Graduation Speech - Original Writing

We are going to talk about Florida’s history, economy, energy resources, famous, landmarks, and geography. It is a state with a lot of good people and places. It has a lot of history and beautiful landmarks. We are going to learn about Florida and everything in it.

Florida has always been a beautiful state aligned with unique natural wonders which has made it a location of wonder within the U.S. Even with Florida’s majestic natural appeal the state in its territorial years struggled with its public image as Indian attacks were common place in the region along with yellow fever and environmental phenomena such as hurricanes. Following in the end of the Seminole and the Civil war Florida began to search for a new identity and sense of prosperity in the face of massive changes to its economy and societal structure. With the advent of new technologies, the borders of Florida for the first time were opened to larger encompassing audience of visitors from all over the country who came to marvel at the natural landscape and relax in the temperate weather. Gary Mormino author of “Land of Sunshine State of Dreams” described in his book the factors and obstacles which challenged and ultimately propelled Florida to experience monumental growth in the 20th century. From the rapid use of automobiles to the creation of the magic Kingdom Florida has numerous factors to acknowledge when recognizing its recent success in America. While Gary Mormino book makes no effort to shy away from the less favorable aspects Florida history including the financial struggles of the early nineties, his book is clearly portraying an optimistic tone which echoes the glories of Florida’s past and future.

Nine years ago, I never could have imagined I’d be writing this essay. I was a senior in high school, and, like the rest of my classmates, I was apprehensive about the future. Unlike my classmates, I felt like I had missed the proverbial “you need to get your life together” message. I watched my classmates apply to colleges, their majors already decided and their future careers mapped out. While I was an above average student, I felt I lacked the decisiveness my classmates seemed to have. I did not feel passionate about a career or even a field of study. I felt defective. This was compounded by the financial strain I knew attending college would have on my family. It seemed wasteful to try to “find my passion” at school while squandering

Instead of million dollar hotels and famous celebrity strips accumulating across the bay, West Florida has opted for a more recluse lifestyle, which has promoted the growth of tight knit communities. One of the least covered areas in West Florida is Panama Cities Cove, which exemplifies the small close community nature typified in West Florida. Jeannie Cooper author of The Cove Panama City Neighborhood introduced the areas to a wider audience when she published a comprehensive photo album, which detailed the 20th century history of the area. The book is a great contribution to the historical understanding of the area as not many works have been completed detailing the area in any form. Jeannie Cooper book is a great first read for any Florida citizen trying to learn a little more about one of Florida’s least known

Vast beaches, amusement parks and resorts are all places that are abundant in Florida. There are numerous interesting things to visit, and numerous neighborhood’s that would suit a family of any kind scattered through the state. The Unique clash of skyscraper cities that are minutes away from the ocean front and year round warm temperatures make this an ideal place for people who are seeking warm weather and a change of scenery. It also makes Florida a very popular place to live, with 365 thousand people moving here a year, around 25 thousand of which move into Marion and the surrounding county 's, this state has a large influx of new residence which has made Florida the 3rd most populated state in America (Business Insider, ppiofmarioncounty.org). The massive influx of new people leads to a near constant expansion of cities and towns that are filled to the max, making the amount of natural forest in Florida shrink daily. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s report, History of Florida 's Conservation Lands, states:

Florida's natural beauty is celebrated in the articles on places and natural wonders to visit. The magazine's editorial priorities continually evolve to match its readership.

There is a general belief amongst people, apparently quite connected with whether or not they’ve been there themselves, that Florida is a good place to go. In fact, it is almost impossible not to enjoy yourself in Florida today, given the wonderful selection of facilities available to tourists. Some of the world’s most popular tourist attractions are located in the state whose sand beaches welcome over 40 million people each year.these days it seems pointless to describe Florida’s geography and climate. After all, few people would have difficulty in finding it on a map and most would know what weather to expect there.

Growing up in the South, Florida always seemed to be the main attraction of the region. Being from Louisiana, I've traveled to the state on multiple occasions, whether it was for academics, sports, or vacations. Each time, I found myself becoming more and more enticed with Florida's attributes. I feel that a major attraction for me was some of the apparent similarities that Florida posses in comparison with my own home state. Great food, sporting traditions, and even the swampy landscapes all are rather prevalent parallels between the two. But, even with this, the State of Florida still separates itself, not only from Louisiana, but from the rest of the

Florida is one of the most surreal and beautiful places I have ever been to. When I first arrived in Florida the atmosphere around me changed immediately, but it was an amazing change. Once I exited my small car I had been crammed in for hours, I felt the fresh-beach air hit my face. Inside I felt like a totally different person than how I feel in Wisconsin. As we stepped up to my beach house door, I felt anxious to see what was

The often bizarre events that occur in the state and make national news also doesn’t play very well into one’s idea of the area. Indeed, it’s given birth to the internet meme known as “Florida Man.” Headlines range from something strange and hilarious like “Florida Man Puts Dragon Lizard in His Mouth, Smacks People with It” to depressing and sad like “Florida Man Shoots Good Samaritan Standing Up for Elderly Man.” For many people who have never personally visited the state, this can easily reinforce their beliefs that it’s filled strictly with deranged or low-class individuals and maybe moving here to start a new life isn’t really an idea that many should consider.

Until taking this class, I never realized how much my views mirrored those of tourists. Miami has always been seen to me as a vacation state; nobody works there, but everybody

Living in Saint Augustine, Florida for my whole life, is doubtlessly the best thing I’ve experienced. Growing up in Saint Augustine has made me have an immense appreciation for the history of it, which has helped me adventure out of my comfort zone and formed me into who I am today. It has shaped me in ways I never imagined. Some people dream of living a more adventurous life. I on the other hand, am a very curious person who loves to explore the world around me. It makes me feel so alive to be able to get up and head out for a new adventure everyday. I see people waiting around for opportunities to prove themselves to others. I’m unaffiliated with what other people think of me. My look on it is, if you sit around waiting to get confirmation

Florida has been in the news and analyzed over and over again after the debacle of the 2000 election results of Gore/Bush. Now that I am a new resident of the state I thought I would take a look at its history. Florida is an incredibly diverse state. Florida is now the third largest state in terms of population with just over 20 million residents. Florida is a popular state for people to relocate to, and two-thirds of Floridians were born somewhere else.

As long as I can remember I 've never been good at writing essays, especially under a time limit. There 's just something about the pressure that makes me freeze up and I end up writing barely anything. I’ve struggled with it for the longest time, and I’ve tried to get better, but it’s a challenge for me.

The next day I nearly skipped to school. I was in such a good mood that I couldn’t help but to smile. I don’t know what it is about Shay, but I couldn’t get him out of my head. He was a bad boy that was probably a terrible influence but I couldn’t help but hope that he would show up to class.