St. Charles North High School

by Patty Dillon, Class President, Class of 2005
Sunday, May 29, 2005

Hello, my name is Patty Dillon, your Class of 2005 President and I would like to extend a big welcome to all the graduates and honored guests in attendance today. I would like to begin by offering some words to the Class of 2005 from the acclaimed storyteller, Dr. Seuss.

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself any direction you choose.
You're on your own.
And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.
It's opener there in the wide-open air.
Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you.
And when things start to happen, don't worry. Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.
Oh! The places you'll go!
You'll be on your way up!
You'll be seeing the sights!
You'll join the high fliers who soar to high heights.
You won't lag behind, because you'll have the speed.
You'll pass the whole gang and you'll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you'll be best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.
On and on you will hike.
And I know you'll hike far and face up to your problems whatever they are.
You'll get mixed up, of course, as you already know.
You'll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact.
And remember life is a great balancing act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot from your left.
And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and ¾ percent guaranteed!)

Now. success can be defined in many ways. For a freshman, success is making it to class without being trampled in the hall or being able to walk around knowing they're not in middle school anymore. For a sophomore, success is finally being able to make fun of freshman instead of being one and inching that much closer to upperclassmen status. For a junior, success is getting through the ACT, setting sites on college, and getting a taste of what it is like to be big man on campus. And finally for seniors. well, success for seniors is being able to say, "I'm outta here!" While some seniors certainly check out sooner than others. We will soon have our chance to define success for ourselves. We will have many paths to choose from, but whatever ever we choose, we must step up and give it our all.

I would like to leave you with Ralph Waldo Emerson's definition of success:
To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.

Class of 2005, it is our turn to succeed. Let's do it.