Somers High School Salutatorian Tells Classmates Not to be Afraid of Failure

Somers High School salutatorian Ruina Zhang reflects on what she calls Somers home and tells her fellow classmates not to be afraid of failure. Read her full speech here.
Good Afternoon Board of Education, Somers administrators, faculty and staff, friends and families, and class of 2013. Welcome. 

I have only been in this country for four years, but Somers High School and every one of you have given me so much: not only have I gained knowledge of the subjects I have studied here with our wonderful teachers, but I have learned many valuable life lessons as well. At times I know some of us questioned the need to attend classes, especially after APs – but gaining knowledge is not the only purpose of coming to school. 

Our school has offered us invaluable opportunities to develop social skills and to build life-lasting friendships. I have met the most amazing people here: I have friends who were willing to spend hours writing letters of recommendation for me; I have friends with whom I can share my deepest thoughts and wonders; I have friends who have supported and encouraged me. I know my experience is probably different from each of yours, but I am sure we will all miss Noah Brenner’s majestic voice greeting us on the announcements each day, and maybe even the masses of people that couldn’t get through the tiny door by the staircase next to the library.

Of course, there are things that we think we would not miss: the occasional early-morning fire drill when it’s raining or freezing cold outside; the times when we found out that the library was closed, again. We might not think we would miss them, but at this moment, what used to be our complaints are bitter-sweet. We are comfortable here. 

To quote Tom Hurson’s song, “Somers is our home.” Starting in September, many of us will leave home. We will have to learn to do our own laundry. We will have to go without our parents serving as our alarm clocks. We will have to go without our teachers reminding us to hand in that paper that was due a week ago. We will have to be responsible. Everything will be unfamiliar and scary. But we will go – no matter how much we love this place.

But don’t just go. Don’t rush through life. Don’t be afraid of failure. We will all fail at one thing or another, and that’s okay. It’s like learning to ice skate: we fall, and sometimes we sprain our ankles. But we get up and keep skating. If we don’t have the courage to stand up and try again, we’ll never learn how to ice skate. 

Well, this is when famous speakers might share lessons they've learned in their lives about failure. Unfortunately, I don't have any interesting life lessons to share with you bceause right now, at this moment, like most of my classmates, I'm just a kid! I don't even have a high school diploma in my hand. However, history shows us that even successful people have failed.

Walt Disney was fired by a newspaper editor because he “lacked imagination and had no good ideas.” Oprah Winfrey was fired from her first television reporting job because they told her she wasn’t fit to be on screen. Dr. Seuss’s first book was rejected by 27 different publishers. Had all those people stopped because they were afraid of failure, there would not be Disney World, a great talk show host and philanthropist, or “The Cat In The Hat!” Sometimes it is even liberating to have your worst fears realized because that way you will know that there is nothing that can stop you. So if you fall – and I can tell you with 100% confidence that you will in the future – gather your strength and stand up. Nobody can learn to skate without falling. 

And sometimes, when learning to skate, you might need a little help. I know I would not have been able to accomplish anything without my supporters. I would like to thank my family, teachers and friends for their love and support. Fellow classmates, don’t forget to thank your families and friends today. Many of us were typical teenage rebels once. But today is a new beginning. Listen to your teachers’ advice. Hug your friends and parents. Take lots of pictures. Make memories that you will cherish for the rest of your life. 

In the words of Conan O’Brien “Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen.” Thank you and congratulations, Class of 2013!