Valedictorian: Teacher and Pack Extra Clothes

Alexus Dismuke
2/13/14
B3
Wow! Never in a million years would I think I would be here on this stage right now. Getting my diploma...maybe but giving the valedictorian speech to the amazing co' 2k15.... I must've done something right in the last few days here at Salem because it's been rough. Coming into high school was a shock to us all. No harsh dress code...no lines...no silent lunch; We had less rules and restrictions so we were all revved up and ready to get BUCK WILD! (Or at least I was) Until of course the first day came and I got lost on the same staircase several times. That was quite interesting. But anyway…I believe I can speak for us all when I say our amateur fantasies quickly vanished and reality set in. high school was absolutely NOTHING I thought it would be. The classes were longer, the building was colder, the teachers were a lot less lenient, and Dr.Williams was soooo loud! I just knew I wouldn’t make it, but thank god I was wrong! I’ll never forget the enthralling perils, both good and bad, we all shared in Mr. Wisdom’s 4th period class. From the launching of paper balls and powerades to the reenactments of high school musical scenes….let’s just say that our learning environment never had one dull moment! Of course we paid for it big time in 10th grade am I right? Everyone had tons of catching up to do. We all fell behind at least once within our high school experience. But all that matters is that we never stopped trying. Lucky for us we had a select few of teachers who never stopped believing in us. So I would like to take this time to recognize them. To Ms. Brassard you taught me that knowing everything did not make me a good student but merely attempting to learn the material is. You also taught me that attitude is everything and a pretty face is absolutely nothing with an ugly personality. You gave me the best thing a student could ask for out of an educator, HOPE. I finally possess beauty on the inside and I thank you for that. To Ms. Starling you were never obliged to stay after school practically teaching me entire lessons from other classes but you did. Even when you had no space in your schedule you always found time for me. Ms. Purvis we bumped heads EVERY class period. There is not one time I can say that we didn’t but, I can say that you stayed on my back. You were so annoying but you taught me never to settle for just exceptional; that there is nothing wrong with pushing the lines of over achievement and I appreciate you for that that. You know what they say right? Always save the best for last! (Lol) jk! Last but certainly not least to Ms. If you had AP lit for b3 you know who I’m referring to. I went an entire year rarely, almost never, addressing this woman by her name. She was the sweetest and from her unorganized and chaotic shelves to her intriguing antics during our lessons Ms. Was by far the most amusing teacher of them all. She made learning fun for me and taught us that being smart isn’t a crime and that we should use our powers for good. Thank You! I gravely appreciate you all!
(Wipes sweat) Now let’s get back to business. Our class is smarter than we all can fathom and we all have such big plans. I am standing before doctors and lawyers actors and entertainers clowns and comedians pro athletes and much more. There is nowhere else left to go but up from here. One day someone will refer to all of us as their hero! So for the rising freshmen for years to come my advice to all of you: 1.expect the unexpected. 2. Pack extra clothes in your back packs and 3.forget about every corky comment or smart remark you’re older siblings have told you about high school. It really isn’t all that bad once you get the hang of it. You just have to get out there put your pride aside and WERK! W…walk into to every situation with an open mind…E…enjoy your youth while appreciating all opportunities being placed in front of you…R…recognize your faults and mistakes and learn from them…K…know that all things are possible. There are footprints on the moon. That goes for all of you as well! As I close I would like to share something with you that my grandma shared with me. “As the World Turns”, we remain stationary watching the “Days of Our lives” slowly but surely pass us by. We are somehow cemented in “Another World” during “The Edge of Night” in “Search for Tomorrow”. We have “One Life to Live” so we all must be sufficient with the “Love of Life” Although “The Young will eventually become and the Restless” we must invoke our “Guiding light” because only “The Bold and the Beautiful” persevere after “The Secret Storm”