Good afternoon. We are gathered today as one, a whole. Looking around this arena, everyone is a friendly face. Our community has always been Crestwood’s pride. Before I begin, I want to recognize our teachers, counselors, administrators, and parents who have given more than any of us could imagine so that we could succeed. I want to acknowledge my fellow class officers.
The work they have put into our class is greater than I could state in a five-minute speech. More impressively, they put up with me for the last three years which is no easy task. I want to address all of my friends for their comfort and support. Finally, I want to thank my classmates.
Representing all of you is by far the greatest honor of my high school years.
Freshman year was about discovering who we were as people. We were presented with our first glimpse of freedom and choice. For the first time ever, adults didn’t closely watch every step we took. Many of our friendships were tested and ultimately strengthened. Memories solidified our loyalty to each other and ourselves.
In sophomore year, our classes began to split. Lobsters were in the bathroom. The S&P had dropped 1000 points in less than two weeks. March 13th marked the last day of normalcy in our lives. With so much going on, I would be lying to you if I told you I wasn’t scared. Through this uncertainty is born courage. As a community, we helped build each other up. For some it was something as simple as FaceTime, for me it was obnoxiously screaming into my Xbox Mic with my friends every night. It’s amazing to see at the world’s lowest moments, Crestwood was at its strongest.
Junior year was my most cherished year. For the first time in history, school was held online.
The significance of this is still not fully realized today… online school marked the official end of snow days as we know it. On a more serious note, A year without social interaction is not easy for anyone, but I think that there is a positive to everything. Online school allowed us to explore passions not taught in a high school textbook. Because of this, We are the most talented class in Crestwood’s history. Amongst us are singers, dancers, programmers, athletes, and polyglots, which I learned in marketing means a speaker of many languages. If junior year taught me anything other than Calculus is hard, it is that our strength comes from our differences.
Senior year was the happy ending that we all wanted. We all struggled. We all fought. But in the end, we found ourselves right where we belong. We conquered the pep rally, put on the best musical I’ve ever seen, and watched our athletic teams wipe the floor with their competition. In this very place, 3 years ago, Pat Rother described their class as a dynasty. I think we are also deserving of this title. In four years, we have won 3 boys soccer districts, a football district, a basketball district, 2 girls and boys lacrosse districts, 2 field hockey districts, and countless individual medals by many of our athletes.
Graduating high school is more than taking a step into the unknown. It is about remembering what we are stepping away from. For the last four years, this is all many of us know. It may be hard for many of us. I think that is a good thing. Nothing great is ever easy to step away from.
The memories we have created, the goals we have accomplished, and the obstacles we have overcome are engraved in who we are.
