Graduation Speech: Winton Woods City School District

Weeks away from the start of my senior year, I was asked to produce a speech to a collection of faculty members, many of whom I have known for the better part of my existence. It was requested that I speak about the vision and purpose of Winton Woods City School District from my personal perspective. As a student, I can confidently say that this district has afforded me a wealth of opportunities that will forever be stitched into the fabric of who I am. Immediately, I seized the opportunity to describe to a couple hundred educators exactly what they signed up to be a part of. Winton Woods and its teachers are concerned with more than a curriculum scripted across syllabus that has been approved by the state or a profiting institution. Winton
Students will continue on their journey of learning, even when that journey is unbearably painful. We must hold pure intentions in our hearts and be a society of one as we experience every waking minute at Winton Woods. Rather than see ourselves as a series of fractured constituencies, our unity as warriors is a triumphant strength in the face of hate. And to all of the administrators, teachers, and other educators sitting before me, I ask of you one thing – take this job that you have been given and never look back, because even your mistakes will teach your students immensely. Teach them whatever subject you may teach, and then teach them more. Pledge to help those who have entrusted their futures to you, those entities of civilization that you will be proud to have cultivated. And most importantly, remember these words penned by EM Forster, “spoon feeding in the long run teaches us nothing but the shape of the spoon.” Education is not for the immediate, but rather for the future and those events we have yet to experience. Thank you for your time and attention this morning, and I hope you feel as proud to be a warrior as I