St. Charles North High School

by Laura Holm, Valedictorian
Sunday, May 29, 2005

As I thought about what to say up here today in front of a million people, I tried to incorporate some clever phrases and attention getters in an effort not to bore you all; but the more I tried to sound exciting, the more contrived and meaningless my words became. This reminded me that this speech has nothing to do with me entertaining you guys, but about us celebrating together this truly awesome accomplishment called high school graduation.

To me, the most moving aspect of this day is the fact that we are all here together at once. We have shared four years of our lives in St. Charles North High School, learning with the dedicated staff and each other not only how to make x equal 2, but - perhaps more importantly- how to use our specific talents and personalities to accomplish our academic and personal goals, and to create life-long friendships and memories. In 5, 10, or 60 years we may not remember the sit-in or what grade we got on the history final, but we will remember each other - and not just our best friends, either. You may remember that girl who smiled at you once in the hall, or the guy who somehow managed to turn an algebra lesson into a political debate. Whether we realize it or not, we have all been weaving a thread in the web of each others' memories. That thread is what draws us - and will keep us - together. So when we start to get old and forget where we left our keys, we can take comfort in the fact that we will at least still have the high school cobwebs in our heads.

I hope today that you are proud - of yourself and of this class as a whole. We have so many unique people here that have made this school an eclectic mixture of beliefs and personalities. Sure, a lot of us may dress alike or even do our hair the same, but when you search for the thing that matters most, the core of a person, anyone can find that each of us is distinct. It is great to go to a place every weekday and interact with all kinds of people: funny kids, intellectual kids, wild kids, creative kids.and who can forget those fantastic teachers who could make counting sheep an electrifying experience?

Today, we gather all of our attributes into this one gymnasium. Today, we are distinguishing ourselves as the Class of 2005. We have left photos on the wall, paintings in the hallways, and numbers in the record books.but most importantly, we have left a spirit and vivaciousness that cannot be forgotten. I know we are all ready to conquer life and make the most of any opportunities or challenges that come our way. So let's pause for this collision of the past and future, and enjoy our last day together. Thank you all so much for the lifelong memories. And so, Class of 2005, congratulations!

For questions, comments or suggestions, please contact Todd Hewell