Studer Community Institute

Words of wisdom from the Class of 2015

June 3, 2015
/ Staff Reports
/ education

Most of us can’t remember our high school graduation speeches, but the people who delivered them will cherish their words a lifetime. Over the past few days, valedictorians across Escambia County took to the stage to leave words of wisdom and tidbits of advice with their classmates, families and friends. With commencement ceremonies over, the members of the Class of 2015 are embarking on other challenges in their young lives. Some will start new jobs while others will leave home for college or military service. The graduation ceremonies for Booker T. Washington, Escambia, Northview, Pensacola, Pine Forest, Tate and West Florida high schools can be seen on YouTube. Visit http://ecsd-fl.schoolloop.com/grad_2015 to access the list and open the link to the school of your choice. Scroll over to the right to get to the actual ceremony’s start. It’s an honor to deliver a graduation speech, and below are some highlights from the speeches given by the 2015 valedictorians at area schools in Escambia County. Escambia High School Valedictorian: Tara Nicole Skipton Salutatorian: Brian James Thompson Class President: Arabihah Nicole Ali Quote: “Don’t take things too seriously. You have 4/5 of your life left, and it is so vital that you enjoy every moment and not worry about things that can’t be changed… why stress? We are going to change this world and we are the next generation that is going to steer this ship. It is now in our hands to better the place we live in and we are going to succeed.” – Skipton Northview High School Valedictorian: Kyndall Lauren Hall Salutatorian: Samantha Elizabeth Sharpless Class President: Jessica McCullough Quote: “As we start this next chapter in life, I encourage you to never forget our relationships. We should never underestimate the influence we can have. We have completed one of life’s milestones Class of 2015. We have made it through the tests, the essays, the projects and every other challenge of school. So, congratulations! Be proud of yourselves and best of luck. Life is short, don’t waste it.” – Hall Pensacola High School IB Valedictorian: Jett Crowdis IB Salutatorian: Tanogela Brown Valedictorian: Krisha Gupta Salutatorian: Cleo Gilman Class President: Lauren Shumpert Quote: “This diploma represents both an honor and a challenge. Today we are being challenged to start independently living with the passions, lessons, and ideals that we have cultivated from the people around us. It is a challenge to rise above mediocrity to contribute to redefine stereotypes and to discover and break the limits of ourselves and the world around us. In short, we are being challenged to contribute to the progress of humanity. This challenge is the final test of our education and what we do with it determines the strength of our legacy.” - Crowdis Quote: “We’ve completed a basic education that will serve as the platform we will use to launch ourselves into our futures. Some will join the military, some the workforce and many of us will further our education as college students. But, each of us will travel our own path, and no matter where we go or what we do, there are challenges ahead of us. What I’m asking from each of you, and from myself, is to meet those challenges straight on with your head held high and heart wide open… do all you can do to reach your full potential. If each of the students in this graduating class can do that, just imagine the effect that will have.” – Gupta Pine Forest High School Valedictorian: Aubrey Leigh Hagle Salutatorian: John Orleans DeGraft-Hanson Class President: Kristopher Kidd Quote: “Welcome to the end of everything you know and the beginning of the rest of your lives…many changes are headed our way on the journey to adulthood. Eventually, we’ll all have to leave our mother’s cooking and find a career we can successfully live off of. No more will our laundry be magically clean when we get home, nor will our dads’ back pocket be the ATM machine we have come to rely on… We are not baby eagles anymore and it’s time to leave the nest. I challenge you all to do just that and find what you are good at, so you can become productive members of society.” - Hagle Tate High School Valedictorian: Hannah Phllips Salutatorian: Sarah Colburn Class President: Shadow Singleton Quote: “I am here to encourage you here today that whatever your plans may be after this to do something that challenges you – something that makes your day worth waking up for. Don’t settle for what will be easy. Reach your potential and in doing so, find your true worth and happiness. We all have big, bright futures ahead of us. After today, what matters is what we do with the opportunities before us.” - Philips Booker T. Washington High School Valedictorian: Michael Dylan Thompson Salutatorian: Grayson Bell Class President: Mallory Lourate Quote: “I issue a challenge to my fellow graduates, in two words, never settle. I don’t want you to ever accept something as good enough, when you know it can be better… I have heard too often that high school is supposed to be the best four years of our lives. I have taken that as my own personal challenge, to make sure that this is not a peak but simply a camping site on my way to my own summit.” - Thompson (He then went on to announce his run for U.S. President in 2036.) West Florida High School Valedictorian--Raleigh Nesbitt Salutatorian---Amy Murph Class President--Makya Richardson Quote: “Through the years, our minds were sharpened and wills strengthened as our influences, associations and experiences shaped the inner characters with which we now personally identify. Most importantly our personal identities were molded by the decisions that we chose to make to define ourselves. As we go forth into the world, a road lies ahead of each individual in the room… and with all of the great and exciting possibilities comes one pertinent truth that holds each of us in its grasp. WE are the commanders of our lives.“- Nesbitt

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Words of wisdom from the Class of 2015

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