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? ? ?I?ve known for a long time that I might have to make this speech at graduation. At first I was excited, but as the time grew nearer, I was more and more nervous.?? ? ?I mean, what do you say to 223 very different people, with 223 very different high school experiences. I could recount memories from as early as freshman year that might speak to a few people here and there, but no one wants to hear a bunch of inside stories they weren?t a part of. ?{{more}}?? ? ?I could talk about how much I have been shaped by the people I have spent these last four years with, but this isn?t my speech? this is our speech? the class of 2013?s speech. And when it comes to us, no matter how diverse we may be, we all have one very important thing in common: we graduated.?? ? ?This is no small accomplishment either. In the state of Texas, only 75% of students who enter high school graduate. And right now, we share a feeling of pride and anticipation that 1 out of 4 students never know. Some of you, like me, may be a little sad to see your high school years end and some of you, I know, can?t wait to get out of the doors and on with your lives.?? ? ?No matter how you feel, the truth remains: High school is now the past; this, right here, is our future. And it doesn?t really matter what you did in high school because what you do from this point on will determine your life.?? ? ?My mom tells a story about a professor she had in college. He had his doctorate in neurobiology and needless to say, he was a pretty smart guy. But every year he would tell his students the same story: He wasn?t last in his high school graduating class, that guy became a lawyer in Houston, he was second to last.?? ? ?Now, I?m not saying everyone should go try to be a neurobiologist. This man had no idea that was what he wanted, but fate had a way of surprising him and once he found what made him happy, he stuck to it. ?In the end, success isn?t measured by dollars or degrees, but it is measured by the work you put in to attain it and the happiness you achieve from it.?? ? ?This is the point where most people would quote a meaningful figure of society. I would like to end my speech with my favorite quote from The Transformer?s Optimus Prime: ?Fate rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing?.?? ? ?So be prepared for what your future holds because it is probably nothing like you expect. Just know that no matter what you do, do what you love and do it well, and your purpose will become clear.?? ? ?Thank you and stay classy, Kennedale!
