In Case You Missed It: James and David Wang's Valedictorian Speech from RHHS Graduation

J=James Wang

D=Davis Wang

J: Rocky Hill Class of TWENTY THIRTEEN...CAN I GET A “YEAH”??

D: Ladies and Gentlemen, it is an honor to stand before you on this wonderful occasion as the valedictorians of the Class of 2013.

D: On the day we first found out that we were both valedictorians...

J: -I was relieved. Finally, I was going to be recognized as the big deal that I know I am. To be honest, it’s hard being valedictorian. There is an endless list of the struggles that we have to endure day after day, like basking in never-ending glory and fame.

D: And dealing with the endless sea of adoring fans.

J: And catching the eye of every dern hot mama out there.

D: And all of this hardship is to blame on these individuals that have conspired to bring us here.

J: Mr. Almeida. Your endless support and devotion to our goals is the reason that every issue we encountered became manageable in the end.

D: Mrs. Russell, our guidance counselor...Why would you ever be so willing and eager to help us with our every question, problem, and need regarding school, classes, and colleges? 

J: And Mr. Graca, is it no wonder that we are so smart, attractive, and talented due to your outrageous mentorship and sacrifice on our behalf?

D: And to all the teachers who taught us: WHY’D YOU TEACH US SO WELL?

J: AND GIVE US SUCH HIGH GRADES??

D: It’s just not fair!

J: But perhaps, we cannot put the blame all on you.

D: Mom, Dad, you know what you’ve done.

J: We’re not sure if we’re ready to forgive you all yet

D: -but we’re ready to move on with our speech.

J: These last 4 years, have been a whirlwind of memories: good times, bad times, successes, failures, and dreams in the process of being achieved..

D: In our memory, there will be things that we love about Rocky Hill High School...and things that we won’t necessarily miss about Rocky Hill High School.

J: Here’s a list of pros and cons about various iconic features of Rocky Hill High School that we will all remember.

D: Cafe Study Halls

J: Pro: Work on group projects and study for classes together with your friends

D: Con: Not doing one thing he just said.

D: First week of school

J: Pro: Seeing all your friends again, and getting to further your education

D: Con: Being that teacher that has to pronounce the name “Shaharyar”

D: School Lunches

J: Pro: Succeeding in the the revolution against Michelle Obama’s ban on french fries

D: Con: Being late to lunch and having to furiously pump that ketchup dispenser.

D: Charles

J: Pro: Laughing while he headlocks kids in the hallway

D: Con: Realizing that YOU are THAT kid.

D: Public Speaking Class with Ms. A

J: Pro: Ms. A

D: Con: Public Speaking

D: Mr. Kotak

J: Pro: Listening to him offer funny insights about our generation

D: Con: Realizing that we’re actually being indirectly insulted

D: Unity Day

J: Pro: *silence*

D: Con: 

J: EVERYTHING!

D: Just Kidding ;).

J: Yes, we know that there are plenty MORE memories that we all share. 

D: And that's what's important: to never forget and carry these memories and experiences with us into the future. 

J: Grads get this every year, but take a look around you. Look at your classmates, your friends, your brothers and sisters. These are the people in the pictures that you will take tonight. For me, these are the people that, a few weeks from now, will be frozen in a moment of time and placed inside a frame that I will pack in my suitcase and carry with me to college. These are the people that will be on the pictures I place on my desk the first day I set foot in my new dorm.

D: And over time you guys will become part of the background scenery, as my new friends at college and my new responsibilities and my new life demand and consume my attention.

D: And I bet on some random night, as I sit at my desk doing a problem set or a project, I’ll notice the pictures in front of me, from a time that feels like too long ago. And I’ll see the people that, at one moment, this moment, meant everything to me. And hopefully at that moment they still will mean something to me. And I’ll briefly be reminded of things that I haven’t thought of in a long time.

J: And one day a new friend from college will walk into my dorm and ask me what’s going on and chat with me a little bit before he or she sees the pictures on my desk. And they’ll ask me, “Who are they?”

But what I actually hear is “What do these people mean to you? What do you remember about them?” And I’ll be caught for a moment because there are so many things that I could say, that I want to say, and that I know I shouldn’t say, but it’ll just be a loss of words. And I’ll just respond, “My best friends from high school” and that’ll be that.

D: Now take a look at these people around you. Look at your classmates, your friends, your brothers and sisters. And now your family and teachers and mentors surrounding you. Tonight everyone is here with you. They are living and breathing the same air as you are. Make every breath count. Make your words memorable. Make your smile unforgettable.

J: Live in this moment. There will never be another moment like this, surrounded by people that you’ve spent your entire childhood with, surrounded by your entire family, and surrounded by everyone who’s helped you get to where you are now. Live in this moment. Tonight is about you and the people who mean the most to you. Take some time to say “I love you” and “Thank you”. Live in this moment. Because, to be honest, after tonight, some of our lives will never align again. To most people  here, YOU will be spending the majority of the rest of your life living in their picture frame collecting dust. Make sure when their finger wipes off that dust, their hearts quicken and their eyes grow wider and a smile forms as a memory of who you were and what you meant and mean to them forms in their minds.

D: Live it up Class of 2013. Live it up to tonight, Live it up to yourselves, your achievements, your dreams, and your passions. 

J:Congratulations Class of 2013. Have a beautiful and safe night.

*hug*