Back to School Speech
Tuesday, September 29, 2009 9:53 PM
Saika Bince
English 12 PSS
Period 4
Back to School Speech
Welcome, new faces, to the School For Legal Studies! Although its not evident during your first days of nervousness, shyness, loneliness and/or eagerness- you’re about to have the time of your life! Grand Street Campus (GSC for short) has a lot to offer you: Art, band, dance, fashion, sports, student government, and (my personal favorite) chorus! Welcome to a school that offers you opportunity to discover, express, and excel on so many levels. Yes, it’s a new school, new faces, basically a whole new ball game than you’re used to. (Do not let these negative thoughts overcome you.) Get excited! You’re about to start a new chapter in your book of life. You’re about to begin a new journey of growth, with the chance to sit in my position three years later and reflect on that growth. However, its up to YOU to seize that opportunity.
So, am I saying that high school is all smiles and hugs? No! (Even though you should share a smile and a hug as often as you can!) Realistically, you will cry at least twice. You will experience relationship drama. Some unexpected event will expose you to who your true friends are. Some teacher may make you hate what was once a favorite subject of yours. You will say “Miss! I lost my homework,” and you may fail a test or two. That’s High School! That’s Life! Of course we’d rather go through happy times and often wish these hard times never existed. I’ve learned though, that without these hard times, we wouldn’t be where or who we are today. Its like riding a bike. No one gets on a bike for the first time and pops a wheelie! You try, and you fall. No matter how many times one may fall, there’s a drive- a determination behind learning to ride a bike. Because of that drive, you are now able to hop on a two wheeler and race your friends right? Yes, there may be a scratch on your knee from that time you fell down really hard. But I bet now, when you look at it, you smile.
I cant say I’ve had the best years of high school or that I’ve fully applied myself these past years. I’ve cut class, skipped school, practically never did homework and hated taking notes. In all honesty, as a student- I suck! All because I’ve lived most of my life fearing my potential and refusing to fully apply myself. Even with singing. As you grow to know me, one of the first things you will learn is that music is my life’s passion. You’d think that being a singer since I was 5- I’d own the confidence to share my talent with others. But no. Like many other areas in my life, I struggle with the fear of not living up to the greatness often expected of me. (I think many of you may be able to relate to that.) So, I shy away from most forms of spotlight. With age comes wisdom though. Hannah Montana once sang, “Life’s what you make it, so lets make it rock!” Don’t wait till near the end to make it rock like I’ve done. There’s so many things I wish I would’ve done differently- however I don’t regret any of the choices made to create the young lady you see before you today. My fear of never being good enough once caused me to crawl into my shell and cry about the world demanding too much. Now look at me. Saika Thee Incredible. I can do anything I put my mind to; and on most days, I want to do EVERYTHING!
All in all- if you don’t make the team, its ok. If you didn’t get the boy/girl, you wont die. Eating school lunch isn’t lame if you’re hungry, and popularity is over rated. “Do onto others as you would have them do onto you.” Smile! Be polite to school officials as well as your peers. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to keep trying. Know that its ok to fall, as long as you keep getting back up. Eventually you will be riding that bike, getting your diploma and racing the world. We need you, the best of you. As President Barak Obama stared in his back to school speech- 9/8/2009 Arlington, VA. “When you quit, you are not only quitting yourself, you’re quitting on your country.”
English 12 PSS
Period 4
Back to School Speech
Welcome, new faces, to the School For Legal Studies! Although its not evident during your first days of nervousness, shyness, loneliness and/or eagerness- you’re about to have the time of your life! Grand Street Campus (GSC for short) has a lot to offer you: Art, band, dance, fashion, sports, student government, and (my personal favorite) chorus! Welcome to a school that offers you opportunity to discover, express, and excel on so many levels. Yes, it’s a new school, new faces, basically a whole new ball game than you’re used to. (Do not let these negative thoughts overcome you.) Get excited! You’re about to start a new chapter in your book of life. You’re about to begin a new journey of growth, with the chance to sit in my position three years later and reflect on that growth. However, its up to YOU to seize that opportunity.
So, am I saying that high school is all smiles and hugs? No! (Even though you should share a smile and a hug as often as you can!) Realistically, you will cry at least twice. You will experience relationship drama. Some unexpected event will expose you to who your true friends are. Some teacher may make you hate what was once a favorite subject of yours. You will say “Miss! I lost my homework,” and you may fail a test or two. That’s High School! That’s Life! Of course we’d rather go through happy times and often wish these hard times never existed. I’ve learned though, that without these hard times, we wouldn’t be where or who we are today. Its like riding a bike. No one gets on a bike for the first time and pops a wheelie! You try, and you fall. No matter how many times one may fall, there’s a drive- a determination behind learning to ride a bike. Because of that drive, you are now able to hop on a two wheeler and race your friends right? Yes, there may be a scratch on your knee from that time you fell down really hard. But I bet now, when you look at it, you smile.
I cant say I’ve had the best years of high school or that I’ve fully applied myself these past years. I’ve cut class, skipped school, practically never did homework and hated taking notes. In all honesty, as a student- I suck! All because I’ve lived most of my life fearing my potential and refusing to fully apply myself. Even with singing. As you grow to know me, one of the first things you will learn is that music is my life’s passion. You’d think that being a singer since I was 5- I’d own the confidence to share my talent with others. But no. Like many other areas in my life, I struggle with the fear of not living up to the greatness often expected of me. (I think many of you may be able to relate to that.) So, I shy away from most forms of spotlight. With age comes wisdom though. Hannah Montana once sang, “Life’s what you make it, so lets make it rock!” Don’t wait till near the end to make it rock like I’ve done. There’s so many things I wish I would’ve done differently- however I don’t regret any of the choices made to create the young lady you see before you today. My fear of never being good enough once caused me to crawl into my shell and cry about the world demanding too much. Now look at me. Saika Thee Incredible. I can do anything I put my mind to; and on most days, I want to do EVERYTHING!
All in all- if you don’t make the team, its ok. If you didn’t get the boy/girl, you wont die. Eating school lunch isn’t lame if you’re hungry, and popularity is over rated. “Do onto others as you would have them do onto you.” Smile! Be polite to school officials as well as your peers. Most importantly, don’t be afraid to keep trying. Know that its ok to fall, as long as you keep getting back up. Eventually you will be riding that bike, getting your diploma and racing the world. We need you, the best of you. As President Barak Obama stared in his back to school speech- 9/8/2009 Arlington, VA. “When you quit, you are not only quitting yourself, you’re quitting on your country.”