Graduation Speech - 2019 - Union Middle School

Below is my graduation speech for the Union Middle School class of 2019. 

This was an odd speech to write. With everything going on at home these days with the four kids, there wasn't that organic moment I've experienced in years past that spurred the graduation speech to be born. I'm not sure why this year was different. I adore this year's class; it's filled with amazing kids. Even the kids I would see on a regular basis in the office are wonderful young adults. 

About two weeks ago, I wrote down a few bullet points about relationships. It's how I write a lot of my blogs. I take a topic, write down 3-5 main points, add in a few words/examples about each of the five points, and then fill in the details at a later date. A week later, I did just that and expanded on the bullet points, ending up with the below graduation speech. 

What I've got below is 99% of my first draft. That's another difference than past speeches: I didn't do a lot of revisions. It felt a bit odd to me as I've never written a graduation speech this way. I also didn't share the speech with my wife or my usual peer edits. I read it aloud on Wednesday to our assistant principal and that's it. My final few edits came this morning, the day of graduation. I actually started to write a different speech, a more generic one, at 8 am this morning but quickly discarded it. I'm not sure why I was fighting this speech so much.

For whatever reason, I'm glad I stuck with my original words. It's a bit shorter than some of the past diatribes, but that's okay. I'm happy to have had the opportunity to share this message with our students as they promote on to high school. They're such a great class. We are going to miss them.

As always, thank you parents for your support over the past three years, thank you staff for your continued dedication to our students, and thank you students for just being you. 

Here is the graduation speech. Enjoy.

-Todd

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Good Evening Everyone,

For those of you in the audience who don’t know me, my name is Todd Feinberg, and I have been privileged to have been the principal of Union Middle School for the past seven years. As always, it is an honor to stand in front of you all today, amongst our 8th grade class and entire Union Middle School faculty. We truly care about each and every one of our Union Tigers. We hope you all will keep in touch.

To the class of 2019 - congratulations. You've (almost) made it and in a few short minutes, you'll be walking across this stage to signify your promotion from middle school and, perhaps more importantly, your official transition to high school. This is a rather important moment in your young adult lives. Enjoy it.

But first, a few words...

Given this opportunity to address the class of 2019 for one final time, I'd like to thank each and every one of you for being a part of our school campus during your middle school years. We've loved your uniqueness, your charm, your determination, and everything else that's bundled up into the class of 2019. As always, I'd like to share a little advice on the eve of your descent into all things that are high school.

While there’s many tidbits of positive affirmations I could share… such as “take risks, have fun, enjoy these days - they don’t last forever, challenge yourself in everything you do, etc etc…” Instead, I’d like to just talk about relationships and how important relationships are for you moving forward.

It’s because relationships matter. Wherever you go, whatever you do, it's the relationships you've made along the way that highlight who you'll one day become.

Your relationships with your friends matter. I encourage you to be the friend who doesn't just listen but also hears when someone's in need. Try your best to surround yourself with friends who bring you up and not down. Those you meet who thrive on negative attention aren't. truly. friends. at. all. And don't be afraid to make new friends - the person you were at age 6 in kindergarten isn't the same person you will be when you graduate high school in four years - just as you've changed, your friends, current and future, have changed as well. Remember - there is no limit to the number of friends you can have; everyone you meet has the potential to be a lifelong friend. Take advantage of these opportunities to do so.

Your relationships with trusted adults matter. Specifically, your teachers. The ones who gave you a second chance on an assignment that you know you didn't best prepare for the first time around. The ones who spent the afternoons and evenings creating lessons that they hoped would engage and inspire you and build upon your desire to learn. The ones who wrote private high school recommendations for you. The ones who chose you as their Way To Go Student or Nacho Average Student or Deserving Dessert Student. The ones who opened up their classroom for you after hours to finish a test or seek extra help on that challenging classroom assignment. The ones who spent countless hours with you and your volleyball teammates in sixth grade, trying to help perfect your left handed serve. I'm talking about the entire UMS staff who are all present today to watch you walk across the stage. I can't stress enough how important it is to build positive relationships with your teachers. I'm only here today because of a chance encounter with my sophomore high school Spanish teacher - yes, blame Mr. Garcia everyone - who encouraged me to apply for a teaching job that started me on this path. Your teachers have been and will be some of your fiercest supporters. Continue to cultivate those relationships in high school and beyond. And don’t forget to thank them along the way.

Your relationships with your family members matter. Trust me when I say this... even if you are battling your parents or guardians right now on every single logical consequence and limitation they've given you, in about twenty years time, you're going to realize just how right they were about everything that you disagreed with when you were 14. If you're shaking your head right now, saying "oh, it won't be me", then yes, it most definitely will be you. Your parents, your grandparents, that aunt you've never connected with, every family member you may have: they have a love for you that you probably won't understand until you're in their shoes, watching your child, nephew, grandchild walk across the stage at their middle school promotion. My mother in law passed away 18 months ago. Not a day goes by where my wife doesn't share that she wishes that she had just one more chance to talk to her mom. Just one phone call. One hug. Just anything to hear their voice. Students - please take a moment later to write a note to those family members who have helped you get to this point in your life. Thank them for being there for you.

And finally, perhaps most importantly, your relationship with yourself matters. I saved this one for last on purpose. Everyone is always so hard on themselves. You aren't expected to be perfect. Be nice to yourself. Give yourself a bit of grace. If you're one of those students who frequented my office during middle school, think about how our conversations have changed over the past three years and take what you've learned to build upon that success for high school. You are all such dynamic, talented young adults and we want you all to know that we're proud of you, even when the days seem darkest.

I hope you all continue to keep the relationships you've built over the past three years and grow even more moving forward. And if there's anything I can ever do to help you on your journey through life, don't hesitate to ask. Congrats on your promotion. We are all very proud of each and every one of you.