Final Speech

Dear Class of 2026, It still doesn’t feel real that we have a week left. Graduation always felt so far away. Back then being seniors felt like something only older kids were. But now we are sitting here getting ready to move onto the next chapter. Honestly, it feels like yesterday it was just me and my friends messing around in Walmart or Target for no reason, laughing at the lamest and dumbest things like we had all the time in the world. It felt like yesterday we were skipping school because we all got our licenses and thought driving around for no reason was the greatest thing ever. Back then, freedom was just licensing to loud music on the turnpike going to Old Orchard Beach on a random Tuesday because it’s 70 out and we were looking at a car off marketplace that we have no interest in buying. And for some reason it’s afternoons like those that will be turned into memories that I’ll talk about for the rest of my life. It feels like yesterday I was up late playing Xbox with Carter until 2:00 in the morning on a school night, saying “end on a win”, or “one more game” over and over again even though we both knew damn well we had to get up at 6:00am the next day. We cared more about winning a ranked game on Rocket League or getting a rare drop on Shindo life then getting some membean done. We thought nights like those would never end. But now I would give anything to go back in time to one of those nights where I was in an Xbox party or Minecraft world with everyone, laughing without a single care in the world. 

I still remember how nervous everybody was freshman year. Walking into Oak Hill high school felt huge back then. We acted confident but most of us felt terrified or nervous. Everyone was trying to fit in or make friends or even trying to find somewhere to sit at lunch. Even trying to find our classes and embarrassing ourselves in the process, I know everybody confidently walked into the wrong class before. Sophomore year wasn’t as bad, everyone was a little more situated but people were trying to figure out who they were. We were all growing up and we didn’t even realize it. And there was everybody’s “first”. First dance, first school sports event like a football or basketball game. First tryout or Heartbreak. First real friendship. Some kids didn’t go to tryouts because they were scared they wouldn’t make it. Some people didn’t go to a dance because they were nervous or didn’t have a date. But looking back those were the times that mattered most, not because they were good or perfect but because they helped us become who we are now. We spent years waiting for school to be over. We couldn’t wait to get our licenses, cars and become seniors and finally graduate. But now that we have a week left and it’s actually here, I think most of us wished time would take a chill pill and slow down.   

Truth is, none of us knew those would be the best days of our lives while we were living them. We thought we had more time. More dances. More basketball games. More random side quests with friends. More chances to say things we never got to. So before we leave this chapter of time behind I want to thank you all. Thanks for the laughs, the memories, the stupid decisions we all have made. Thank you for the last 4 years of my life. And even though it feels like it was yesterday we were just kids messing around whether it’s at Walmart, Target, Old Orchard Beach or even Mud Pond, we have to grow up. Some more than others *Carter. No matter what path we choose to go down next I hope we never lose the part of us that couldn’t stop laughing in the back of Mrs Finn’s class or Mrs Chicks freshman year. The part that stayed out to late and believed we had all the time in the world.

“Old Orchard Beach” by sarowen is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.