Nothing Is “Perfect”

Good evening, friends, family, loved ones, teachers, and most importantly, the graduating class. 

For all my high school years, I thought that being the “perfect” student meant 4’s in every class, perfect attendance, neat notes, and someone who knows exactly what they want following high school. My goal when I came into high school was to have a 4’s in all of my classes. I thought that having “perfect” grades instead of just passing was something to be proud of because not everyone chose to, and it stood out when you did. I thought that in order for me to be successful, I had to have everything laid out, and grades top tier. But later found out that, to be successful, you don’t need all of that.

During my freshman and sophomore years of high school, I was a “4” student, and I pushed myself to many edges. I was so into getting “4’s” that through those years, I received one “3” on my first assignment, and I was devastated. It was the last semester of Latin 1, and I didn’t add an “s” to the level “4” work after trying twice. That little mistake stayed with me for a while, and I was upset. Every assignment that I submitted had to be perfect, with no flaws or mistakes, and I never forgot to turn it in before the due date at 11:59 pm. I thought that to be successful meant to never fall behind or struggle. 

This year, I graduated early, and although my family and I are beyond proud, I learned many things through this year, some being that your worth is not measured by a GPA, class rank, or how “perfect” you may seem. Getting out of the mindset that I needed to be “perfect” was more difficult than not, and started some disagreements throughout my household. This process was messy, and it took courage to ask for help, to take a different path, and to realize that one cannot carry everything at once; you need to have balance. 

We have all been aware of comparing ourselves to others, whether it be our grades, plans, or accomplishments. We are all sitting in this room today, not knowing what the person next to you has gone through. Every single one of us has taken different paths to get here tonight, and that’s what makes this accomplishment most meaningful. 

Perfection is impossible. The truth is, no one has their life laid out in front of them by 17, 18, or even 20; sometimes, you’re even 30 before you actually figure out some path to try to stay on, and that is more than okay. The truth is, no path is the same, nor will we ever actually stay only on one; what matters is what you do when you hit a wall, push too close to an edge, or run off the path. Being resilient, honest, open, and you is all you can do; you can’t do better than your best. 

As we graduate today, whether you’re going into the workforce, college, the military, or are still unsure, remember that it is okay to not know, it is okay to struggle, and it is okay to not be “perfect.” Get back up and keep moving forward. The more you get up, the stronger you move.

To the class of 2026, we made it, not perfectly, not flawlessly, but determined, completed, and proud.

“Different paths” by dankueck is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.