Speech #1 Hello Everyone, for those who don t know me I am. It is a great privilege for me to be standing here in front of you, on behalf of the class of 2016, to express the happiness that we feel in our hearts today. They say, People only remember the first and forget the rest but I believe that all these years have been a journey and we will take many of those memories with us. We do not need an award or a medal just to prove that we have something special within us. We are all blessed with talents, worth congratulating, and this is what this day is all about. How many times have we imagined what this day would be like? I have to say, I have thought about this day so many times but not even the best of my imagined scenes could compare to the real scene I am greeted with right now. Now that we have passed the challenges of middle school, it s time for us to move on to a bigger fight high school. The lessons we have learned in our classes will surely help us get through what is next stage, but we also need to remember that all those formulas, equations, poems everything we have memorized are not the only things that will help us through. We also need to retain the things we have learned other than just the academics. Gaining the courage to stand in front of the class when we can barely work the nerve to talk to the person next to us; having the dedication to complete all of our math homework when the only thing we actually know about it is the fact that we have to solve it. Those are just some of the many things that we have learned about ourselves that go way beyond our textbooks. It is those things that we will need to get through each day, not only in high school but long after that. After my many years at Coonley, I have learned many lessons. The most important lesson, I have learned is to appreciate others because we all can t survive these journey s alone. Of course we
solve problems by ourselves, answer our tests individually, and go through our everyday lives on our own, but one cannot deny how important the people around us are. Our parents, friends, teachers, administrators, even the bus driver and the lady who serves us our lunch; all of them have played a vital role in helping us be where we are now. I, and all of us graduates are thankful for all of you. Coonley, for all of us, has been an amazing journey, I myself have been here since pre k. I have been blessed with the best teachers and friends. We were always worried about leaving this school, at one point, but it has prepared us to take the next step and start a new chapter in our lives. During my 10 years at Coonley, I have had many breathtaking experiences and memories. My favorite memory was in 6th grade, we played basketball at Senn High School for the City Championships. We were so excited, we may not have won the game but that was the moment when things changed, and it brought all of us together. The man and woman who made this all possible for us was Mr. Jason Ernst and Ms. Tatiana Ortiz. They helped all of us advance in basketball and also brought us some amazing memories. We would practice almost every single day we didn t have a game and I know that we all dreaded, at those moments, having to go to all these long practices, but looking back at all those memories we made and all the experiences that were given to us, we are all blessed. So I would like to thank Mr. Ernst and Ms.Tatiana for bringing all of us together. Again I would like to thank everyone that is here in this gym right now and I wish everyone good luck in high school and hope life treats us all the best way possible. Thank you.
Speech #2 Good morning and thank you all for coming to spend this special day with us. It is truly an honor to be standing here today with these people around me. When I came to Coonley, I didn t know any of these people. On the first day of school, I knew that this would be different from the previous school I had been at. I was a bit shy and a little scared of the years that would await me here, but I was ready. From that time on, I ve seen many classmates come and go, meet many of my fantastic teachers, and see this school flourish. For the past eight years of my life, this school has become like a second home for me. It s sense of familiarity has provided a calm and peaceful environment which I think that everyone can be a part of in some way. Over the course of my time here, I ve seen everyone participate in a school activity, which I think is very impressive. Although, the privilege to be at this school has not come without struggle. As a student in such a good school, I ve had to overcome a lot of stress and hardship to get where I am today. By through stress and all nighters, I have met my goals, got into my high school of choice, and have really learned about failure and success. This school has taught me many more lessons than just those of the academic nature. It has shaped me as a person and as a student. When I look around today, I see years of memories and life both in these walls and in these people around me. Although leaving this school is bittersweet, I can t wait to see who everyone will become.
