Kalkaska High School Honors Student Address, Class of 2001This was my speech for graduation commencement from Kalkaska High School. We didn't actually declare a valedictorian (stupid politics) so two of the three of us tied with the top GPA gave "Honors Student Addresses" instead. I got a lot of compliments afterwards from parents and even had a few teachers tell me it was by far the best speech that year. It made me feel really good. I had a good portion of this written shortly after I moved into the district my freshman year. Yup, I was that determined to be on top. *lol* When I first came to Kalkaska in March of my Freshman year, I didn't know what to expect. This was a new place, with new faces and I seriously doubted that I would fit in. My first day here I remember being given a tour of the school, and then I found myself in Mr. Kuhn's first hour Biology class, on my own, searching for just one friendly face. Not only did I find a friendly face, I found many and that made all the difference in the world. I spent the next three months getting to know many of you and even made some friends. Over the next three years those relationships deepened and I've come to see just how many blessings there are to be found in Kalkaska. There is more to being a Blazer than just entering a school building everyday. It's the relationships you build and the activities you participate in that make you a part of this place. From sport to clubs to class fundraisers, each day here forges bonds and molds us into the people we've become. I haven't know you all your lives like many of you have known each other. But, in the last three short years, I've developed a sense of belonging that makes me proud to call Kalkaska home. That makes me proud to call you my peers. Not until you come here from somewhere will you truly see just how much like a family this class is. I thank you for making me a part of that family. I would move here again in a heartbeat. I know a lot of you think that I've spent too much time with my nose buried in a book, or my face glued to a computer screen. Perhaps I have. But, I did get involved in many other activities and I have made some fond memories. For those of you who took Spanish I our Freshman year, who can forget Ms. Peterson's lovely blend of Spanish and Portuguese to make Sportuguese? It took me awhile to get that story straight when I arrived. Or how about building quinzhees in Earth Science? I remember basketball games when the last seconds were spent with your heart in your throat, waiting to see who would make the winning shot. Homecoming our Junior year still makes me wince. It started cold and quickly turned into a mess of driving sleet and gusting wind. I nearly froze out on the football field with the band. Our Senior Homecoming dance was made interesting when the DJs didn't bring any music...yet we made do. I'm certainly not going to forget prom the last two years. Especially the fires at this last one. All these events seemed so unimportant at the time, yet look how long and clearly they've stuck in my mind. They have more meaning than I realized. While preparing for this speech, I did some digging though my old files. In my English folder from two years ago, I came across a poem that is I thought appropriate for today. This poem fits the Kalkaska Class of 2001 because of the attitude of its members. They've stuck together through thick and thin. Though the good times and the bad. It's said that two heads are better than one. Well, we've got a lot more than two heads sitting here today. The poem is by Jessica Berg and is entitled, "Graduation." "It's too easy to It's too easy to be It's too easy to turn It's too easy to doubt I never liked nor took the easy way out. I'm not sure what will become of this class. We will all leave here and go our separate ways. Ten years down the road who knows where we will be. I will say this though: The Class of 2001 is the REAL first class of the new millenium and we are going to go far. Some may do big things and others small, but all will do something and that something will impact us all. Keep your eyes on these students as we move forward in life. Support us and love us and help us reach our potential. To my classmates: you've been my extended family and I'm so thankful I came here. But I'm even more thankful for my parents. They've been there for me through everything and have always stood by my side. All of you have parents and/or friends who've done the same for you. I ask you all to give them a big hug and kiss and tell them thank you for their love and support. Without them, none of us would present here today. I would now like to turn the spotlight over to my fellow Honors student, Amber Thompson.
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