Salutatorian Speech

I was named Salutatorian my senior year of high school, which means I was second runner up for Valedictorian.  Both the Saltutatorian and Valedictorian give speeches during graduation.  This was my speech for the class of 2010.

Most of us have known each other since elementary school.  We have shared our victories and our losses with each other as well as our tears and our laughter.   We have discovered strengths we never knew we possessed.  Our many different talents emerged and flourished.  As our time here at Auburn ends, remember all of the precious good times we have had here.  Whether your fond memories are of band, sports, art, academics, choir, or another activity, remember what you learned and how they made you feel.  Remember the difficult times too, because both good and bad experiences have helped shape us into the young men and women we are today.  It is important to hold on to these precious memories and friendships, but it is also important that we now look to the future.  We will make new friends and new memories, but hopefully we can still manage to hold on to old ones.  As we graduate and go off to college or straight into a career, we need to remember to shine every day and show the world what we can do.  There is no one in this room who is not talented.  There is no reason that we cannot do exactly what it is that we want to do with our lives.  So dare to dream big, because if we have courage and determination, our dreams can become realities.  Go out into the world and don’t dare hold back your amazing gifts.  Show everyone how special you really are.  And, as Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.”  Thank you.