A Tribute to Us
Welcome President Fleegel, Superintendent Sullivan, Principal Lybert, Vice Principal Guden, faculty, family, friends, and most importantly class of 2022. I’m honored to be up here speaking in front of so, so many people. I’ve had the privilege to be the class of 22’s president for 3 years and sure some moments were embarrassing. Yes the yelling contest, but don’t worry we pushed through and became much better. Throughout our school years, our class has experienced many peculiar situations in which I don’t think need to be said, but we all know we’ve had a good laugh.
One word that has stuck with me from my senior year of volleyball, thanks to Coach Schriener, represents our class perfectly. Tenacity. Tenacity is the quality or fact of continuing to exist, persistence. The class of ‘22 has had to push through not only COVID protocols, but a new math course each year. Yes, I’m sure all you remember the beloved Khan Academy or even the Core Connections that we hold so dearly now. Let’s face it, Cool Math Games really taught us what we needed for real life. For example, the strategy and problem solving abilities learned in Bloxorz. Or even the imaginative and time management skills taught in Papa’s Pizzeria. There, now that I exposed our math department (Love you Mr. B) I can truly get started.
After being with the same people for all of our youth, some might think we’re all sick of each other. Though I can’t speak for my class, I keep finding myself thinking about how much I will miss each and everyone of my classmates. It never really hit me that once we graduate I won’t be walking down the senior hallway and choke on the smell of Joey Sullivan’s locker ecosystem. Who knew if you kept feeding your locker a plant would grow and thrive? Thanks Joe for the biology lesson! But not only will I miss my classmates, I will miss the people who molded me into the person I am today. I urge each and every one of you to go up to the teacher who has inspired you and give them the recognition they deserve. At this time I would like to take a moment to remember our teachers who were taken way too soon. Mrs. Jeanne Huml, she was a Stetsonville Elementary 1st grade teacher and the woman who taught me how to count money and learn to appreciate Smokey the Bear. Mrs. Nicole Buechel, she was not only a Stetsonville Elementary 2nd grade teacher, but my neighbor. I remember in 2nd grade I was especially naughty, and she gave me one too many office discipline reports, but looking back now that’s what made me learn to be responsible. And I would also like to honor Mrs. Klemm, she was a Medford Elementary teacher. Even though I didn’t get the opportunity to have her as my teacher, I’m sure she impacted so many lives herself. Life is too short to dwell on what was and not what is. I strongly encourage the class of ‘22 to live life as if there is no tomorrow and take the chance to impact someone else’s life.
I would like to finish my speech off by giving thanks to everyone here tonight. Remember that after we walk off this field our new chapter begins. Keep in mind that the future isn’t always clear and to keep faith. Once said by a master jedi, “Difficult to see. Always in motion is the future” (Yoda). Thank you.
— Hailey Fisher
