The statement that the four years of high school are the best years of our lives is, I think, an unnecessarily restrictive and somewhat gloomy view to take. I think that we have come to the completion of only the first stage of our individual journeys. While we certainly have had a great a time and achieved a great deal, I think that the best is yet to come. Our class values and embodies the characteristics of independence and individuality, and at the same time embraces the concepts of open-mindedness and tolerance. We will do well to continue to uphold these qualities through the next phase of our lives, wherever it may lead us.
Our class is unique. Instead of accepting without reservation and striving to achieve the goals that others have told us are important, we have evaluated from our own perspectives the tasks set before us and have worked to achieve those goals that we deem most advantageous to ourselves and those we care about. As independent individuals we are free to make decisions different from those who came before us, and to step out from under the shadow of those who would dictate our thoughts and actions. This not to say that we do not value the guidance and education that we have received thus far, but only that we have the ability to use that which we have learned to create new and different opportunities for ourselves.
With these exciting new opportunities comes the intimidating possibility of failure. However, I hope that we will adopt the views that one must risk great failure in order to achieve great success and that those who fail in ambitious endeavors are not failures but instead the ones who will push us all out of our respective comfort zones and inspire us to new heights of achievement and understanding. With the open-mindedness and independence of thought brought to us by those willing to think and act with little regard for societal expectations and restrictions, we can hope to advance and better the views and behaviors of our society.
The value of an open, tolerant mind cannot be underestimated. Without those who have the courage to objectively analyze, evaluate, and act upon new and different thoughts and ideas, we would not have the benefit of those aforementioned individuals who contribute so much to the advancement of our society. An open mind is a necessary component of any individual who wishes put to trial risky and adventurous new ideas for the betterment of all. Where would we be as a society without the constant analysis and acceptance of new ideas and technology? Hand in hand with the analysis of new ideas comes the realization that others may come to different conclusions on the same issues based on similar information.
When we learn to respect the thoughts, opinions, and beliefs of others as wholly theirs, we can come to more fully respect our own convictions and act upon them in the manner we see fit with an attitude of cooperation, even with those whom we may disagree with.
I thank you for your attention and for the experiences that we have shared together, and I hope that we can enter this coming phase of our lives with great hopes for the achievements of our generation.
Our class is unique. Instead of accepting without reservation and striving to achieve the goals that others have told us are important, we have evaluated from our own perspectives the tasks set before us and have worked to achieve those goals that we deem most advantageous to ourselves and those we care about. As independent individuals we are free to make decisions different from those who came before us, and to step out from under the shadow of those who would dictate our thoughts and actions. This not to say that we do not value the guidance and education that we have received thus far, but only that we have the ability to use that which we have learned to create new and different opportunities for ourselves.
With these exciting new opportunities comes the intimidating possibility of failure. However, I hope that we will adopt the views that one must risk great failure in order to achieve great success and that those who fail in ambitious endeavors are not failures but instead the ones who will push us all out of our respective comfort zones and inspire us to new heights of achievement and understanding. With the open-mindedness and independence of thought brought to us by those willing to think and act with little regard for societal expectations and restrictions, we can hope to advance and better the views and behaviors of our society.
The value of an open, tolerant mind cannot be underestimated. Without those who have the courage to objectively analyze, evaluate, and act upon new and different thoughts and ideas, we would not have the benefit of those aforementioned individuals who contribute so much to the advancement of our society. An open mind is a necessary component of any individual who wishes put to trial risky and adventurous new ideas for the betterment of all. Where would we be as a society without the constant analysis and acceptance of new ideas and technology? Hand in hand with the analysis of new ideas comes the realization that others may come to different conclusions on the same issues based on similar information.
When we learn to respect the thoughts, opinions, and beliefs of others as wholly theirs, we can come to more fully respect our own convictions and act upon them in the manner we see fit with an attitude of cooperation, even with those whom we may disagree with.
I thank you for your attention and for the experiences that we have shared together, and I hope that we can enter this coming phase of our lives with great hopes for the achievements of our generation.
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