Speech #3 Graduates, Families, Administration. I'd like to thank you all for being here today with us to celebrate the graduating class of 2016 here at John C. Coonley Elementary. Today is a day of change. It is a day where we are closing one chapter of our lives, and moving onto another. While it is certainly bittersweet, this closing of a chapter enables each and every one of us to move on to bigger and better things. Today is the first day of the rest of our lives. The parents and families gathered here with us today may be wondering Where did the time go?. As they watch their children receive their diplomas today, it may only feel like just yesterday, they were sending their child to kindergarten. Of course, living through these years has probably felt like an eternity, for parents and students alike. This moment may seem sad, but I assure every family here that this is only the beginning of our journey. The idea of a starting a new chapter may seem daunting, but what better school to prepare us for our next chapter than Coonley? Every teacher here has devoted their life to providing an education that will allow us students to go on to do great things. Although the day to day assignments and homework were most likely not celebrated, each day we spent at Coonley was just another day we became closer to today, the day of new beginnings. We live in an age like no other, and today we are faced with issues far greater than what we can imagine. But from these great challenges come great opportunities. Opportunities for each of us to find solutions and attain a level of achievement we never could have dreamed of. There is truly no better time than now.
Over the years, we established a community here at Coonley. Our teachers are just as much our friends as they are our educators. The way they have invested their time and pride into us will carry us all onto great success. I have no doubt that we are all fully prepared to start this new chapter in our lives. So with that, I would like to say congratulations to the graduating class of 2016. As we close one chapter and start a new one, remember that this is just the beginning. Thank you.
Speech #4 Wow, we finally made it! It feels like just yesterday we were spraying each other with water from our oh so popular Gatorade water bottles or we were throwing around a tennis ball every time a teacher turned around actually now that I think about it, that might of been yesterday. Ms. Schultz, Mr. Ernst you never heard that. All joking aside; everyone here is like family to one another. It doesn t matter if you have been here for one year, 2 years, 5 years, 8 years, or 9 years. Neighborhood or options, the fact that we have struggled together, achieved together, traveled together, challenged each other and laughed together makes the proud class of 2016 at Coonley a family away from home. We all have been through ups and downs, thick and thin, struggled to meet the demands of our teachers and meet such high expectations. But now new, harder challenges await us down the road as we prepare to start a new chapter in our lives. However I am confident that each and every one of us is ready for whatever obstacles that come our way. Whether you are going to Lane, Payton, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Northside, Amundson, Jones, Von Steuben, Jackie Vaughn, or a private school every single one of us has a chance to do something great in their life. You need to have the thirst for knowledge and the mentality, "I will create a cure for cancer or even end war, hate, crime and have peace on earth for all. We all need to have that positive mindset because every single student in here is exceptionally talented and has the potential to do something fascinating. Yes, it s going to be hard going to a new school, meeting and making new friends, working with new teachers and staff, but it is a part of adjusting, learning and growing into the mature young adults we all can be. Sometimes we got upset when we didn t get as high of a score on a test. But test scores don t define how smart you are, I look around and think no one should be known as a number or test score, instead, I believe every one of us is known as bright in their own way whether it s in art, math, science, or history. Do not focus on the negatives in life, but the positives that will outshine those moments. Life will move on and everything in the present will soon become the past, and as you move forward never give up, no one will ever do
something perfect the first time. It is the perpetual failure that leads to success. Now sadly, it s time for us to move on, to feed our brain with more knowledge, to experience more life, and to start the next journey of our lives. But as we say goodbye just always remember, whenever you re sad or down, there will always be a bright smile to end the day. Winston Churchill once said "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. To all of the Cougars out there, the sky is the limit what you choose to do with it is up to you.
