A6
Blue Mountain Eagle
Wednesday, June 10, 2020
Grant Union
Class Motto: “What lies behind us, and
what lies before us are small matters
compared to what lies within us.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson
“I wish it need not have happened in my
time,” said Frodo.
“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who
live to see such times. But that is not for them
to decide. All we have to decide is what to do
with the time that is given us.”
Some of you may recognize this quote from
Tolkien, and I cannot think of a more appropriate
quote to apply to the situation that we find
ourselves in. The good news is that we’ve done it.
We overcame, despite losing the back half of our
Drew Lusco
senior year. We did it. Now; my job for the next few
Valedictorian
minutes is to recap our last four years, entertain,
and leave you feeling inspired and ready for whatever comes next. I can’t
promise that I’ll do a fantastic job, or even an acceptable one. But, I’ll sure try.
First off, I must thank a few folks for their help along the way. Without
them, I wouldn’t be up giving this speech. I’d like to thank my friends, family,
coaches, teachers, church family and pastors, community, and of course my
wonderful girlfriend for supporting me, mentoring me, shaping me, and
helping me to achieve my goals. My mom deserves a special thanks; she fed,
clothed, and supported me. Offered advice when I needed it and help when
I was overwhelmed. Without the support of these individuals and groups, I
would not be the man I am today; or have accomplished any of the things I
take pride in. I cannot overstate the appreciation I feel towards my community
for the opportunities you have afforded me.
Speaking of appreciating my friends… Who here remembers the 2019
Science Club trip? I vividly remember Donavan falling off the top bunk and
smashing his chin on my pickup keys on our bedside table. When we all
panicked and thought our treehouse was going down? That was quite a night.
This is an excellent example of my first piece of advice: surround yourself with
smarter, kinder, and harder working people than yourself. Seek out people
who have qualities you wish you had. Spend as much time as you can around
them. You’ll find that these qualities are contagious and that “iron sharpens
iron”.
Although I’m proud to be valedictorian, I’m more proud to have been
involved with you guys in athletics, clubs, and in community service projects.
Our extracurricular activities have brought us closer together and undoubtedly
improved our relationships. We have formed friendships and relationships,
some of which will be lifelong. Not only have we had a blast doing these
activities, but we have become better men and women because of the caring
mentors we have had through participating.
This brings me to my next point: you truly can do anything you set your
mind to. In the 7th Grade I decided that being valedictorian was important
to me. I made it not only my goal, but my mandate. In my mind, anything less
than achieving my goal was failure. I used this as “fuel for the fire”. If studying
an extra half hour per night for one of Mr. Jones’s math tests would bump
me up a few points, I would do it. If Mr. Lusco gave us points for completing
our review, I would do it. I might wait until the last minute, but I would get it
done. I strove to apply myself to every assignment and pay attention in class.
It worked. I don’t tell you this to brag about myself. I tell you this because
I honestly believe that if you set a lofty, but attainable goal, that you can
achieve it if you strive for it earnestly.
A few examples of unfettered determination and raw perseverance come
to mind. I remember Frank almost breaking his own neck during a wrestling
match because he refused to get pinned. My fellow lineman throwing
themselves against bigger, stronger, and more experienced opponents for the
sake of the team. Teammates scrambling and fighting, refusing to slow their
feet down; taking hold hold of whatever they could find and struggling to make
a tackle. I remember classmates frustrated by a difficult assignment finding
a way to complete it. I remember us all trudging through Mr. Lusco’s class.
Diagramming sentences in Ms. Moore’s class. (That’s still my least favorite
thing, ever, by the way.) I can’t make a joke about Mrs. Smith. (She’s just too
nice.) I recall suffering greatly because of Ms. Dougarity-Spencer; torturing us
with “old people music”. The research papers, science projects, group work,
book reports, reviews, homework, and tests, tests, and even more tests.
I approach the end of my speech and have one thought I would like to leave
you with. Although we have worked hard and achieved much, this is simply the
beginning of the rest of our lives. The world we are about to enter, as adults
and decision-makers, faces significant challenges. Environmental issues,
political polarization, and growing economic difficulties will only worsen if our
generation does not tackle them head on. Let us not face these difficulties in
fear or with an attitude of apathy. Use your talents, gifts, and effort to help
in whatever you can manage. Most of us don’t have the solution to creating
cheap renewable electricity. I don’t know the answers to most of the questions
we, as a society, must decide the answers to. I don’t know what tomorrow
will bring or what the future holds. I do know that I can make an everyday
difference in my community, however. I know I can offer the homeless man
sitting outside the gas station a sandwich and bag of chips. I do know that I
can offer to mow my elderly neighbor’s lawn or split their firewood for them.
I know that I can stop on the highway and help change someone’s flat tire.
Buy a Christmas gift for a child who wouldn’t otherwise receive one. Offer my
shoulder for a friend to cry on.
Take heart in what you do know: everyday is an opportunity to serve your
fellow man. Everyday is an opportunity to better yourself mentally or physically.
Everyday is a gift, and we get to use it however we see fit. I only ask you to use
your days wisely: better yourself, help others, and have fun whenever possible.
Don’t accept mediocrity, and you won’t be caught in the trap of settling for
“good enough”. Everyone leaves a legacy. It is now time for us to ask what we
want our legacy to be.
As C.S. Lewis so accurately stated, “There are far, far better things ahead
than any we leave behind.”
Taylor Allen
Cinch Anderson
Tyler Blood
Fallen Bolman
Cody Bowden
Gage Brandon
Rylee Browning
Sam Buckhaults
Sierra Cates
Luke Claughton
Baylee Combs
Caleb Dilley
Frank Douglas
Samantha Floyd
Mason Gerry
Airron Glimpse
Nathan Hodge
Russell Hodge
Richard Horton
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