Graduation Speech Essay examples

Seniors have a tendency of taking their last year of high school for granted. They do not realize that the relaxed classes and fun filled weekends with their best friends will all soon come to a devastating end. They have applied for college, bought miniature refrigerators, and sent in their housing applications, but none of them have really thought about college in the way that they should. When asked about college most high school seniors image the huge parties, attractive people, and freedom; however, college is much more than that and, in a way, much less. College and high school are completely different when it comes to a student’s actual lifestyle, but they have many of the same traits that most high school seniors do not see coming.

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.

During our three years at Cupertino Middle, we learned a lot. Not just about quadratic equations and the solar system, but also about friendship, kindness, and courage. We worked hard, had fun, and went out of our comfort zones everyday. Who new that we would survive the roller coaster ride of middle school and be here getting our diplomas. But we did. Now we are going to high school, hoping we can change the world for the better. Using the skills and formulas we learned, we just might be able to make a difference.

When I was a sophomore I was selected for the Missouri Scholars Academy. This single event changed my life forever. Missouri Scholars Academy is an intense three week program in which 330 of Missouri’s brightest individuals are gathered at the University of Missouri’s campus during the summer and attend classes, lectures, and activities. Before this adventure, I was always really shy. I was absolutely terrified to talk to “popular” kids and never uttered a word during class. But that was about to change.

In Walter Kirn’s essay, Class Dismissed, he argues on the point that he believes senior year is “not an indulgence but an entitlement...in which [seniors] crave tradition. [For some] it amounts to a fidgety waiting period that practically begs for descents into debauchery and concludes in a big dumb party under a mirror ball that spins in place like the minds of those beneath it.” He goes further into bringing up the economic benefits and how it was a way to “shave off millions from the cash-strapped state’s expense sheet.” In some ways, yes, senior year could be considered a waste of time and be better off non-existent. Although, I do not believe that you should spend what would be your senior year in high school, in freshman year of college.

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

Eisenhower High School has shaped me into the women that I am today. At first, the transfer from private to public middle school was difficult. I did not know what to expect from public schooling. Immediately, I was met with friendly faces and extraordinary teachers. When the time came for me to decide if I would attend a private high school or Eisenhower High School I didn’t hesitate on my decision. Since my first day walking through the newly renovated Eisenhower halls, I knew I had found my home for the next four years.

Senioritis is a common issue across American schools today and can have many different intensities that come along with it. The main cause of such an event is the loss of motivation, especially one who may already know what they are doing for future endeavors such as college or having an awesome job plan lined up for themselves. Everything from just wanting to graduate high school already, to truly despising the building you are locked up in all fall under what senioritis truly represents. Within Woodstock Union High School, whose numbers are slightly less than 400 students, one can see how broad of a spectrum this whole issue has become today.

I remember walking into Cedar Ridge for the first time, seeing new faces, new halls, but also seeing many opportunities and new things awaiting me. All of the welcoming teachers, principles, and staff stood door to door smiling and guided us in the right direction as we walked in circles trying to find our first English class. I was a cheerleader on the junior varsity squad, every girls “perfect” dream to starting high school.

HIgh school has always been easy for me, and probably for the majority of people that have been through the school system in America. 20 years ago there wasn’t a such thing as a program like northland CAPS for high schoolers. Also 20 years ago you didn’t need a college degree to pursue most careers. For me I’ve always been a procrastinator, even the application I submitted to northland caps was late. I’ve always been comfortable talking in front of large crowds and I’ve always been comfortable with myself. However, I was tired of the traditional classroom as well. The repetivness of being in highschool learning the same material has the juniors did before you. I wanted to try something different my junior year, and I knew that there wouldn’t be very many juniors in this program making it a bigger challenge for me.

Junior year, I was lucky enough to play the role of Big Sib for the incoming grade of seventh graders. For 15 minute periods, four days a week, a group of three other Big Sibs and I would lead bonding activities with our assigned class of seventh graders, answer their questions about our social and academic lives, and offer them guidance in the difficult transition from middle school to high school. Watching their transformation from their timid, wary selves on the first day of the year to a blossoming and enthusiastic group of high school students by the last was one of the most rewarding experiences of my junior year. It was incredibly gratifying to think that my Little Sibs looked up to me the same way that I looked up to my Big Sibs as

The first day of school was full of mostly nerves and confusion, not knowing exactly what to expect and not even sure where more than half of your classes are located. There is a tad excitement throughout the day of realizing after all those years in school, you have finally made it into a good university. The atmosphere is different lots of adults walking around like they know what they’re doing and where they’re going. Though many students like myself weren’t even 18 yet, we were able to receive an early taste of what it is like to be treated as an adult.

Students of Tahoma High School, we have spent many years sitting in the same chairs, listening to the same lectures, and walking the same halls. Our years at this school have definitely been ones to remember and we will cherish these memories for many years. Not only should we be proud of what we have accomplished today, but we should get ready to take on the challenges in the future.

These past four years have really been a life changing experience. From a childish freshmen not only at school but at home too, to a still sometimes childish senior, one who knows when and how to control himself. This school and its teachers have taught me so many lessons that will not be forgotten any time soon.

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.