EPILOGUE:

The Valedictorian

“Family, friends, faculty, administration, and fellow classmates, the day has finally come for the class of 2006 to depart from Fujisaki High School and start a new life. It seems like only yesterday our main concern was who we were going to sit by at lunch, now it is what college should I attend and what career is best for me. There was a time when we all could not wait for today to come, now that it is here, it is hard to believe that it is over. Four years of education is now behind us and we are well prepared to undertake any challenge that we may encounter while working to achieve our life goals.

There will be times in our lives when we are forced to make decisions against our heart's will in order to do what is in our best interest. Those decisions will be made under certain circumstances. In an effort to expand on this, I refer to a person who has made the most impact in my life. He had a choice - a wonderful opportunity to have a basketball scholarship to one of the best colleges in the country. He wouldn’t have to worry about his scores. He already had it made. However, there was another option for him. An option to take the time away from education and pursue a life-long dream of traveling the world. Dare he give up the scholarship? Something many others would jump at the opportunity for? Or follow his heart and do what he thinks is best, to gain an education that a classroom would never be able to teach. I’m glad to say, that this person decided to follow his heart and with absolutely no regrets. I hope that I can, one day, have as much heart and guts as he. He is truly an inspiration and I am so glad to call him friend.

Sometimes there are opportunities that we must turn down if they interfere with our ultimate goal. It is not that they aren’t good opportunities; it is just that the time is not right. There will be opportunities that will reveal themselves more than once, others that will not. Do not lose focus of your dreams. If you feel that something you are doing is distracting you from your ultimate goal, put whatever it is on hold and recollect yourself. Prioritize your life, especially your goals. Peer pressure will at times steer you in the opposite direction. You may be told that living your dream is impossible. This is where your dream becomes less visible and it will be easy to give up. Dreams are achievable. They are not a fantasy, but an ambition for living. Everyone has had a dream since they were a child; do not let that dream slip away from you. Just as Langston Hughes said, "hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly."

Members of the staff, thank you for everything; you have taught me more than just my education; you have prepared me for life.

To my parents, and friends thank you for all your support in everything that I do. I would not be where I am today if it were not for you. I love you all.

Fellow classmates, we all have shared many memories together. Whatever you decide to do I wish you all luck in your endeavors. I will miss you all, and you will not be forgotten. May all your dreams become a reality.”