CLASS OF 2024
CLASS OF 2024
Valedictorian | Maria Harris
Congratulations graduating class of 2024
It is all too often that we convince ourselves that we are less than we are. Or, whether it be in the hallway or scrolling social media, we determine our value based on a comparison. I want us to know that we are our own person and that is something nobody can take away from us. So, how do we find the way to push forward? When others doubt you and you begin to doubt yourself, how do we persevere? We hold onto hope and give it our all. Comparing ourselves to others takes us down a rabbit hole that only inspires lies that you tell yourself. I have told myself that I will never be good enough or that I am just a waste of space and time, but it wasn’t until I stopped comparing myself that I recognized the value I had. Despite my doubts, I focused on what my mom taught me, “Good, better, best. Never let it rest. ‘Til your good is better and your better is the best.” These words remind me that I had to worry about being my best – not someone else’s. I knew that there were people that did more than I did or were better than me, but trying to be better than I was is what led to my success. Whether it’s at school, a future occupation or even a small personal goal, we will face doubt from ourselves and others. The times when we are told we are less than enough is when we need to hold onto the hope we have in ourselves. Instilling confidence and being accepting of each other and ourselves is how we see each other’s value. As we gather here today for our graduation, I will leave you with this quote from Herb Brooks, “This is your moment. You’re meant to be here.” Life is a journey of self-discovery, and high school is only the beginning. Instead of comparing ourselves to others, we should embrace our uniqueness and strive to become the best version of who we are, celebrating our individual strengths and achievements along the way. Congratulations class of 2024! Thank you.
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G
ood evening, faculty, parents, friends, distinguished guests and class of 2024. It is an honor to be speaking to you today. Last year after my older sister, Diana, was told she would be valedictorian, a close friend of ours asked me if I would be like my sister by being the valedictorian of my class. This simple question reminded me that anything I did would
be in comparison with her. Being close in age with my sister, her successes were hers and any of my same successes were compared to hers. It felt like I lived in her shadow, forever intended to be another version of my sister. It seemed as though the world needed another Diana and I didn’t matter. To add to that, last year, someone I’m close with told me that I wouldn’t get accepted into a good university because I didn’t do enough. Any doubt in myself that I had was confirmed by her observation. I told myself that I would never be good enough. While I know my value isn’t dependent on my academic success, it still hurts to hear that a goal of mine wouldn’t be achieved because I simply wasn’t enough.
28 MHS • Class of 2024
Class of 2024 • MHS 29
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