The Graduation Speech... 2010

I was simply unsure how to begin this speech. In the 3 years I’ve known this group of students, I’ve never quite found the words to describe them… or explain them… I figured I could talk about the inspiration I feel each time I hear Chrystian Johnson speak of the future, or the sheer impressive nature of Emily Kocsis’s art work and how it makes me believe in creative power. I could speak of James Fimbres’s unique academic excellence or the courageous friendship of Alex Updegraff and Simone Brech. I thought I might be able to get up here and tell you something incredibly practical like, “WEAR SUNSCREEN!” Or more poignant, like “treat others as you’d like to be treated.” Or “You must create your own happiness- don’t wait for someone else to give it to you.” Then I recalled all the good advice teachers have given you such as: use graphic organizers! Shut up and do the work! And of course, “abstinence is the best policy!” I threw these ideas out as somewhat cliché. I moved onto the idea I’d highlight your accomplishments- athletic record holders, AP literature testers, equestrian and carpentry medalists… but those folks have been honored in one way or another… I wanted this speech to be what you, the graduates, wanted it to be. When I asked you, I was told to tell the truth up here…you said this knowing I wouldn’t take you up on it… knowing that what happens in Sophomore English, stays in Sophomore English… so I decided to let the graduates help me write this… their last group assignment… and they did. Each of them was allowed to give me a word to add to the speech… each the opportunity to hear his or her word as part of the momentous day. And to let our audience in on our fun, I’d like the graduates to raise their hands when they hear their words. So listen carefully… we will get this speech done together.
So, I ain’t going to tell you a true story; it also won’t begin with a rough struggle, magical love, slothful debauchery or a Studebaker disaster. I won’t use onomatopoeia in the writing of it, or country music wafting through the background as I tell it. It won’t focus on just a few like Cole Watson, Tom Cermak, Marvin or even Dog the Bounty Hunter “ya kna wat I mean?” My story is about a rabble of Rogue River students- ridonculous in many ways… who moved beyond their cadywhompus, and bazinga behaviors into a supercalifragilisticexpialidocious level of existence. Their individual worlds had always been exceptional, but as a group of partying swamp buddies, they tended to be regarded as thugs.
They preferred a nine-year-old childhood where pretending to be a fox was a bodacious activity; Captain Crunch, Philly cheese and jellybeans were a more-than-reasonable breakfast to be masticated with delight, and wherein the lollipop flavors of Mike and Ike were a veritable cornucopia. They knew their habits were somewhat self-indulgent, and generally unhealthy, but the call of kumquats, sweet grapes and dictionaries went unheard.
Eventually they graduated, yelled “chyeah!” left their cuddlerainbowbluebrainbuddies behind, finally matured, became working citizens, educated students, hubbys, wifeys and eventually parents. They forgot games of Mermaids, Dragons and Unicorns and instead shopped for hammers, diapers and antiseptic while sipping on their chai teas. They laughed as they powdered babylegs and deciphered the babble of a 2 year old proclaiming, “nada near nada nada”… and one day they watched as their beautiful children became the teenagers they once were… they were proud of the hard won B- the son had earned in Spanish with his 81%, and they went to Ray’s Food Place to buy Frankenberries to celebrate. They remembered their own teen years and the solidarity that existed among their graduating class. They wondered when they’d stopped laughing at words like flibbertigibbet, mobbin’, charving and hillbilly. They grinned as they remembered torturing their sophomore English teacher during 7th period with a nice round of “hide the backpack from the guy in front of you.” And suddenly they realized they’d come full circle. As a group, they were difficult for their teachers to write speeches about, but as individuals they were amazingly terrific, and they’d found their place in the world.
No matter what, RRHS graduates of 2010, you all must know that your community, teachers, parents and friends believe in you because we are still here supporting you. Still here believing in you, and absolutely sure that you will each make lives we will all be proud of. So this speech will officially be the last assignment you do together. In writing it, I have found myself quite sentimental about your leaving… yes, believe it or not, you will be missed. Yes, you’ve made your mark on RRHS. Oh, and before I leave, there is one more word submitted I couldn’t figure how to fit in the speech… especially since it comes with movement… so…here goes…
Kamahameha!