Schools

Avon Class of 2012 President's Speech: Jenna Donahue

Read her speech and tell us in the comments what you're most looking forward to now that graduation's over.

Class of 2012 president Jenna Donahue had the final words at graduation before the graduates moved the tassels on on their caps from left to right and tossed their caps in the air.

Here is the transcript of her speech:

I would just like to say what an honor it is to be the last Avon High School student to deliver a commencement speech before we are all consumed by the Mayan Apocalypse of 2012.

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But still, it’s a strange place to be at this podium.  At commencement ceremonies, people have a nasty habit of looking to where I stand for great inspiration, and in the midst of all the graduation nostalgia, it is easy to forget that using a microphone does not make me any wiser- only louder.  While I am being heard by all and videotaped by many, I am no more qualified than the next classmate to deliver a deep and meaningful speech.  So I cannot tell you the many things that I do know, but I can share with you the things that I believe:

 First, I believe that the world is not as ugly as it sounds.  There is undue pressure put upon graduating classes that they need to go forth into society and fix it completely.   We are led to think that we’re being sent off into a sick and tired planet earth, full of chaos and disaster, on the brink of destruction, and we are supposed to roll up our sleeves like an old WWII poster and clean up the mess.  But while we do owe a service to the world, I believe in a brighter outlook .

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The world is not ugly, or broken.  It is just much older than us, and has aged accordingly.  I believe that many of the parents and teachers in the audience can sympathize with that.  And the world is not in particularly poor shape either.  Statistically, we live in the most peaceful generation in recent history, with political conflicts that end in violence at an all time low, and human liberties constantly expanding.

The air over many urban centers and the waters in our oceans are cleaner than they’ve been in over a century.  AIDS and other malignancies are no longer the death sentence they once were, and new efforts to better our surroundings are popping up everyday with exponential frequency.

Yes, the times are changing, and as always, we will adapt as we need to.  In our parents time a text was just a 3 lb book with giant glossaries. A tweet was a snack Elmer Fudd gave his dog.  I believe that with every new advancement comes a new opportunity to leave the world more beautiful then the way we found it.   

It is easy to be scared by the horrors of the daily news, but I believe that it is our job to seek the good of it all- the good that will always exist amidst opposition.  In every doubt we seek hope, in every loss we seek a lesson, for every plankton we seek a Spongebob, and for every away game in Suffeild, we seek the victorious road back to Avon.  The challenges are endless and sometimes the cause seems hopeless, but I believe that we are winning, and I believe that we will win.  Not in a Charlie Sheen strung out kind of winning but in a “roll up your sleeves lets get busy kind of win”.

Which brings me to my unwavering faith in you, class of 2012.  As a class we HAVE made a difference.  By   responding, reacting, preventing , and changing for the better. —whether it is with a sponsorship of an orphanage in India, Rock Concerts to benefit Japan and many other organizations,  tutoring in the city, organizing games under the lights to help Kick Out Cancer,  participating in a road race in honor of a past student or in a soccer fundraiser for a present one.  We have made a difference.  We have survived Albert and Irene, Humanties and SMPs.  We have seen awards in robotics and great success in drama and the arts.  We have had State Championships  in tennis and in Girls Soccer.  Collectively and individually, our preseance has been made known.

Each of you holds something that is unique to your skill set and potential, and- like it or not- your time at this High School has fostered that something in a way that is uniquely Avon- uniquely home.  It may not be obvious today, but our family and friends are who we are.  In thirty years you may realize that you have developed great organizational skills and you might say “that’s from my mom” and some day you may find your self inhaling ribs like Homer Simpson and misusing teenage expressions and you might say “that’s from my dad”. Thirty years from now we may find ourselves quoting a favorite teacher, or reminiscing about the beautiful aroma of our fabreeze scented hallways on our last day of classes. Or maybe you’ll even be telling a friend about a packed gymnasium basketball game,  a busted house party, or a little hole in the wall donut shop called Luke’s, and you will remember what this town has meant to you. 

I’m not sure what exactly I’ll be saying in thirty years, but since I’ve shared with you the things that I believe, I think I’ll end with something familiar to all of my classmates.  It’s a simple cheer with a simple format, and it goes like this:

I believe… I believe the world is not as ugly as it sounds.

I believe that… I believe that Avon has been our home, our launch pad

I believe that we… I believe that we have the tools necessary to leave our mark

And Finally,

I believe that we will win, I believe that we will win.


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