I've read many of these quotes, and I've even applied some to my own life. But something has always felt off, and in some way, I've always come up short. Even when I've worked myself to the brim and kept my head held high, I'm not going to get as far as I could. As we've gone through high school, we've all developed a system to stay afloat. Granted, some systems work better than others, but we all tend to approach a problem in one particular way and refuse to stray from this process. After a lot of reflecting, I think I finally realized what the recipe to success really is. Yes, working hard and staying dedicated are necessities, but you also need to remember to adapt to the world around you. We as seniors are about to move on to the next chapter. the real world. That is a change, and it's a good one.
Now, as this will be the last time the class of 2025 will be all together, I think it makes sense to talk about something we've heard every day for the past four years. This will be our last words of wisdom. The words of wisdom I give are six traits that I believe will be pivotal in our following years after graduation. First, be humble. Understand what skills and talents you have and use them. See the value that you have and appreciate it through all situations. Walk into them with the confidence of knowing who you are. Second, be humble with an understanding of the value within yourself. Apply that same mindset to those around you. Each person holds a unique combination of talents and abilities that you do and appreciate this and listen to what they have to say. Third, be respectful. Respect shows others that you care.
We lost track of where our classes were, lost hours to procrastination, and lost collective dignity to those group projects where one person did all the work. And if you don't know who that was, then it probably wasn't you. Even then, we persevered together. We bonded over midnight cramming facetimes, slamming through chapters that we definitely should have read a week earlier. We shivered together in the ice box that was the fieldhouse on SAT day. We yelled ourselves horse at the bleachers of the homecoming game. We traded snacks and stories on bus routes that always seemed to change. We met characters who added spice to our lives. The peer tutor who showed up like a superhero to help you with your English essay. That one classmate who turned a group presentation into a stand-up routine. And of course, our favorite substitute teacher. See if you guys can guess.
at least not the real one since I always imagined a quiet ceremony in this empty gym with just four other seniors held earlier in the week so we could leave for semi-ate. So this moment being here with all of you means more to me than I can fully explain. For the first time, every senior on our tennis team is here together. No scheduling conflicts, no rushing, completely in the moment. And honestly, I can't imagine a better way to close this chapter. But as I reflect on high school, the classes, the sports, or the clubs aren't what stand out. Instead, it's the choices I've made along the way. The ones that helped shape who I am. Anyone who knows me is aware that making decisions has always been a challenge for me. Even the smallest choices like what to eat for lunch could leave me staring at the menu like it held the meaning of life.
Who you are now is going to change naturally as you grow. And I implore you to let that change happen, whether or not you're ready for it. Get a job, start saving up money, go to college if that's what you want. But wherever you end up, be mentally flexible and patient. Your time will come if you let it. We may lose certain freedoms, but we gain so many more. From the time we were little freshmen identifying trees with Mr. Larson to seniors who struggled our way through Shakespeare with Mr. Seal, we've all watched as we've grown and changed and I've seen what it can do to the people we love. Our losses, a pandemic, our personal battles, and the bus drivers who have gotten us oh so very lost on field trips. All those things have led us to where we are today. Regardless of every single wrong turn, somehow someway, we've all ended up on a good path.
By making simple gestures like making eye contact, shaking your hands, and paying attention, you can make leaps and bounds in the relationships that you have. Demonstrating respect to others shows them that you care about who they are, what they think, and what they have to say. Be intentional. After leaving high school, we're going to have a lot of freedom in what we choose to focus on. I urge you to think about how you're you are investing your time because all things add up over time, good or bad. So, we must be careful how we spend it. Be servant. Go serve others. When I say this, I do not necessarily mean go volunteer at a food pantry or any place in particular. I just encourage you to go have a servant's heart. Be loving and kind and just do stuff for those around you that benefit their lives.
Hello everyone. My name is Rob Miller. I'm a laidback sub. You guys are good. And now here we are at the final sentence of this final chapter. Bookmarks in hand. As you walk across this stage, remember that we're not just closing a book. We're starting the sequel. Some of us may go on to college, others to the military, others to the workforce. all of us to realize that we really took the PWC for granted. But no matter where life takes us, we carry these moments, each other, and the wisdom we've gathered along the way. So, congratulations, Stevenson class of 2025. As we sign off from this chapter, let's remember every ending is a new beginning because the future is yours to write. Thank you everyone. Thank you very much, Ryan. And now we'd like to call our senior choir members to come forward to perform our Stevenson alma mater.
