Hello everyone, {and} good evening! I would like to offer a warm welcome to our friends, family, staff, and all of our excellent Grade 8 graduates. If you don't already know me, my name is Athiyah Joinvil, and I am thrilled to be here today. First, I want to thank everybody for coming out today to support our amazing Grade 8 students. Let's have a round of applause for them! And another for all of the excellent teachers and staff who made it happen!
As I stand here today, looking at you all I am filled with pride because we've all gone so far and accomplished so much. 8th grade is a big milestone, but it’s only the beginning. I want you all to remember school isn't just about being the best or outperforming your peers. It's about personal progress. Did you improve today compared to yesterday? Can you confidently say that you're a better student now than when you started? It may not be a huge change, but maybe you added more detail to your work or completed something you didn't want to do. Progress happens step by step, little by little, and that's how you become a better person, and a better student.
As you head into high school, you have four years to {really} think about where you want to go and what you want to do. Set your goals high and pursue what you truly want to do, not just what's expected of you. Find something that excites you to wake up in the morning and makes you eager {to go} to sleep at night. But most importantly, take your time and have fun because you only live once. Know that, in the words of the late Chadwick Boseman, "Whatever you choose for a career path, remember the struggles along the way are only meant to shape you for your purpose."
Graduation is a time to reflect on all we've accomplished and to set our sights even higher for the future. As said best by Nora Ephron, "Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that's yours to lead." {So you know what?} Let's make a promise to ourselves right now: to never give up on our dreams, no matter how big or small. It's been a pleasure getting to know all of you over the past year. Thank you all for making 8th grade such a great year. As I am an actor and it's bad luck to say good luck, Congratulations! and Break a leg!
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