Hello, I am so honored to speak in front of all the parents, staff and my fellow students today. Wow guys we made it! These past 3 years have been full of so many memories that I know we’ll never forget. Think all the way back to 6th grade we were always the littlest ones and I remember feeling like a fish out of water. We were terrified of getting lost or being late for class, but excited to have a locker to decorate and change classes each period. It doesn’t seem like that was over 2 years ago at all. We came back in 7th grade, much more confident than the year before. We looked down to the new 6th graders, asking "Were we really that short just last year?" And by the end of 7th grade I was shocked that I was officially an 8th grader. 8th grade is defiantly my favorite year. I feel like I have everything under control. But next year is full of changes. We'll have free periods, more homework, electives, and an open campus. The new choices also bring new responsibilities that test us in figuring out how we grow from kids to adults. As we say goodbye on the last day we sit together as Balboa students, we reflect on what has happened the past 3 years, but also look forward to what is coming up in the next 4 years. My advice to future 8th graders is to keep up with your school work and try your absolute best and make lots of good, loyal friends that don’t get you in the bad kind of crowd. And most importantly, have fun! This is the last year you will be the oldest in the school for another 4 years, so enjoy it! I’d like to finish this speech off with this quote : A creative man is motivated by the desire to achieve, not by the desire to beat others.-Ayn Rand…