So you can imagine how overwhelming it felt to make decisions about which classes to take, what clubs to join, or what career path to follow. At times I was afraid of falling behind. So, my choices often followed the crowd. Other times, I hesitated so long that I ended up doing nothing at all, paralyzed by the fear of making the wrong choice and ultimately losing the opportunity to experience something new. However, over time, I learned something valuable. There's no such thing as a perfect choice. Every decision we make, right or wrong, teaches us something. Every path has shaped us, even the uncertain ones. And what matters most is having the courage to keep choosing again and again. For me, it's not about standing out or always having the perfect response. It's about choosing to be the one who listens, who tries, who cares even when no one is watching.
So, while change is honestly a terrifying concept, we as human beings can't get anywhere without it. So, work hard, dedicate yourselves to your jobs and your passions, and let the world guide you to the person you're meant to be. Congratulations. Good luck, CSA New Techch class of 2025. And thank you. [Applause] Thank you, Darby. I would now like to introduce CSA facilitator Zachary Schroeder, who has some parting words for our graduating seniors. [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Good evening parents, family members, facilitators, administration, and students of the graduating class of 2025. It is my absolute honor and privilege to stand before you today to celebrate the culmination of four years of hard work and perseverance. You've come a long way in these four years. From modeling and creating toys for toddlers, crafting museum exhibits about pivotal moments in history to those endless Delta math assignments, you've demonstrated resilience and adaptability in the face of every challenge.
Lastly, be thankful. Appreciate everything that you have because nothing is promised. Write down a list of things you are thankful for or even speak out loud those things. Find a way to remind yourself of all your blessings. Imprint an attitude of thankfulness in your life. As I wrap up, I want to remind you to be confident, humble, respectful, intentional, servient, and thankful. Thank you for giving me your time and attention. Make it a great life or not, the choice is yours. [Applause] [Music] One day I was walking on the beach. The sky was still a storm from night had passed. All along the shore lay thousands of star from their worship able to return to the Lord. Far off I saw a young girl dancing alone. Not [Music] dancing. Tossing helpless starfish back in the rescuing them from the star race. She told me if I don't have them, they will die.
Uh while they're coming forward, I would like to uh like to remind all the graduates, you are about to become part of a group of alumni that are over 40,000 strong and are across the nation and the world doing amazing things. We probably have very many alumni in the arena today. If you are a Stevenson alumni and you are in the crowd, could you please stand up so we can recognize you and welcome you back? Yeah. Fellow patriots, class of 2025, can you please stand for the alma mater? Uh alumni stay standing. Graduates, please stand for the alma mater. Our choir is led by Rand Hatcher and Kirsten Snelton. Hello and strong to thee with loyal hearts we Praise our soul to heaven. Our voice is [Music] bold to the se are green and gold and strong. To thee with loyal hearts we raise our swelling to [Music] heaven to the [Music] Green and [Applause] gold.
There are moments when it would have been easier to stay quiet and choose comfort over the constant challenges. Yet, I came back to one question. What kind of person do I want to be? And once I made that choice, I did everything to live up to it. Not perfectly, but with purpose. By showing up, by putting in effort, by choosing growth, even when it was out of my comfort zone. And that's what today means to me. It's not about the grades and other accomplishments. It's about standing here as someone who's been shaped by the choices I've made, especially the hard ones. So, as we step into whatever comes next, whether it be college, jobs, gap years, or something we haven't imagined yet, I hope we keep making choices that we'll be proud to look back on someday. Whether we choose to speak up, step back, push through, or start over, those decisions will shape not only our experiences, but our identity.
You've engaged in spirited advisory games and house competitions, learning valuable lessons through activities like land skiing, knocking over 2L bottles with partially water- filled beach balls, and perfecting that behind the back throw to hit Mr. Reed in the center of the circle. While these moments were filled with fun, they also taught us deeper lessons about teamwork, strategy, and perseverance. For the first time in your high school experience, you missed these end of quarter games. But now your real life games begin. Land skiing was about effective communication and teamwork. Vital skills you'll need in every career, relationship, and community you join. Knocking over bottles and throwing nerf balls. The life lesson there, you only get one shot, so make it count. Being a runner, even if you ran the course perfectly, you might still get blindsided by one of those nerf balls. And that's okay. Just like in those games, what matters most is getting back up, adjusting your strategy, and moving forward with focus and grit.
