FINAL Graduation Speech

Welcome blazers, class of 2014, friends, family, and Blair staff. My name is Nigisti Adane, your class president for the past 3 years. We stand here today in this hall for our gradation. We have here with us today Former Principal Dr. Darryl Williams also known as The Fresh Prince of Blair, our current Principal Mrs. Renay Johnson, Secretary of Labor Mr. Tom Perez, Board of Education’s Mr. Christopher Barclay and our wonderful teachers and staff members.
Now that we are finished with our high school careers, think of this as not the end, it's just the beginning. In a couple of months when most of us embark on our journeys to college or a job, high school, this graduation, and this speech will simply be distant memories. But great ones! I myself will miss the “did you know” section from BNC. For example did you know that our graduating class has two presidential scholars? Or that there’s over 120 clubs at Blair, some of which are entirely student-run, including the Blair Radio Station, Thespian’s club, Debate Team, Jewish Culture Club and Philosophy Club. Many, like the Robotics club and Slam poetry have recently placed in competitions. Did you know that this year the softball, baseball and boy’s basketball team were all division champions?
Throughout our time at Blair, we have acquired the skills to launch ourselves into our futures. There will be challenges of course, and we will meet them straight on. It's not enough to simply try to get by in life. That doesn't move the world forward. You must try to excel in everything you do large or small.
Every accomplishment you achieve adds to the world's progression. When you succeed, you lighten the burden on your fellow man. When you succeed, you are in a position to give rather than to take. We have many notable alumni that have imprinted their soles onto the world. We all know that Goldie Hawn, Carl Bernstein, Steve Francis, Ben Stein all went to Blair. So which one of us will be next on the list of notable alumni?
As Steve Jobs said, "Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary. Stay hungry. Stay foolish"

As someone who immigrated to the states, not knowing much of the English language beyond “I don’t speak English” I myself have gone through great lengths to learn English and be apart of this society we live in. Once the girl who was frightened to read out loud is now giving the commencement speech at graduation. When I first transferred to Montgomery County in the second grade. I had to learn the basics of reading and writing all over again, and start over the ESOL program, but I am grateful for the support of my teachers and family. Ever since elementary school, our parents have cradled us during our worst, forgiven all the stupid mistakes we've made as teenagers, and loved us unconditionally. With their help, we've become responsible adults, and we would not be here today without them.
Many of us are still trying to figure out our identity, goals, and plans for the future. You dream and then follow it up with a list of all the reasons why the dream is unachievable. You fill your life with excuses and "I can't." Many great companies were conceived from a dream, nurtured in a garage or basement and grew to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange. Why not your dream? Stay hungry. Stay foolish. Thank you all very much, Congratulations class of 2014!