Keystone Oaks Valedictorian Speech

Kestone Oaks valedictorian Arun Muthiah's graduation speech:

Good evening school board members, administration, faculty, parents, families, friends, and members of the Class of 2011. It is an honor to stand before all of you today and represent my classmates. But tonight isn’t my night to shine. Every graduate present here is deserving of the utmost recognition and I would like to congratulate them on reaching this milestone. This is a moment that we have eagerly looked forward to since we were children and will fondly remember as we grow older.

We have all made it through high school. Every single one of us. It certainly hasn’t been an easy ride, but we will carry forward many experiences and hopefully remember those that will leave us with a smile time and time again. Who could forget our own Mr. Hagy mispronouncing so many of our names? Or the football team’s dramatic upset of Greensburg Central Catholic in the first round of WPIALS? How about the summer days where we simply had our friends, rather than air conditioning, to give us comfort?

Isn’t it ironic that we remember all these trivial instances but forget how much each of us has actually changed. Remember our freshman year. Many of us walked into the school intimidated by its size, the teachers, and the upperclassmen. We wondered how we would fit in the social scene. We worried about how we would manage the academic life. But as we have grown a little larger in confidence and heart, and the school a little smaller in intimidation, we encountered more questions. Where will I be next year? Will I see my friends this summer? Will I even make new friends?

Now look at the Class of 2011. Most of us are headed to a university or college, while others are entering the workforce or the armed forces. At a point where our futures seem so certain, we must ask ourselves, “What do we do now?” Our futures depend on us, now more than ever. We are no longer children. We must consider every decision and action we make, and the repercussions and rewards that will surely follow. It is almost as if until now, we had no control over our lives. We could steadily lean on our parents, who apparently knew what was best. We could trust teachers to keep us at least partially engaged with academics. But now we must support ourselves, and I have faith that we will meet this new challenge with the same vigor and enthusiasm, because I have spent 4 years with all of you. I have seen each person simply scratch the surface of his or her potential and know that there are no better people to face what the future holds. We are in safe hands.

I must briefly take a moment to thank my family and friends for helping me become the man I am today. Thank you. To my fellow classmates, I would like to leave you with these few thoughts. We have all come from different walks of life, we all have our own stories to tell, and after today, we will all embark on our distinctive paths. But we must always remember that nothing is ever handed to us. We must proudly earn each accomplishment with dedication, passion, and effort. Do not become discouraged, do not let your fears hold you back, and never let your dreams slip away. James Dean once said, “Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today.” Let us not wait until tomorrow for what we can accomplish today. Whatever we desire to be, whether it be a doctor, teacher, or director, let us pursue these aspirations wholeheartedly. Let us not idly stand by, dreaming of these things, but make them realities. But in our adventures, we should never forget to maintain the curiosity of a child and embrace opportunities that will challenge our beliefs. Let us provide the smile, the encouraging word, or the vision that can inspire another man to be as great as I know we all will be.

As we close this chapter and continue to script each page of our life, let us never forget the bonds we’ve shared and the memories we’ve made. Let us always remember the role that Keystone Oaks, the small school of big dreams, has played in laying a foundation for our ambitions. Congratulations once again, and I wish each of you health, fortitude, and happiness in the future. Thank you.