Eads High School Valedictorian Speech - 2004

By Ashley Victoria Brown

May 28, 2004

Family, friends, faculty, administration, and fellow classmates, the day has finally come for the class of 2004 to depart from Eads High School and start a new life. It seems like only yesterday our main concern was who we were going to sit by at lunch, now it is what college should I attend and what career is best for me. There was a time when we all could not wait for today to come, now that it is here, it is hard to believe that it is over. Twelve years of education is now behind us and we are well prepared to undertake any challenge that we may encounter while working to achieve our life goals.

There will be times in our lives when we are forced to make decisions against our heart's will in order to do what is in our best interest. Those decisions will be made under certain circumstances. In effort to expand on this, I will share with you a recent decision that I had to make. For the past two years, I have intended on running for a State FFA Office; and for those of you who know me, you know that FFA has greatly impacted my life. Just a few days ago, I found out that Regis University would not be able to defer my scholarship if I were to run for office. I was faced with the situation where I had to choose my education or serving an organization that I developed an undying passion for. Without the scholarship, I would not be able to attend the university. And that could put furthering my education at risk. Sometimes there are opportunities that we must turn down if they interfere with our ultimate goal. It is not that they are good opportunities; it is jus that the time is not right. There will be opportunities that will reveal themselves more than once, others that will not. For me, I have three more years to run for office. Once we have that one goal in focus and after efforts towards achieving that goal are made, it is then time for us to jump on those opportunities that we may have once passed up. I plan on running for office when I am comfortable with the status of my progress towards my dream of becoming a lawyer. Do not lose focus of your dreams. If

you feel that something you are doing is distracting you from your ultimate goal, put whatever it is on hold and recollect yourself. Prioritize your life, especially your goals. Peer pressure will at times steer you in the opposite direction. You may be told that living your dream is impossible. This is where your dream becomes less visible and it will be easy to give up. Dreams are achievable. They are not a fantasy, but an ambition for living. Everyone has had a dream since they were a child; do not let that dream slip away from you. Just as Langston Hughes said, "hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly."

Members of the staff, thank you for everything; you have taught me more than just my education; you have prepared me for life.

To my parents, brother, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and friends thank you for all your support in everything that I do. I would not be where I am today if it were not for you. I love you all.

Fellow classmates, we all have shared many memories together. Whatever you decide to do I wish you all luck in your endeavors. I will miss you all, and you will not be forgotten. May all your dreams become a reality.