Graduating Class of 2014, four years ago we took the road less traveled as our teachers repeatedly let us know. We entered these halls as strangers, uncertain of the opportunities that we ahead of us. We sat in the commons and participated in a graduation ceremony. Along with many of you, I was trying to understand why a school would have this sort of ceremony when it would be four years before the real deal. Why were we practicing already? Before our teachers even knew who we were, they believed in us. Our teachers held that practice ceremony to make us make a promise to ourselves- the promise to graduate. Though it was a stressful roller coaster, we kept that promise to ourselves. Four years later, we are comfortably walking through these halls for the last time heading off to better things whether it be college or a career.
Peers take a second and close your eyes and look back on your time at AACT. What do you see? Mr. Burge making us snap along with the gangs in West Side Story? Mrs. Lopategui becoming overly excited over the dissection of frogs, pigs, and cats? Mr. Rossi sleeping as we took notes on an educational history video? Well, whatever your vision is, don't forget those memories. They helped you become the person you are today.
The halls of the Academy of Arts, Careers, and Technology have given me so many great memories. In Intro to Culinary, I recall Chef Wilhelm calling Nathanael to the front of the class. Nathanael had been talking and Chef told him to teach the class. Being sarcastic, Nathanael goes up and states that he, "wants to be a princess at Disneyland and he knows how to do a crowd wave and an individual wave." In Chemistry, one of the best assignments was when we physically made ice cream and everyone was chucking the bag of ingredients like footballs around the room. But most of all, my fondest memories have been with my best friend. I was lucky enough to meet my best friend within these last four years. Just like many of you have bonded instantly with other classmates, we did too. One of my favorite memories with Brandon was freshman year. It was third period and he was in Mr. Burge's class and I was in Mr. Burrill's. I looked out the window and Brandon was looking out too and he cupped his hands around his eyes as if he were using binoculars to see into my class. I started laughing and then Mr. Burge came and looked out the window and then at Brandon and back and then slammed the blinds shut.
We can reminisce about our high school experience all day. The community service, the late assignments, the fights, old friends, new friends, the PERSIAN packets, leadership. But that is the previous chapter in our lives. Today, our new chapter is unraveling. Today we say good-bye to the walls that have become our home away from home. And if we thought that high school was a crazy ride, we are in for a surprise. Here are some tips for our future. We are all human. Mistakes are made. Dreams are changed. Friends come and go. This is what life is all about. Don't set a plan for yourself to the date and time. Not everything will go according to it. Success comes from failure. So don't be afraid to fail at something. It may lead to your success. Rely on others and let others rely on you. Listen to your loved ones. They have learned lessons of their own from living and it may be useful to you. Finally, don't grow up too fast. As kids we have had an image that becoming an adult is the prize- driving, working, responsibility, and most important, independence. Many adults lose themselves in their work. Now, this is not necessarily a bad thing. Many love their job, but don't lose yourself in your work just to pay bills. Don't center everyday on stress. Have fun and enjoy your life. Life is a roller coaster so make it worthwhile.
No longer can we walk into Mr. Burge's class late or hear Mr. Rossi's sarcastic lectures about us being communists, for we are the graduating class of 2014. As our high school experience comes to an end, our adventure is just beginning. We will now experience a life that we have been working so hard to enter. Some of us will be heading to college. Some of us will be taking a year off before deciding what we will do. Some of us will go on to serve for our country and some of us will head with wide arms open to the work force. I do not know where we will all end up, but I do know that we will be successful in whatever we do. Congratulations to the class of 2014, we finally achieved this milestone.
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