Commencement

So, as it turns out, this blog post will have nothing to do with running. Sorry. I am already slacking... However, I am a first year teacher and I was chosen to speak at graduation for my first ever graduating class - take a gander:

 

 

Class of 2013,

 
 

My name is Rachel Raine, I taught English to many of you at Mount Tahoma High School, and I have been selected by you, the senior class, to be teacher of the year. No one told me until two days ago that honor came with a speaking position. So, thanks for that.

For those of you who want to instagram a picture of me talking, I look best with the rise filter, and make sure you catch me on my good side. For those of you who still don’t know who I am and think I am a student, I am now starting to think I might be as well… Mr. Cooper gave me a tardy pass on my way in. (wait)

Before I begin my semi-long, semi-rehearsed, and moderately-boring ‘words of wisdom’ speech, I want you to complete one last assignment for me. Please stand up, turn around, and face those people behind you. (wait)

Everyone in the stands today has played a crucial role in your success, whether you believe it or not. Please acknowledge the importance of your friends, family, guardians, and neighbors. Give them a round of applause, and then a hug after the ceremony, and maybe buy them a house one day. They deserve it. (wait)

Please be seated.

Without those people backing you up, you wouldn’t be sitting here today. And that is something I know for sure. You see, I was in your seat, literally, right in that 3^rd row, on the left, “hey Anna, that was my seat”, 5 years ago. I listened to people talk about chasing dreams and catching stars. I sat here while someone way older than me told me I could be anything I wanted.

 That was all good, I liked it. I honestly thought I wanted to hear that. My confidence, along with my ego, was blown up. I remember thinking, I am THE Rachel Raine, class of 2008, and I am the coolest, smartest, most perfect human there is.

 But you see, tomorrow will come. You meet people who know nothing about you. These people won’t care what you wore to prom, whether or not you were wearing the new Jordans, what ASAP Rocky song was blaring through your beats headphones, or who you dated. Now is your chance to start from scratch. I’m truly sorry if you actually thought my vocab quiz last week, that tardy pass you ‘lost’, or the drama in the hallways was important – because it wasn’t. What’s important is that you take your diploma and begin now.

I challenge you to start fresh; to begin to learn things about yourself and others through a new pair of glasses.

We all shared in some good times at Mount Tahoma – we had T-bird day and dances. We laughed a lot. We shared with each other some of our fears and made plans to conquer those.

But not everything was peachy. High school sucked some days, am I right? Raise your hand if you were ever hurt, if you were ever suspended, if you ever did something you regret. Raise your hand if you ever weren’t happy with a grade, if you said something you didn’t mean, or if you cheated on a reading comprehension test for Things Fall Apart… 5^th period, that one’s for you.

After today, no one will know any of that. You have a chance of a lifetime knocking on the door.

After today, I challenge you to be a person your parents would be proud to see. I challenge you to branch out, to meet new friends, to start a new hobby, to fall in love, to travel, to see things, to get more education. But most of all I challenge you to challenge yourself – because success doesn’t come to those who wait, success comes to those who never give up on themselves.

When I came here in January, all of you challenged me to be a better person, a better mentor, and a better teacher. All of you lit a fire inside of me. And I hope by now there is a fire burning inside of you – symbolizing a challenge – waiting to be met.

 Thank you for not texting too much throughout this and congratulations on a job well done. Class of 2013, you actually did this!

Cheers, runners. Time to grab the shoes and challenge yourself. I will if you do.