Good evening, parents, teachers, administrators, friends and guests of the seniors of Searcy High School. Your presence here tonight is treasured by us as we remember all of your support given over the course of our lives.
I stand before you on this both sad and joyous occasion not as the valedictorian of Searcy High School, but as a friend. I stand before you tonight representing the hard work and dedication put forth by these seniors In order to make the future better.
This is an outstanding group of people. Over 1 million, 100 thousand dollars in scholarship money has been offered to these graduates. One in two of us has a grade point of 3 or higher. 52, a fourth of the class, is an honor graduate. And until the very end, the top 3 positions remained unknown. Even though some of us may have a higher test score, a better rank, or have more life chances, we have all remained friends. Instead of holding grudges against one another, we have pushed each other in order to achieve at our maximum output.
We have all had to sacrifice something in order to reach out and achieve. We have had to take classes we didn't want to take. We have had to study at times we didn't want to study. We have had to give up some things in order to reach out and achieve. However, we have developed by our sacrifices. Just a few years ago, we were self-centered children who only cared about our coloring books or toys. Today, we are self-conscious adults concerned not only with ourselves, but with the events in Indonesia, Great Britan, or in Oregon. A few years ago we were children who only found pleasure in knowning that recess would come, or that lunch would be here, or when school would be dismissed. Today, we are adults who enjoy helping those around us, whether that be by giving canned food to the needy, donating blood, or just telling someone "I care." A few years ago all we could do was live telling others, "Help me." Today, we live asking others "How may I help You?"
I am reminded of a quote from the television show Buckaroo Banzai: "No matter where you go, there you are." This reminds me about how we should live our lives once we graduate. As we progress from Searcy High School and go on to college and work, we shouldn't be afraid of what could happen or what might be there because our friends aren't around. Instead, we should remember our friends from high school and use them as models to make new friends. We do not need to dwell on the past thinking that life will never be the same, but remember the past and use that to make a new life. We don't need to be worried about what our future will be like outside our familiar Searcy High School, but remember the Searcy, and use that to prepare for the unknown. We cannot stop living because we have graduated from high school; we must use everything that we have learned to live the life of a high school graduate.
I thank you for allowing me to stand before you tonight. It is a great honor to be able to say that I have known you. I leave you with a final thought: Go out in the world and make the best of life. You might have to work when you don't want to work. You might have to go places you don't want to go. You might even have to meet people you don't want to meet. But remember, no matter where you go in life, a part of Searcy High School will be with you. remember Searcy High School -- the people, the lessons, and the spirit -- and use that to live life to the fullest.
Thank you. May we all live long and prosper.
