my address to my fellow graduates

My Valedictory Address

Graduates of school year 2008-2009, friends, family, faculty and our visitors here today, good morning.

To tell you the truth, it actually took me a while to write this speech and I guess Mrs. Galvez is mad at me for not letting her edit my work, but in my defense, the reason I wasn't able to write immediately was because of the emotions I am feeling, the surrealism of the moment, the memories both overwhelming and nostalgic and absolutely everything else. You see its hard to filter all of those in a single speech but I'll do my best.

First it is righteous to salute the efforts of the faculty and staff of this institution for providing us with quality education.

Then we should thank our family and friends who have supported us through it all.

My fellow graduates, today, we are leaving our high school years. And just like what Marck Jason said, 'everything seemed like it was yesterday'. Remembering our greatest experiences together, Sabayang Pagbigkas, Jazz Chants, 2nd-year Jazz Chants, our Variety Show, during our Sophomore years, CAT training, our play during our first tear. Remember when Ma. Juanita Paner said 'you know how to birthday but you don't know how to pay!'. Yes truly nostalgic and thinking about it now, it's tear jerking, right?

Now I've heard from most of you that I quote, 'high school is the best four years of our lives', but that isn't right. For all of us, the best years should lie ahead.

Now I know that it's hard to get over high school but we must move on. with our lives. The experience may be over, but the memories of high school will never be forgotten, forever treasured.

and so dear graduates, today, in our graduation day, may we mark this day as a beginning because from this day on, we finally have the ability to shape what kind of lives we all would like to lead. Whether you want to be the richest, most beautiful person in the world or become a nurse, a doctor, or a woodcutter-but the best woodcutter.

Always remember these words from Oprah, "Your calling isn't something that somebody can tell you about. It's what you feel. It's a part of your life force. It is the thing that gives you juice. The thing that you are supposed to do. And nobody can tel ll you what it is. You know it inside yourself! And if you work hard for it, you will surely achieve it."

I know we're all anxious to get on with the ceremonies, but allow me to leave these last few words.

An Indian legend once said that we all are like butterflies. Each with a different color, each with a different dream. So fellow graduates, fellow butterflies, let's spread our wings and fly and reach our dreams up to the sky.

Congratulations Batch 2008-2009!

A whole world is waiting. Let's all grab it!*


*i wasn't able to recite the last two sentences :x