If I Were In Your Shoes...

Every year at this time, we hear of all the “silly” stories of school administrators denying their students hard earned diplomas and trying to silence graduation speeches. I say silly stories not because they are of no importance but rather, they are silly on the part of the higher ups who penalize their students for things such as: families who yell out the graduate’s name, graduates blowing kisses to their families, or deleting parts of speeches or whole speeches that don’t conform to the ideas of the administrators. What gives?

I remember my 5th grade graduation. (Yes, in NY you get the whole cap and gown thing and ceremony, speeches, party, etc). I was the class salutatorian and prepared a speech. Of course, the teachers had to look it over to make sure it made sense. I chose to thank God, my parents, my teachers and the faculty. One teacher did not want me to mention the word God so she crossed it out and said I was to say “higher power” instead.

At 10 yrs old, I was confused as to why I couldn’t thank God when I was raised in a Christian home and always thanked God for EVERYTHING. My mom was upset about it and told me to say it as I always recognized God as God. I never used the term “higher power” and maybe the teacher thought that this term was less offensive. I didn’t understand because I was in an inner city public school filled with only minority students and knew they knew the word God. Hey, we said it everyday, when we had to say the Pledge of Allegiance….you know, “one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”

Anyway, graduation day came and I read my speech. I was given a chance to put my personality in it. I said the speech as I had originally written it. Once I got to the part where I mentioned God, I had to pause because the audience stood up and clapped. I didn’t expect that but it felt good, real good. So this was my first taste of being at odds with administrators at graduations, my graduation drama. (Check out my graduation speech below)

So as I hear of all these stories and all the graduation ceremony rules, it makes me sick. Here’s an example of some graduation rules I’ve seen on the web: “No cameras, silly string, beachballs, bubbles. Any disturbances to the ceremony will result in immediate removal and possible arrest.” So Boring!

It’s as if they want to exercise their last chance of control. Why can’t we have a little fun? My mom speaks of her HS graduation as the best and most fun ceremony she has been to. She graduated from one of the top 3 elite Math and Science High schools in NYC. To get in, you had to pass a test. Some people call that type of school, a “school for nerds”. But I guess they knew how to have fun. (Shout out to all BTHS alumni!)

She told me that all the graduates kept doing the “wave” throughout the ceremony and beachballs were passed around. The administrators laughed too and let them have fun and it didn’t take away from the importance of obtaining a high school diploma. The faculty realized that if they were in that type of school, that the students worked real hard so let their graduation be memorable. But now, she says the ceremonies are lacking (boring…zzzzz). It annoys me too because graduation ceremonies should be fun and exciting. Sometimes I think the administrators forgot how to be young and enjoy each stage of life.

Anyway, this was my 5th grade salutatorian speech:

“Good Morning (name of principal and Asst. Principal), graduates, parents, teachers, faculty, and friends. Thank You for coming to our graduation ceremony. I am grateful to stand before you and give this speech to the great Class of 200_.

I know that I could not stand here as your salutatorian, if it were not for the help of God, my family, my teachers, and my mom and dad for raising me with the values to love, honor, and respect myself and others as well as to work hard to reach this goal. I want to thank my teachers and all of the staff who have helped me when I needed an extra push. Thank you, my friends, for laughing at my jokes, encouraging me to be myself and giving me fun memories through out the 176 days, 1144 hours, or 68,640 minutes of fifth grade.

We are about to start a new part in our lives. At first it may be scary, but know that we have it in us to succeed. We have come this far so let’s give ourselves a pat on the back. We deserve it.

My classmates, I will miss you all. Let us work hard to be the leaders of tomorrow. When you reach your goals and fulfill your dreams, remember where you came from. (Name of school) will always be our school. Remember also that life can be like a game of cards. It doesn’t matter what cards you were given; it’s how you play them. As Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

I now leave you with the words spoken by Ghandi: “We must become the change we want to see.”

Congratulations Class of 200_!”