When Pigs Fly

Families and friends welcome to Montgomery Village Middle School 8th grade promotional ceremony. Today we embark on a new chapter of our lives as we end our middle school careers. We’ve spent the past three years of our lives in this wonderful place. We were given the opportunity to grow and learn. Our teachers, one of our biggest supporters, the ones we have built relationships with. Our teachers have seen us grow. They have been our guiding hands throughout our middle school career. The teachers in this school deserve the world. They motivate us each and every one of us each day. Most of us were able to mature throughout middle careers. We’ve grown aware of our surroundings. We’re all well aware of what’s to come as we open the next chapter

The weather cleared up and me, along with my entire class and teachers, got to enjoy a beautiful ceremony. Lining up we started to proceed out to the football stadium from the gymnasium, my mind would not stop thinking. I just could not stop remembering what it took for me to get to this day. The stress that I endured studying for the SAT, filling out my applications and most importantly, perfecting my essay. The idea that I was not going to be living in this beautiful town I have spent my life in, brought a flood of emotions. Thoughts of my friends not being by my side next year made me feel as if I was sinking into a deep hole; this place, this town has had so much to offer to me. The past two years that I had spent in this place were the most emotional and exciting times of my life. I knew even though I was not going to be waking up in my familiar place anymore, I would be waking up in what was to become my new familiar place. I knew that even though my friends would not physically be there with me every day, that they would be there when I called them. If it were not for all of the people I have met along the way, I do not think I would have ended up where I am today. It just is a common thought for whenever I get sad about everything ending, I remind myself that there is a new beginning coming and it is going to be amazing. The place that I have spent my whole life

What I just recited was a selection from "Oh, The Places You'll Go!", a graduation speech as prepared by Dr. Seuss. I chose to recite this because its optimism toward beginning a new phase of life seemed to fit our class. It reminded me of our entrance into high school, when as freshmen, we blew away the students and staff at Stoks high School with our incredible enthusiasm and spirit. We didn't allow ourselves to be intimidated by the upperclassmen, or by our new surroundings. By the time we had completed our first Homecoming activities, coming in second place only to the seniors, we had established a certain respect, and it became evident that the Class of 2006 was capable of achieving greatness.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank my peers once again. Those of you who know me know I’m an entertainer. Well, you have all served as my audience throughout these four years, and you have motivated me in doing so. Your reactions to my personality and my creativity have been indicative and invaluable. I’ve learned more from all of you than from any teacher I’ve ever had. You taught me how to socialize. You’ve enlightened me on the facets of the human condition, the roots of happiness, and the dynamics of friendship. You have given me the life, the strength to keep me moving higher,

Famed American author David Foster Wallace gave a commencement speech to Kenyon College’s graduating class of 2005. Most commencement speeches focus on graduates’ accomplishments as well as give general life advice. Wallace’s presentation follows this pattern at first, congratulating the students on getting their diplomas. However, most of his speech is dedicated to the idea of thinking beyond ourselves. Throughout the speech, Wallace argues we should live with empathy through his use of humor and appeals to the audience’s empathy.

In June of 1942, a senior at the Notre Dame College of Maryland wrote a prophetic message to her fellow student, Elma Kuchar Kelley. On the way to their graduation ceremony, she hurriedly scribbled in the Damozel yearbook, “I know your pupils will love you as much as we do…our loss is their gain.”

Everybody in the town of Stamps always trembled with the anticipation. Today is the day that all the large classes from grammar school and high school were finally graduating. As the ceremony began the principal welcomed parents and friends. The principal talked about the “great leader” Booker T. Washington our great leader. Like a river diminishing to a stream and then to a trickle his voice became quiet.. He cleared his throat and said “ Our speaker tonight, who is also our friend, came from Texarkana to deliver the commencement address, but due to irregularity of the train schedule, he’s going to, as they say ‘speak and run’. He said that we understood and we wanted the man to know that we were most grateful for the time he was able to give

It was May 25, 2018 at 7:47 in a steaming hot gymnasium when the name Anthony Joseph Sansalone was getting called from the loud speaker, the sixth to last person to receive their diploma I begun shaking the hands of all the board members and everything that I had known from the last 13 years at the same school was over and a new chapter of my life was stating to begin. A few seconds after receiving my diploma the Class President guided us to changing of our tassels from right to left then commencement was over and I was walking out with my future roommate at BGSU, Vincent Zhang, we looked at each other knowing that our high school career was descending and our college careers were lifting off together. High school was tuff for me due to the fact that I have know what I wanted to do since I was a freshman, I want to become an animator and work for an Academy Award winning company such as

