Mabel Chan

My fellow graduating class of 2004, parents, friends, teachers, and administrators, we are gathered here for this momentous celebration. It is an honor to stand before you to share my thoughts. I have looked forward to this day with ambivalent feelings. Emotions of joy as we have reached the end of our high school career along with feelings of apprehension as we move on to new experiences of our lives. We have finally made it. We will move on to a bright future filled with opportunities.

We have successfully completed high school, and to my parents, friends, teachers, and administrators, thanks for your support. You have given us the encouragement to excel. You have believed that we can achieve our best.

High school has been a growing time when we have expanded our horizons and faced changes and challenges. When I first came to LHS; I saw the difference from my previous school immediately. I saw how spirited we were at assemblies and how diverse we are as people. From being a small town Oak Harbor girl, I have expanded my horizons and broadened the scope of my knowledge here. Our school life has allowed us to see more of who we are, our interests, and what the world is like. At times, high school has been like a roller coaster ride. I believe that motivation was a key. I had a goal and tried to look upon the future positively, but sometimes it did not seem bright. High school was not always easy. There were many mountains to overcome. Stress from homework and expectations took my patience and dedication. I know we all have felt like this. In our next step, I encourage us all to continue our motivation and work to expand our view of life. Open yourself up: your heart, vision, and knowledge to the new. Soak in all the good knowledge that you can. For my success, I thank God each day for his support. I had prayed to God to give me strength and wisdom in all that I do. It is important to go the extra mile. It worked, but I had to sacrifice to do it best. There will always be obstacles to overcome and mountains to climb over, but keep your head high and continue.

The future will be a new experience for us, a time where we will continue to expand ourselves. Going into a world out there that is unfamiliar. In the poem “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost there are two roads to choose from. Like the poem, I challenge us all to take the road less traveled by and see what difference it will make.

We have come a long way in what only seems like a blink of an eye, but finishing high school is not an end. It is a new chapter, a new beginning. We are now beginning another journey and each of us will choose a path seeking to make an impact on this world.

Congratulations and may God bless you all.

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