Valedictorian address

Good evening parents, friends, administration and especially, the class of 2022!

I would like to start off by saying that I am honored to be standing up here today as the valedictorian of the 2022 class.

This has been something that I have been dreaming of for as long as I can remember and I would not be standing up here today it it wasn’t for my family and friends.

I would like to start off by thanking my dad, thank you for making me spell my spelling words, forwards, backwards and ten times if I spelled just one word wrong.

And next, my neighbor Holly for trying to convince my parents if I got valedictorian that I would get a brand new car. (Even though that is probably not going to happen) And mom, thank you for curling and braiding my hair for every event, I am very grateful for this because I am 17 and still cannot do it myself.

Finally Rachel, I am glad you finally teached me how to fix my grammar. Wait did u catch that Rachel. I’m glad you finally taught me how to fix my grammar. I just can not say thank you enough to my parents, grandparents, teachers and everyone else who has helped me along the way. Even if it is just the little things like I just mentioned. But that is enough talk about me, let’s talk about our class!

Well.. we did it! We are officially Gilman graduates. We have completed one of the biggest milestones in our life so far. Parents, you are probably wondering where the time has gone. It seems like just months ago you were watching us get on the bus for our first day of school. All those holiday concerts, sports games, award ceremonies and field trips have led up to this moment. We have called this school home now for the past 14 years. Time goes by fast. I was always told that high school was the fastest four years of your life. They were right! Here we are now today, graduating high school. This is something that we have all been dreaming of and is now coming true. But graduation is not the end. Every end is a new beginning. Our new journey starts today, right now. Some of us are going off to college, some are going to the workforce and some may just not know what they want to do yet. But that’s ok. Graduating is a launching point into our future. Along the way we may reach opportunities and even face obstacles. But these obstacles are not going to slow you down but rather help you grow as a person. We have proven that we will show personal growth just by being here today. Showing everyone that we are ready for the next steps of our life. To our family and friends, just know that just because we are moving on to our next steps of life, does not mean that this is not our home. This is our home where we grew up and nothing will change that.

I would just like to thank everyone once again for coming tonight to celebrate our graduation. It means the world to us having all this support here tonight. I would not be the person I am today without everyone and especially, without my parents. I love you mom and dad and I am so grateful for everything you have done for me! But I have one last message to say to the classmates I have grown up with before we all go our separate ways. This may be the end of our chapter, but this is not the end of your story! — Abby Krug