Schools

Brighton High School Senior Gives Commencement Address

Harrison Jones bids farewell to his fellow classmates during the graduation ceremony Saturday morning at Eastern Michigan University's Convocation Center.

Following is the speech Brighton High School graduate Harrison Jones delivered Saturday morning at Brighton High School's commencement ceremony at the Eastern Michigan University Convocation Center:

Good morning ladies and gentlemen, distinguished guests, parents, families, staff and students of the Class of 2012.

I would like to start with a quote from this year's smash hit production of Legally Blonde I feel "there is still so much to learn, so many dreams to earn, but even if I crash and burn ten times a day, I think I'm here to stay, I'm going to find my way."

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The world today is a place of uncertainty and misgivings, with issues in the Middle East, European debt crisis accompanied by political and economic uncertaintity in the U.S., Time Magazine has predicted our generation to be the first generation of Americans predicted to be less prosperous than our parents. I can stand here today and tell everyone that even through our different groups and changing atmosphere, we can and will unite to be the generation to prove everyone wrong.

In the past four years we have seen funny, sad and fascinating moments in our high school, everything from a cancelled Winter Fest dance our sophomore year to keep us from "freaking" to Mr. Hudacek's van exploding. We have witnessed the hilarious antics of John Thompson during our pep assemblies, channeling his inner Vanilla Ice, Star Wars trooper and ability to bust through a plywood board with the "greatest of ease." Our class has seen the success of State Hockey and Lacrosse Championships. We have all become familiar with the number and chant 810-623-6447.

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Outside of these interesting high school moments, the world outside has been changing with the end of the War in Iraq and the first black president. We will be one of the last graduating classes to remember experiencing the tragedies of 9/11. Our grade has grown up with Harry Potter and seen the series come to an end along with our fellow graduate Andy from A Toy Story.

Our class can seem divided into groups such as the Cage guys, the Pom girls, the Cheer girls, the Maltby kids and the Scranton kids, the musical kids, the band kids, the robotics kids, the hockey guys, the football guys, the hipsters, the burnouts and the wrestlers. Despite our differences, when called upon by our new administration Dr. Grey and Mr. Johnson, we can and will unite.

The world that awaits us in an immense, chaotic and beautifully uncertain mess and it needs us more than ever. It needs our talent, our creativity and our dreams. It needs our hope, our ideals, our positivity and our risks. It's easy to feel overwhelmed. But as I look out across the sea of faces glowing with passiona and ideas, I have faith that we can and will unite in order to prove the world wrong.

I began this speech with a line from Legally Blonde and I would like to end this speech with a thank you to my peers and my family and with a line from Legally Blonde, "I thank you one and all, the ones who thought I'd fall, who taught me how to fail, who helped me to prevail, I'm standing here to day, because you helped me find my way."

Congratulations Class of 2012! We did it! And as always, GO DOGS!


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