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Rachel Secrest

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Graduation Speech

Former Rankin Student's Words to the Graduates

           I would first like to say congratulations to all of you. A friend of mine sent me this e-mail once about the steps in life; I thought it was kind of cute, but yet very true. I would like to share it with you in a summary I came up with. The article said that all our lives we are trying to work up to something. In kindergarten to about 3^rd we want to be part of the junior high. Then we get there and we start at the bottom again. But then we make it to the top of the chain and are 8^th graders! Next high school back to the bottom, after years of hard work, were seniors WOO HOO! We are on top of the world; until we go to college, guess what were at the bottom. So then we are trying to figure out our lives and work our way back to the top, and then we do. Senior in college pretty impressive you can look back and say, I did it. But wait, time to be on your own, so you get a job at a business but you’re new so you are officially the gopher. You are responsible for every coffee, cappuccino, or any luxury of anyone of a higher stature. Finally you are the CEO of your company and are living the good life. You have kids they have grandkids and then you retire. After a life full of working up to things, this is the last thing you could have worked for and you are back down to the bottom. But you can live a relaxed life fishing and spoiling your grandkids. But if you still want to work up to something you could always work hard to be the local bingo champion. High school is the next scary step in growing up. However high school is nothing to be afraid of. In fact after the first two or three days you will be tired of walking the same old way to class. By week two you’ll want a new school to find your way around. High school offers so many different activities. There is something for everyone’s individual interests. With all of these activities there are also many classes to choose from. Try everything that interests you in anyway at all. If you try everything and you decide some are not right for you, you still have other activities to fall back on. You may start off in one area, and end up in something you never would have thought of. My freshman year I thought volleyball and basketball were everything to me. I played both of these sports for two years, and I loved it. There were a lot of ups and down with coaches, but I stuck with it. The end of my sophomore I mustered up the courage to try out for Pekin show choir. I had never tried out because I was too scared and in my 8^th grade year a lady told me it was very hard to make, and only the best made it. Knowing that, I just never tried out. Anyway I ended up making the girls show choir and only a little later that year I was moved up to the Pekin Noteables. In sports nothing that good had ever happened. Its not that I wasn’t good at those particular activities, but there were better things out there. Keep your options open to explore and achieve your potential and goals. Basically I should have not listened to what somebody had told me, I should have gone for it. Never follow what limits other people set on you. Be your self and do what you feel is the best for you and never set any limits. Try things, find what you are good at and go for it. Everyone definitely has something they are good at. We are all very different; so don’t be like everyone else. Now I am sure everyone has heard this, but your high school day’s fly by and these are the best days of your lives. If you haven’t heard this then you should consider yourself lucky, because I have heard it from my parents a 100 times. But it is so true parents truly do know what they are talking about, sometimes. I seriously remember my first day freshman year sitting in first hour thinking, “this will never end.” But now I stand here thinking I graduate in 3 days, where has the time gone? It literally will fly by and be over before you know it. If you do want high school to fly bye, get involved, it will consume time and before you know you’ll be receiving your diploma.  These really are the best days of your lives. Just think in 9 years or so you’ll be on your own, working for your own money, to support your own life. Sadly there will be no more mommy and daddy to support you. It is really kind of scary to think of, they won’t be there anymore and you will have to work for yourself. Supporting yourself doesn’t even sound right. That’s why you should do all you can to receive a good education.  At the rate we are going in ten years you’ll need a bachelor’s degree in food service and management, just to work at the local fast food restaurant. You can’t get a job anywhere these days without a degree. Focus on the things that count, don’t get caught up in high school drama. Believe me drama in high school is ridiculous you would think we were all kindergartners. Don’t do things that can get you in trouble, hurt, or put your life in jeopardy. As many of you may know Pekin high and our community have suffered very much this year. We have lost so many we loved and cared about. This caused much pain and grief on the families and everyone that’s surrounded them. The very sad part of it is that they weren’t doing something to jeopardize their life. Accidents happen unexpectedly, most of the time way to unexpected. Don’t add any reasons for you to get into an accident. One of Andrew Ford’s favorite quotes was, "Failures and setbacks occur all the time. Each one of us deals with adversity differently. The swing of our lives from good to bad and back again is as inevitable as changes in the weather. But in the ways we deal with these changes, we define ourselves.” Don’t provoke something that could be prevented in the first place, you are all very special and should all have a complete chance at life. I’m going to let you in on a little secret; it truly isn’t cool to drink in high school. I know you have all gone through dare and heard all of this, but this a topic that cannot be stressed enough. People don’t pressure you as much as you might expect. I was very scared to be pressured in high school, but not once did anyone; make me feel like I needed too drink or anything to fit in. Surround yourself with friends that truly care about you. There is so much out there to be had, don’t ruin it in high school to fit in. If a friend pressures you, then they are not truly your friends. It is your life not theirs, decide for yourself. Girls and guys don’t get wrapped up in relationships. It is nice to have them, but never let them affect you in the long run. Just go with the flow, have friends to hang out with, don’t let anyone bring you down, because they are obviously not worth it. I wish, could stress that statement as much as possible. Believe me never let anyone bring you down; especially girls you have your life you live it. Don’t limit yourself because you never know how far you can make it. Before you know it you’ll be walking up to receive you high school diploma. You will be starting that new journey in your life trying to yet again make your way to the top. Don’t limit yourself, set your goals high and don’t stop until you achieve them. Above all live your life; don’t let someone else control your destiny. To end this I want to leave you with two of my favorite quotes, “Shoot for the moon because even if you miss you will land among the stars.” Finally to summarize this speech “never settle for anything less than the best.” Thank you

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