This is the valedictory speech delivered by Arianna Eastridge at Rockdale High School graduation Friday:
Good evening. My name is Arianna Eastridge and I am this year’s valedictorian. I would first like to thank my family for attending tonight, and a special thank you to my mother, Antoinette Martinez, who has single-handedly helped me with all of my accomplishments throughout high school. I would not be anywhere close to where I am today without her endless love and support.
Before I begin my speech, however, I would like to say one thing. Though I am the one standing before you with the honor of speaking, I am not any better than any other person sitting on this field. Each and every person sitting here has had amazing accomplishments in one way or another, and so my speech tonight is to shed light on everyone, not just myself.
Even from the beginning of elementary school, I’d like to say that we were a pretty fun class. Though we know when to be serious, we also like to be funny and light-hearted. I will always remember when Ty Mayberry purposely stapled his finger in second grade so he could get out of class and go to the nurse’s office. Or when we moved onto fourth grade and had the best Christmas play you have ever seen, and were the only class to get a new character, the elf, made because Tyley Arledge, fit the part perfectly.
It is crazy to think that some of those memories happened almost 10 years ago. From little kindergartners sitting in the same classrooms, to us as seniors sitting on this field together one last time. As the minutes tick down until we receive our diplomas, I am not fearful. My classmates are some of the most influential people I have ever met, and I have no doubt that we will be nothing but successful in the future.
Among us are natural born leaders, who aren’t afraid to stand up for what they believe in and strive to make the world a better place. We have athletes, whose talent and determination allowed them to play sports at a collegiate level. We have artists like musicians, designers and creative thinkers who bring pops of color and spirit when life might seem bland. Lastly, we have all of the students going to college, the workforce or the military, who, no matter what they end up doing, are working on bettering themselves, the world, and others.
As I close out my speech, I leave with a full heart knowing that I was a part of this amazing group of people. On behalf of the Class of 2021, I would like to extend our appreciation to our teachers and administrators who have had to deal with all of our crazy shenanigans throughout the years.
To our parents and family, thank you for forcing us to go to school and for nagging us about our grades. Without you, we might not be sitting where we are. Though it might have given us a headache at the time, your constant worry and strive for improvement has given us the confidence and readiness to face any challenges we might have outside of high school.
Lastly, from myself to my fellow classmates, thank you for making my education so memorable. Though I might not remember everything I learned in class, I will always remember the memories we’ve made together. I am so proud of where we are, and I cannot wait to see what we will become. We did it, Class of 2021. We did it.
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