss coming to school early and being surprised by free hot chocolate, or that third period teacher who would always let you turn in your assignments late. It might be that coach that never let you quit and always pushed you to your limits, or that gorgeous girl (or guy) that you got to sit next to freshman year. It could be walking with your best friend to class everyday, or that giant excuse of a bear that sits in front of the cafeteria. Wha tever it may be, we will all leave this place with something that we will miss and cherish forever, even if we don't fully realize what that is today. We will also leave behind a number of beloved teachers, counselors, and other staff persons - many of whom have had huge impacts on getting us here tonight. We will surely miss the... ...ves: whose advice do we take - Martin Luther King Jr.'s or Homer J. Simpson's? Do we put our brooms in the closet of futility and go inside and watch TV, or do we take them out and sweep like no sweeper has ever swept before? No matter where our passage takes us, we must navigate it to the best of our abilities, or we will fail. In conclusion, I will leave you with one last thought from the founder and President of Habitat for Humanity, Millard Fuller, who put it best when he said: "It's not your blue blood, your pedigree or your college degree. It's what you do with your life that counts." I would like to thank you all and congratulate you for surviving four years of my speeches and suffering the pangs of my voice on the announcements nearly everyday this year - but you have heard my voice for the last time so clap loud. Let's graduate. Thank you and God Bless.