I have a very special post today for this Throwback Thursday. After cleaning up some old documents on my computer, I stumbled upon my high school graduation commencement speech from 2011. I had the honor of delivering this speech almost four years ago and it is very dear to me. It is crazy how much has already changed since then. I hope you enjoy!!

Good evening class of 2011, family, and friends. Welcome to the night that is the end of an era but really the beginning to the rest of our lives. As we look back on our high school years I ask you to think about the things you have learned. Not necessarily academically, but what did you learn about yourself, your friends, and your world that is constantly changing around you. Obviously none of our lives are perfect or free from struggle, and personally I have seen a change of reliance on others to a reliance of God and His overall guidance. As high school seniors we often limit ourselves to what we are truly capable of achieving, possibly believing “well I will do great things when I get to college,” but Class of 2011 you proved that we are capable of changing the world. Permian came together and raised close to $17,000 on their own to help other students in Kenya who we have never even met through Friday Night Hope. So don’t let people say you will do great things after high school, we did great things this year. If anyone knows the people of this class I would believe that they would say we are a very driven group of young adults. Always striving for excellence and the determination to succeed.

As seniors it is hard not to get caught up in the word thrown into our face daily, that being “future”. With questions from the end of our junior year like,” where are you going to college”, or “what’s your major”. All pending questions that have consumed our thoughts for the past year. Abraham Lincoln once said that, “The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.” I hope though we can look back and say we enjoyed the moments of today. We made memories going to football games and pep rallies, spending time with friends, maybe harassing our teachers, getting dressed up for Prom, and overall making a memory of this moment right now. Take a mental picture it will be one that lasts a lifetime.

We have to take time to thank our family that has supported us these past years. I think many of our families have learned that loss is prevalent, but how we handle that loss helps shape us as the person we have become. And to our parents who have put up with our drama, frustration, our late nights, and our grades we say thank you. Thank you for being our constant support and voice of reason that we may not always agree with, but in our minds know is right. You have always had our best interest at heart.

When we look back ,the one thing you will always remember are your friends. Your friends are who shape the person you are. The type of people that you surround yourself with will always change, but it’s important to have friends that will edify you and push you to do what is right. And if your blessed enough you will find a friend that could ultimately become a part of your family.

Historically how our world has changed has been unreal from the time we were in elementary. We sat at our school in the third grade as we watched 9/11 unfold right before our eyes, to finding justice our senior year with the death of the mastermind behind that catastrophic event. Things change, people change, and media changes as well.

How would you say a high school student survives? We survive by Skype, twitter, and Facebook anyway we can stay in touch with everyone you possibly can, and constantly posting statuses about what we are doing even though secretly we all know, no one really cares! Music has obviously changed. We grew up listening to things like Backstreet Boys, Nsync, Britney spears to Usher, Black-eyed peas, Katy Perry, or everyone’s favorite Justin Bieber. We use music to describe our emotions, our mood, or even to tell the days of the week. Thanks to Rebecca Black we can all know what day comes after Friday, and then the day after that.

But in 10 years everything will be different again. iPhone number 12 will be out, there will be a new crazed teen obsession with hair that flips, and most of us will be close to 30. Some will have families, be major CEOs of companies, or even changing our world for the better. But none of this would be possible without this moment right now. Congratulations Class of 2011 may the dreams of your past be the reality of your future.

If you enjoy please share with your friends and be sure to check out my other posts! THANKS!

With love from me to you,

Nichole XO