Essay on Graduation Speech

When I was younger, I would often return home to a familiar question: So, what did you learn today? My answer would always be "nothing" or "stuff." As I look back, I never lied, yet, I never told the whole truth. Many people think that you don't know anything with only 18 years of experience; I think they're wrong. I've learned a lot about myself and others from the relationships I have built throughout the years. I believe my most important lessons were "people" lessons. Those are the ones which could never be taught out of a book or in a lecture; you have to go out and experience them for yourself.

Columbus is immortalize as a brave and virtuous explorer who discovered the New World. While his image is painted in such a positive regard, what was written in these school textbooks were far from truthful.

WOW! So much has happened since June. The SV FFA and ag department had a rough start to our year losing three of our students who were on the FFA officer team to other schools. Even with this bump in the road, the four officers that remained visited Mt. Shasta City and had a blast bonding and learning more about each other at their officer retreat in August. Once school started we found three new officers and attended COLC (Chapter Officer Leadership Conference) where the entire team learned about their diverse leadership styles and were able to bond together as the official Surprise Valley FFA Chapter Officer Team for the 2017-2018 school year. If you see them around, congratulate President Cindy Hinze, V.P. Maddison Seely, Secretary Maya

“A hero. You want to be one of those rare human beings who make history, rather than merely watch it flow around them like water around a rock.” Dan Simmons wanted to reflect on the many notable historical figures in our past who were recognized for their courageous traits, leadership ingenuity, and outstanding discoveries that sparked from one individual who was willing to make a change. Christopher Columbus precisely fits the depicted portrait of a hero. Through any given perspective from Europeans during that epoch to our world five centuries later, we see that Columbus was the epitome of the valiant figure, invoking change for the revitalization of Europe and South America as a whole, and igniting the exploration age and philosophical ideas through his heroic actions.

More than five hundred years ago, in the year of 1492, the famed Italian explorer Christopher Columbus sailed across the Atlantic to the Bahama Islands and discovered the New World. This expedition required bravery, determination, and an open mind. Although he had these positive traits, he had antagonistic ones as well. Columbus’s character implied what Americans are like today. To begin, Columbus possessed positive and negative traits.

“Following the light from the sun, we left the Old World.” Christopher Columbus was an Italian explorer. He completed four voyages across the Atlantic. As Christopher led an exploration of the new world, it opened the possibilities to Spain’s rise in global power, the spread of Christianity, and the start of the Columbian Exchange.

In previous years, at my high school, we were given the opportunity to be present in an elementary school classroom. For an hour each day, a group of us would ride to the elementary school to help out teachers that needed an extra hand in regards to maintaining their classroom, and allowing them focus more on their lessons instead of housekeeping responsibilities. Being surrounded by elementary age students for these few years really helped me develop deep love and passion for teaching young children. Life set me on a different career path as I attended Georgia Tech last year in pursue of a Business Degree. Throughout the year, as I sat in my business classes, doing my best to pay attention, but I could just tell that my heart was not into all that the business world had to offer. All along, I knew that my heart belonged in the classroom, and after careful consideration, I decided to transfer to the University of North Georgia at Dahlonega. Education 2130, was the first education class I had the opportunity to take, and it required 20 hours of field experience. My first collegiate field experience was nothing short of enlightening, and allowed me to immerse and expand my knowledge in the education world.

When Christopher Columbus made his first voyage to what is now known as the Americas, an opportunity presented itself for the cultures of both Europe and the Americas to flourish. The result of his so called “discovery” was neither glorious nor heroic in the eyes of many Natives and

I once read that life is well represented as a pearl deep within an oyster. The pearl symbolizes each person's potential, or the things that are going well for them in life. Just as a mere grain of sand that enters an oyster can grow into something of great worth, there is a fragment of excellency within every one of you that over time can be shape you into an individual who will make a difference in the world.

Edgar Allan Poe once said, "All that we see or seem is but a dream within a dream."

Students, faculty, family, friends, on this exciting day, I speak to optimism, laughter, and grins.

Imagine a world where educators did not exist. That world would be deprived of doctors, lawyers, scientists, law enforcement, etc. These necessary careers can only be made possible at the hands of our teachers, as they are the foundation to education. Without them, society would crumble. They enable children to excel in their greatest self, and continue to guide and shape their learning through childhood, adolescence and even adulthood. Teachers hold one of the most important careers in today’s society, but do not receive the recognition that is rightfully deserved. The men and women who pick this path for their career have a passion for children and teaching; they invest many hours in ensuring a quality education for their students. Those

The first day of kindergarten, we clung to our parents afraid of the new experiences that awaited us. We looked around at all of the other faces not sure what to think. Fear and doubt crippled us. Little did we know that this day was the beginning of a journey stock full of obstacles and rewards.

Well, this is it, the day all of us have been waiting for has finally arrived. It seems like only yesterday we were picking our noses and flicking them at innocent bystanders or yelling childish phrases like, "Liar, liar, pants on fire!" or, wait, that was yesterday. Never mind. Anyways.

The future decisions we make will be decided by the lessons of trial and error, advice and actions of our mentors and by the foundation that we stand on. I began my college career on three principles that I think apply to all of us. First is faith. For many of us it took a leap of faith to undertake the daunting task of completing or furthering our education. Those who have families, jobs or a myriad other circumstances took on the challenge undeterred and met it head-on despite the unknown. Second is hope, the hope that we might make our families proud and that we would succeed and live up to our greatest potential.