Asante spoke of the joy of having their child as a student of Emerson. He spoke about the positive qualities of IC being helpful, respectful, and a friend to her fellow classmates. He gives his deepest condolences to IC’s family. He also mentioned to the family about a bench “In Loving Memory of IC,” with paper angels on it, to dedicated to IC as a reminder for all that sits and walks past the bench. It will be located at the entrance, inside the school until the spring. When spring arrives and it becomes warm, the bench will be placed in a garden area next to the school. The Garden Club will plant a flower also as a tribute to IC. IC’s family also gave a few words on what they wanted to say about IC. Members of the school district spoke on how it feels when losing someone so young. It is a tragic loss for anyone to endure. A student and Mr. Ortiz class (class IC was a student in) read a letter dedicated to IC. Staff of the Emerson School gave a few words in respect of IC and her family. Plainfield High School’s Art teacher and students shared a few words, and presented handcrafted gift in remembrance of IC. Lastly, Dr. Asante concluded the memorial service giving thanks to the family, friends, and all present offering their time and support within the memorial for IC’s family as

Shyam Selvadurai’s Pigs can’t fly is the story of a young boy who is torn by reality and his family’s efforts to suppress his true sexuality. His internal conflict eventually leads him to self destruction, when his beloved sari is torn into pieces. Because of the gender social norms of his family, he is forced to transition form the beautiful, loving world of the girls to the harsh, unforgiving world of the boys. In Shyam Selvadurai’s Pigs can’t fly, the gender social norms imposed upon Arjie causes turmoil within him, and ultimately destroys him morally. His turmoil is caused by his mother’s rejection of him, his cousin Her Fatness’s weakening of his influence amongst the girls, his feelings of not belonging with the boys, and his forced

We didn’t get here on our own. That is why we thank our classmates, families, teachers, counselors, and administrators for supporting us throughout this journey. Most importantly, I thank and glorify God for giving us endless opportunities. I hope tonight is a night to remember because it marks the start of something new. After tonight, we gotta go our own ways because high school wasn’t meant to last forever. Right here, right now, it’s time to break free from dress code and standardized tests. As we go our separate ways, let us continue to support one another. I know our teachers are still here to help, whether with college coursework or advice for our futures. We can step into the world confidently because we have solid

I proceeded to walk down the aisle slowly becoming aware of the acrobats doing summersaults in my stomach. With such great prestige I heard the announcer’s voice, “Gerdwine Bourdeau.” Still in displacement of what had just occurred, rivers of joy rushed down my face. In quick pursuit, I shook President Welsh’s hand, turned my cheek and gleamed a smile towards the camera. In an instant flash the proudest moment of my life quickly became a realization. As of August 2016 I would be a graduate student of East Stroudsburg University. All the tears of joy and stressful nights would eventually become memories I tap into over lunch with a group of alumni friends. The ceremony quickly came to an end. Myself as well as hundreds of students rushed in search of their families. I had become overwhelmed in the confusion to only hear a lonely voice over the crowd shout in creole “Gerdwine, Gerdwine!” Moments later I stood in front of my first love, my parents. They gazed with admiration and joy, as I stared into their eyes and seen hard working immigrants from Haiti. Raising seven children wasn’t always easy, they worked day in and day out hiking 12 flights of stairs in a Brooklyn apartment building. All to make sure their children received an education that they were unable to obtain.

Our graduation is our coming of age, our right of passage. As we walk across this stage we are writing the closing pages to our Chapter I and heading into the great unknown. It's kinda scary -- but hey, don't you cry, even though high school is over, the times we've shared and the friends we've made will never be lost. The clock is ticking, time is fleeting and nobody lives forever. But true friendship is something we can count on never dying. I hope wherever we go in life it will be happy and even if we all move to remote island countries we can all count on the memories and laugh at all the stupid things we did.

As the end of the night approached us, I couldn’t stop thinking about how many mixed emotions I had about starting a whole new chapter in my life. I couldn't wait to go to college, meet all new people, get a degree so that I could start my career path, but I knew that meant I had to say goodbye to my two best friends, who were moving several hours away from me. This was one of the hardest things I had ever had to do in my life. We all cried a little, and then made promises to keep in touch, and then we were off into the real world! I was very happy to be at this point in my life, but I was scared deep down inside.

Stepping upon a simple stage was the best thing I could have ever done. Overseeing the multitude that was there to witness my every word, every tremble, every emotion, and every heart beat, was then that I realized that the sentiment was real. It was essentially the end of time and I could not bear to hold back what I no intentions of doing. Cry. Tears of joy darted down my face as I walked across the stage and received my ultimate gift. With fancy inscription, my gift was entitled “Class of 2009”. I had just graduated.