Valedictorian Speech from Jessica Margetts, Chemainus Secondary School

Good evening ladies and gentlemen, firstly I would like you all to know that I would appreciate nothing less than a standing ovation after everything I say in this speech, although quiet admiration is also acceptable… I can see you’re all leaning towards the second option. Thank you for supporting us on this very exciting night. A huge thank you to our dedicated teachers for everything they’ve had to put up with from us, from trying to catch us texting in class to trying to get us to class. To our parents, another thank you is in order for everything that you have taught us and all of the late nights and early mornings over the years. And of course to my fellow classmates, for all of their “academic” support and extreme dedication to their schoolwork throughout their high school experience. Your dedication should be commended. So congrats!! Life is all about waiting for good things to happen; we’ve waited five years to get here, and we all have to wait five more minutes for me to finish this speech.

Tonight is a night of yesterdays and tomorrows, of memories and plans, and of accomplishments and dreams. From now on the many mistakes we are sure to make will be entirely on us. If we end up eating rice for a week we will have no one to blame but our passion for new sound systems. Lots to look forward to. Truthfully, though, this step in our lives represents a time of chances. What I wish for everyone sitting in front of you more than anything are chances. Chances to forget to pay the rent, chances to be fired, and chances to get to go to school for another five years. Again, lots to look forward to. We know that there are no guarantees in life, but we don’t need any guarantees. What we need are the chances to fulfill our dreams, whether they be to become an R.C.M.P or to be chased by the R.C.M.P.

Once we have been given the chance, the rest is up to our talent, perseverance, and most likely the lending of money from parents. My own experience in high school had taught me that the most important lesson that you can learn is to laugh at yourself. Although it was more necessary than anything to learn that skill after I had fallen both up and down the hallway stairs, dropped the same sandwich on the floor twice, and turned the shade of those red mats on the gym walls at least once a day. That is the best advice I can give, to try and laugh at the mistakes you are sure to make, because, guaranteed, everyone else will.

Chemainus Secondary School has provided us with a common link; each link helps to form a solid chain composed of laughter and tears, the good times, and the bad. And, although high school has not been all Tim Horton’s runs, it has provided us with lessons that cannot be taught anywhere but in the snow-globe like world of high school. Tonight, however, that snow-globe is about to be shaken up, and instead of looking out into the world we will get to live in its reality.

Changes in all of us have occurred over the past five years and we have grown from those tiny awkward, eighth graders who used to stand in the middle of the hall, to taller, and in my case even more awkward, grade twelve’s who now like to stand in the middle of the parking lot.

Change is what we are all up against now. But I hope that whenever we come together again that the change in you all will only be that you have more happy memories to share and more dreams fulfilled, and let’s hope we do not lose our Stanfield- and- red -strap -wearing ways.

As I tried to write this speech I went to many websites looking for amazing words of wisdom…. and what I came across were quotes such as the much used “These are the best years of your life.” I hope that that is not true. I hope that the rest of your years keep getting better and better, that we don’t forget this place or the bonds we made here. High school is like a scar…..it was a real pain to get through but in the end you’re left with memories and a ruthless story. Since Grade Eight we have experienced exams, snow days, bomb threats, boy troubles, girl troubles, law trouble and it has all been one wild experience. You are only limited in life by your ability to soar above other’s expectations of you. Never let anyone tell you “no, you can’t”, “that’s not allowed” or “you’d be better not to”…unless of course they’re wearing a uniform, in which case you might actually be better off listening. When trying to write this speech I also tried to think of some profound and awe-inspiring metaphor to sum up high school, one that would make everyone gasp in awe at my brilliance. If you’re wondering…that part hasn’t come yet.

What I realized was, was that this day is not so much about clever sayings, it is about the amazing people in front of you who are ready to pursue their places in the world. The talent in the grad class of 2009 is widespread, from the auto shop to the computer lab, from the soccer and rugby field to the band room, from the cars precisely parked in the student parking lot and all the way to the art room. It is hard to imagine not coming back here in the fall, not seeing everyone everyday, but it is time to move on and spread our ideas and talent outside of Chemainus Secondary. The challenges we now face through the changes that are occurring, and the chances that we will receive, will only make the lives we are about to lead, what they should be: crazy and wonderful. Here is to all the good times of yesterday, and what I hope are the better times of tomorrow. Congratulations class of 2009! We did it! Thank you.