Graduation Speeches

Hello and welcome to all parents, family members, faculty members, and the class of 2017.

Well graduates, we made it. As a group, we started together from the very bottom, and now the whole team here.

We have come so far together as a group of more than just classmates, but as friends. Growing stronger physically and mentally. We fought our way through all the struggles that life threw at us. Looking back to where it all started, elementary school felt like it went by in a blink of an eye. I remember everything from my first day at Hynes, to sitting on the back of Bus D and B as "4th graders", or known as "the rulers of the school.". But soon enough elementary school came to a close, and I remember thinking to myself, "really? we have another 4 years of school after this."

Well, it was true, and off to middle school we went. It seems like middle school just started yesterday. Coming into an environment where the school was bigger and where we were given more independence. With the addition of learning to shower and apply deodorant everyday to our sweaty changing bodies.

My time here at district 67 has changed who I am, but more importantly the teachers here have shaped me into who I am today. I would like to give a thank you to all the teachers at district 67 but a special thank you to the 7th and 8th grade teachers. Knowing that we all are in an important part of our lives you have placed every thought and in our head, giving us the ambition to learn more and more, and pushing us everyday to achieve our goal even if we were starting to give up. To teaching us practical skills such as job interviews, presentations, public speaking, how to tie a tie, they taught us everything that would have us be prepared for what's ahead of us.

Finally I would like to thank you to all my friends and my classmates who have gotten me here. Even though we might not have gotten off to the best start for some.

Although some may not believe this, but as individuals we were all destined to do something great. With the ability to shape the future we have become powerful young men and women. This journey has been no walk in the park. We overcame obstacles and have had our fair share of disappointment, but we all picked ourselves up and kept going. You know J.Cole once said ....


"Can I ball, become a star and remain myself?
If I fall, dust it off and regain myself
F***  'em all, they don't know all the pain I felt
I'm in awe, after all the fame I felt, I evolved."


This journey is only a stepping stone of our life, but a foundation on which we will build ourselves around. Thank you for the impact everyone has had on me, and knowing that life will only get harder with high school and day to day life, just prepare for the worst, and also knowing that I won't be with the same twenty sum people all day will be something I have to adjust too.

As we go our separate ways with our priceless knowledge I want everyone here to remember to strive to be great. and fight like the warriors we were born to be, but most importantly, follow your dream and what makes you happy. You'll live through your pain and strength you will gain. As they always do, your dreams will come true. Thank you and congratulations to the class of 2017.

Dear 5th Grade Jason

Dear, 5th Grade Self

Well, you finished 4th grade. Time to get ready for being the youngest and the shortest one in the school again. FYI, don't wake up late for the first day of school, and also don't fall on the corner of the road scraping your entire arm on the way too school. Yup school is going to get harder for you also.

Be prepared to be strong mentally, you'll mess up during and out of school. You need to stay strong and keep your composure. Don't let anyone say they're better than you. You can only be better than yourself. Also have that determination to never give up. You got to finish off what you had started. Also try not to be a butt hole to people, and try to be nice to everyone.

The Alpha and Omega of Summer Vaction

Summer vacation is the best feeling ever and it comes with the best weather of the year. There is so much free time. Starting summer break may be one of the best things ever, but ending it can really, really suck (For Me). Goals for this summer break is to be productive. I don't want to be some lazy couch potato go to sleep at 3 A.M.and wake up at 1 P.M. ever day. I wanna wake up early and go to bed early too. I want to start working out this summer, while taking summer school, and doing volleyball summer camp. I wanna be as prepared as I can for my very first year of high school.

But before thinking about summer YET. I got to get all my homework done (especially reading pages). I got to take the finals and do well. with only 1 month left of 8th grade, I can't believe how fast 8th grade has gone past. I am also very worried and nervous about going to high school. I just hope that my future me won't be stupid, and I will have a fun rest of my time in high school.

It's Complicated ...

"It's Complicated", its something we say because were to lazy to explain or because it just is TOO complicated. The past year or two has been very complicated. My dad moved to Florida because his work was in Florida. At first it was especially hard to adjust to my dad not coming home at night Whenever my friends did ask where my dad is I would always just tell them that he's in Florida right now working. I don't really know how to explain. I don't know when my dad will be coming back, or if he's going to stay there for longer, but I hope he comes home soon.

My dad does come back every 3 weeks now to visit. It's always fun when he's come because he makes the house feel more awake. He also just buys and makes us eat a crap-ton of food. Even though I may have enjoyed my dad not being home some days, because it made me feel more free. It's been a struggle not having a fatherly figure in my life, at a time where I think I do need it the most. I'm now extremely grateful for the times that my dad is home though. I believe that God put me into this position for a reason. I now realize how much I miss my dad and how much impact he has in my life. But for now all I can say is that,"It's Complicated."

If You Get These Correct You're a Genius

A woman is sitting in her hotel room when there is a knock at the door. She opened the door to see a man whom she had never seen before. He said "oh I'm sorry, I have made a mistake, I thought this was my room." He then went down the corridor and in the elevator. The woman went back into her room and phoned security. What made the woman so suspicious of the man?



An old man wanted to leave all of his money to one of his three sons, but he didn't know which one he should give it to. He gave each of them a few coins and told them to buy something that would be able to fill their living room. The first man bought straw, but there was not enough to fill the room. The second bought some sticks, but they still did not fill the room. The third man bought two things that filled the room, so he obtained his father's fortune. What were the two things that the man bought?



Feed me and I live, yet give me a drink and I die



Answers

1.You don't knock on your own hotel room

2. The man bought a box of matches and a lighter. Once he lit the match the light filled the entire room

3. Fire

Here's Something To Make You Concentrate

Tribute To A Special Someone

I want to give a tribute to grandma because he had always been with me since I was little. She would always look after me when my parent's couldn't. She would be with me for most of the day. She would literally do anything that I would say, and she still does. Also she tries and tries to explode my stomach with food, but I don't let her. When I was little I was hooked on Thomas the train engine ( I still know all their names ).

She would get me and herself a ticket (Every and only on Saturdays) for the Metra train that would take us to Downtown Chicago and we would spend our day there and come home during the night. I still remember the first day that I rode a train. It was with her and when I got on the train. I thought the train was broken because the train was going backwards. The front was at the end. I also remember when I found out that the train had an upper floor. Back then I didn't realize why she would buy me train tickets, I just thought she did. I also didn't know why she was always looking after me. I was clueless back then.

Now I know how much my grandma had cared for me. She would tell me everything that I needed to know about life. She would also give me advice to me and never judge me for what I would do. She would put all her troubles to the side just to be with me and drive 30 minutes to get to my house. She always said that I was the best gift she could ever get in her life . I just want to thank you for shaping me into the person I am today, and you will never leave my heart.