Graduated on Friday, 22 June 2007. 
Congrats everyone!
Here’s the speech I said:
Good evening Class of 2007! These past four years have really flown by. I find it hard to believe it was just several years ago that we were in elementary and middle school – back when the girls were still taller than the guys and the existence of “cooties” divided the genders. How times have changed. It is amazing to think the friendships we have had have lasted one, two, six, even twelve or more years. Now, we sit here today as young adults. We sit among the teachers who molded us, the families who guided us, and the friends who cherished us to conclude a chapter in our lives, that is: graduating from Ossining High School.
As high schoolers, we wrote our own stories for the history books. We conquered our regents, SATs, and ACTs. We have kept Ossining Athletics on the map with several championships this year including Field Hockey, Cross Country, Ice Hockey, and Football. We survived sleepless nights; some slaving away to finish APUSH work that we conveniently forgot to start until the night before it was due. We will miss the funny comments from Mr. Watson as we walked through the halls, the thrill of coming into class and seeing Mr. Simon is the substitute teacher, and the words of wisdom from Mr. DiCarlucci during class.
Celebrating this momentous occasion would not have been possible without certain people and it is only right that they are recognized. Mr. Mandel always has an open mind to the ideas we students have. It was great having had him as our principal back at Brookside and ten years down the road, it is great having had him as our principal these past four years in high school. Thank you to the advisors, Ms. Kemencei and Mrs. Wager for putting up with the after-school meetings, votes, and “Proma.” To the teachers, counselors, and friends who have helped us get this far: it has been a blast. Thanks so much to our families for always believing in us when we sometimes could not believe in ourselves. Of course, thanks to all of you, members of ‘07, because each of your individual personalities has made this high school experience all the more unique. Finally, I would like to thank two very special people who could not make it today but are surely here with us in spirit.
Sharmain and Noah were, no doubt, awesome people. They were both very well known in the community and both possessed a shining quality that drew their friends to them. They, too, graduate with us and although we will go our separate ways, their memories keep us close and they remain alive and active through our remembrance of the wonderful lives they lived. I remember Sharmain sang in one of my fifth grade classes and her talent of song mesmerized everyone. I think many who have heard her would agree that she had the voice of an angel. I remember Noah’s smile and how impressed everyone was when he hulked up from break-dancing. He was always quick with a hug or a joke and his life motto of Fortitudo, or moral courage, has inspired and been adopted by everyone who knew him. So without further ado, as President of the Class of 2007, I would like to present OHS with the gifts of two bulletin boards; one in memory of Sharmain “Budda” Powell and the other of Noah Woodley-Aitchison. These boards will allow the underclassmen to have a designated area to decorate and post information each of their Classes will need to know. While simultaneously reminding their classmates of future fundraising events or meetings about Prom, generations of Ossining High School students will use these boards and remember Sharmain and Noah – along with the legacy the Class of ‘07 left behind. In this way, our two dear friends are immortalized and we can return to see their influence remains present and well.
Life has given us moments that took our breaths away; made us laugh until our stomachs hurt. We have also gotten our fair share of heartaches, but c’est la vie. It is the overcoming of adversity that makes us stronger and helps us come into our own as individuals. Our Class has had to mature a little too quickly but in it we have learned to make the best of days we have together. Life only happens once so live it up to its potential. Never forget your roots because the lessons we learned here are what will carry us forward to success. Next year, we enter that wild world of college. Moving on and starting over is a scary thought but this Class will go on knowing it has the support of all these people present today. It has been an honor spending this portion of my life with this group of young men and women. I will leave you with this quote: “There are many people who come and go in our lives. A few touch us in ways that change us forever making us better from knowing them.” I hope you all become that few to the many others you will encounter and keep the ones who have already had this effect on you. Congratulations ‘07! We did it! This is not good-bye, but until next time.
..I spoke too fast. Oh well 
It does look a bit scary, but I like it.
Now the break’s over and I haven’t practiced. Plus, I’m worried the violin cracked or broke from the weather conditions. Grr.. maybe I can get it this Monday. I can’t go to my regularly scheduled driving session this Wednesday either because I have a game that day too. 
Come and support if you want!
I’m just kind of happy I didn’t get flat out rejected. Hehe, the perks of going Nursing to a school.
or a rich kid with the money to pay tutors for every subject I was having trouble with [and for standardized testing assistance]. My SAT scores weren’t going to propel me to the top of their students-to-accept list either. Oh, and how many asian kids go for Pre-Med at Harvard? Yeah, quite a lot. I’m just glad I tried. I’m glad I won’t be thinking about the “what if” had I not applied. At least they were courteous about it. Mr. Fitzsimmons, Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid, wrote “I wish I were writing to report a different decision, but the competition was so rigorous this year..” I know the message is generic and is sent to all the other students who weren’t accepted but it still sounded nice. 
W.
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