This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
06/25/2020 12:01 AMGood evening faculty, staff, esteemed guests, and my fellow graduating class of 2020. For the past three years, you have all elected me to represent our class as its president and I am truly humbled to speak to you today as both your class president and salutatorian. I have long dreamt of standing at a podium before you all and delivering a grand closing to the past four years. Honoring our class and our accomplishments in the traditional fashion. I dreamed of looking into the eyes of my peers and saying “We’ve done it!” In my dreams I saw a culmination of hard work and dedication leading to a grand, poetic ending, on stage with one another, eagerly looking into our futures. For us to wear matching gowns and adorning matching smiles, but the universe offers us a different sense of closure this year. We must take this path in stride, while sporting the same smiles. For the sun has not yet set on us. Tragedy cut short our time together, but our memories and friendships will not fade. Today marks a new beginning in our lives. We face a journey into an unprecedented world, but I have full faith in our future success. As Sun Tzu said in The Art of War “In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity.”While the world may feel chaotic and often overwhelming, if one allows oneself to step back and look for opportunity, it will be there. Embracing the chaos of the world is the only path to success, and one we must endure. The world still possesses a slew of opportunities for bright individuals and those with the drive to seek them out. As we forge ahead into our futures, we must keep a level head and an eye out for great opportunity. Our futures are bright if only we work for them. I believe that luck plays a minor role in determining our paths in life, one must fight for their success. As Maya Angelou said, “Nothing will work unless you do.” My dreams of today may have turned out differently than expected, but that is often true in life. Our expectations often weigh too heavily in our hearts. We must look at change and see chances—opportunities to prove ourselves and improve upon our situations. When we look into the world with an open mind, we are free to truly enjoy life and reap its rewards. After four years of work to better ourselves, we face the prospect of furthering our achievements in life. We may all walk different roads, but all of our journeys will be paved with success if we are willing to putin the effort. Today, we graduate from Westbrook High School together and go our separate ways. I hope that we manage to greet a chaotic world with a wary eye and few expectations, but with great hope in our hearts and keep our eyes open for the possibilities within our futures. May the class of 2020 strive for lives of prosperity and peace. Thank you