Do you s [Music] She said it made a difference to that one. It made a difference to that one. It made a difference to that one just [Music] any place anymore. [Music] Every time, everyone. [Music] [Applause] What you do will make a [Music] difference. A [Applause] Thank you. Hello, my name is Bailey Yates and I'm proud to be a part of the graduating class of 2025. Five. Thank you to everyone helping with graduation today, teachers, administrators, staff, and families. And of course, congratulations to the graduating class of 2025. Today, I want to share with you the top seven reasons to avoid graduating. Even though we are all ready to walk across this stage, I came up with seven reasons why some of us might want to turn back. Number seven, you should avoid graduating if you don't want to sit through someone like me droning on in a speech.
You may be seated. Thank you, choir. That was absolutely beautiful. So much appreciated. And next up, uh, our second student speaker tonight will give the gubernator address, which looks forward to your future and imagines what your what your lives and experiences will be. We couldn't have a better way to celebrate that than with today's speaker, Maya Heler. Last semester, while drowning in applications and school stress, I visited my grandparents house where we ordered Chinese takeout. The next morning, I told my grandfather I was nervous about leaving home and the general uncertainty of the year. He grabbed a leftover fortune cookie, handed it to me, and said, "Open it. Whatever it says is what you need to hear right now. I laughed but did it anyway. Ever since that day, I keep this fortune everywhere I go, tucked inside my phone case. It reads, "Trust in the process.
And even if some choices don't feel wise or even right, I hope we remember this. We're here today on graduation day because of all of our choices, the good, the uncertain, and everything in between. To our teacher teachers and mentors mentors, thank you for guiding us through the countless decisions we didn't always know how to make, allowing us to think, to grow, and to choose wisely, even when it was difficult. And to the class of 2025, thank you for the laughter, the lessons, and the moments I'll never forget. The memories we carry are made up of choices, too. choices to support each other, to keep going, and to show up for each other. We made it this far, not by choosing perfectly, but by choosing to move forward. And every step, every choice was worth it. Thank you. [Music] [Applause] [Music] All right, I'll try my very best.
And let's not forget the most important of lesson of house competitions. House Leo will always be the best. As graduates of CSA Newech, you've spent your high school years doing more than memorizing facts. You've solved problems, collaborated across disciplines, and navigated the real challenges of working in teams. You've learned how to take initiative, how to adapt when things don't go according to plan, and how to bring your full self to the work you do. Those aren't just academic lessons. Those are life lessons. Now, you're stepping into a world that's full of unknowns. Some of you are heading to college, some into the workforce, some into the military, some to explore passions that may not yet have a name. Wherever you go, know this. You are ready. You've already demonstrated what it means to be a learner, a teammate, and a leader. As you leave here today, I want to leave you with this.
Let's be honest, validictorian speeches can be a little much, but I can't pass up the chance to brag about how amazing the class of 2025 is. So, if you're hoping to skip this part where I list a bunch of our accomplishments and try to make you cry, too late. You're here and we earned this moment. Even if I talk too fast, and stumble over my words once or twice. Number six, you should avoid graduating if you dislike all the fancy clothes, uncomfortable shoes, and silly hats. Caps and gowns are tradition, sure, but no one said they were fashionable. We've gone from light up sneakers and Velcro straps to heels and dress shoes. And honestly, I missed the Velcro. Does anyone else remember kindergarten graduation? Construction paper crowns, glitter everywhere, and probably a few goldfish crackers under our feet. We looked ridiculous then and somehow we still do now.
Your future is unfolding perfectly." The future is both a terrifying and exhilarating phrase for us. It feels like something we have been waiting for. From the first time we logged into Navviance to Senior Sunrise. As we make plans for the future, it's natural to have doubts. Did we commit to the right school? What will that first job be like? And how much money will we donate to the Stevenson Foundation each year? The thing is, most of us don't know what we want yet. This is where that fortune cookie and its advice to trust in the process comes into play. But the fortune is incomplete. Trusting in the process does not mean that we can put our feet up and hope for the best. Stephvenson has taught us that trusting in the process requires grit and resilience to work towards challenging goals. Trusting in the process means taking action and taking after our school's namesake, Adeli E.
Good afternoon to the Columbus North graduating class of 2025 and to all of the families, friends, and teachers who have supported us every step of the way. My name is Grace Huang. As honored as I am to be speaking with you today, I also feel a little strange standing up here. Many of you in the audience are older, wiser, and far more qualified to give life advice. I don't feel particularly wise or particularly ready. And maybe that's exactly what qualifies me to speak right now because none of us really feels ready. That's the reality of where we are. We're standing at a very strange intersection, the in between of childhood and adulthood, where we still don't entirely know how taxes work, but we can recite the quadratic formula. We're old enough to vote, but not old enough to rent a car. We're getting asked what we want to do with our lives when most of us are still figuring out how to parallel park.