Mark's Salutatorian Speech - Delivered at the G-AHS Class of '95 Graduation Ceremory

This is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.

Though these words were spoken by Sir Winston Churchill as a rallying cry for a country at war over fifty years ago, these words hold no less meaning for us at this commencement. This ceremony does not mark the end of our education, just the end of our public education. No matter the path we choose to take from this point on, we will never stop learning. For some, the path will be continued formal education in college or a technical school, and for others it will be a place in America's work force. But no matter the path we choose, no matter where we leave our footprints in time, we will never, ever stop learning. We will, through the course of time, meet new people with new experiences to relate to us, with new skills from which we can learn, with new qualities we have never seen before, and with talents which we can try to adapt to our own lives. But life will not be merely a process of emulating the people we have met. We will have the unique opportunity to lend our own special experiences, and skills, and talents to the rest of the world. We will take our symbiotic position in society, that as the dual teacher-student. We will teach others what we have learned. We will help them to see that there is always another point of view to any issue. But they will, in turn, help to open our eyes to the realm of countless possibilities.

The years to come will be very challenging. We will no longer take aptitude tests to compare us with other countries. Now is the time to take what we have learned and transfer it into the work we will do. And if we all work up to the ability we have shown thus far, our country will prosper in the years to come.

I strongly urge you all not to lose any of your intellectual curiosity. Do not stop reading because a book or story was not assigned. Do not hesitate to start an intellectual discussion with someone who may appreciate it. Do not stop analyzing things you see and hear because they do not seem to have a real purpose. If you stop thinking, and if you stop trying to gain knowledge you will be no better off, in fact you will probably be worse off, than you are this evening. Make these past thirteen years a gateway to unbridled achievement, a path to glory, not an obstacle to get around, This evening is simply a turning point in your life, so make the most of it.

As you sit here this evening, you cannot help but see that this evening is a very special one. You can see that this evening is very special to the Class of '95, their families, and their peers. For some, this has shown itself in tears. For others, it has been a slight shrug of the shoulders. For most, the reaction has been between these two extremes. But tonight, I ask of all of you, not to be sad, but to be extremely happy. Do not be sorrowful because there are people you will not see again for a long time, for this is a time to celebrate. This is not a termination, this is commencement, a beginning to our lives as adults in society. This is a time to be with our friends and family, and a time for silent introspection. Be proud of what you have accomplished and be proud of what you will accomplish.

But before we go out into the real world, it is first necessary to thank those who have gotten us to where we are now. I would like to give a huge thank you to my mom and my dad and my siblings, Matthew and Diana, who have helped me through school and life. Though there have been countless times when I have not shown them the proper respect, they are always very close to my heart. I would also like to thank Mr. Herman for all the help he has given me as a principal, as a mentor, and as a friend, and would like to applaud the wonderful job he has done as principal this year. I would also like to give thanks from the entire Class of '95 to our underappreciated guidance office, comprised of Mrs. Wolfe, Mr. Dracz, and Mrs. Hykes, and I would personally like to thank the three of them for helping me to achieve my longtime dream of going on to an Ivy League school.

I would like to leave you with another quote, this one from President Abraham Lincoln:

It is difficult to make a man miserable while he feels he is worthy of himself and claims kindred to the great God who made him.

Thank you and God bless