Speech #5 Hi, I m. I d like to start this off by saying that I thought about creating this, and I thought I would talk a lot about my personal Coonley experience, because I m sure you all know by now I can talk a lot, but I decided I wanted to capture Coonley s essence in a relatable way for my peers, teachers, and other parents. I didn t write this speech because I love school so much, or I wanted to show everyone my writing, but because I want to reflect and share this long experience with you. I want to speak truthfully, and although this is a great place, I want to show all sides of it, good and bad. So here it is: So just for a minute, I personally have been at Coonley for 8 years now, and these years have been very interesting. I know many of you haven t been here as long, and many of you have been here longer. I think we can all agree, no matter how many years you ve been here, that it is an interesting place. Truthfully, I think one of the most interesting parts of this place is that I ve learned so many new things, and not just how to complete quadratic equations and diagram sentences. At Coonley, we learn to be kind and accepting of others, to work together to reach a common goal, and that sarcasm is always involved in every conversation. This place has taught me friendship, confidence, honesty, and loyalty are values that are in your life as long as you live, and I will be forever grateful for this. I often imagine high school, and although I am nervous to start in a whole new place after being in the same school for 8 years, I am excited to see what the future holds. On days with lots of homework, or days where we re especially aggravated with our peers, my friends and I will say that we can t wait to get out of here. Looking back, sure, I can say that I want to leave this place, but really, I can t imagine how my life would have changed without this school. That sounds extremely cheesy and I can t believe I just said that, but it s true. I wouldn t have the supportive friends that mean the world to
me, and I wouldn t have the family at school that I do. We ve grown so close, that I can t seem to imagine next year, not seeing these people every day. Look around you. If you think about it, besides your immediate family, these are the people you have been with for more than half of your life, at least in my case. You ve shared your greatest laughs, cries, smiles, and memories with the people in this room. And no matter how many people get on my nerves or bother me, I will not be able to sever the incredibly strong ties that have formed in these past 8 years. The memories that come out of this place are ones that will last eternally. I don t mean to sound like your mom right now, but I ve seen so many of you grow from children into young adults, and not just physically. We often read books that have themes of character development, and the main character s growth throughout the book. Think of this as your book, and readers watching your growth throughout the novel. Your book is only beginning.
Speech #6 Just this past memorial day, I was sitting on a ferris wheel. As I watched the city lights flicker, and heard the ride hinges scream, I thought about graduation. I know, it s the cliche ending to a teen movie, the sun setting in the background as a 14 something contemplates life at some summer venue. I was thinking about the fact that this event is not only a turning point in all of our lives, but also that a lot of us will never see each other ever again. Through these years we ve burned bridges, built them back, made friends, lost them, fought, and made up. We ve debated, tested, read, and we ve solved. We ve written essays, we ve won and we ve lost. But, most of all, we ve grown together. And it s rare in life that a group of people gets the opportunity to do that like we did, it s extraordinary. But, now we ve completed elementary school, we re moving on, but no longer together. Yes, some of us (many of us) are going to the same high school. Everyone has social media now and we could all easily keep in touch. Talk about that group text. But, all of you can t deny that it s an end of an era. Texting and liking pictures online is one thing, but we will never see each other every day ever again. Every text is from a distance, every interaction digital. Sure, a few of us may have a class together, we may wave to each other in the halls. But, we will definitely never all be sitting in the same room together, watching a spanish presentation, or listening to a particularly long social studies powerpoint, quietly whispering to each other. That experience, that era, is no more. That was me on the ferris wheel this memorial day. The wind in my face, mind in a flurry, taking it all in. Realizing the monumental ness of what is happening right now. No, we re not adults, we re not fully mature. This is not the classic we re all adults now because we re graduating situation, and it doesn't need to be. But this is a big moment. A family of amazing people, all with ambition, brains, brawn, and the guts to face the new world, well, to face high school, but the world comes next, are leaving each other. A
group of people who started as giddy first graders, and have grown into young adults, are leaving the nest and flying away. It s bittersweet, and it s exciting. We re growing up and starting to live. And as the ferris wheel began to take it s final turns, slowing to a halt, I didn t want it to end. I wanted to stay seated in my rusty, faded carriage on the wheel, I wanted to laugh and remember some more. I wanted to stay seated at my desk, I wanted to talk to my friends, my classmates, again. But the ride ended, I got off. And now, our ride is about to end. We re here, we did it, and as we stride out the door today as graduates, it will be the last time as Coonley 8th graders. This ride may be over, the wheel may have made it s final turns, but, we re already in line for the next one. When we line up next year as Freshman, it will be our turn again. So, enjoy your ride, wherever it may be, and whatever it may hold.