2025 IHS Valedictorian full speech
"Hi everyone I'm good evening I stand here today not only as your class 2025 valedictorian but hopefully also as a friend and supporter to many, I want to thank everybody that made it possible for us to be here tonight from parents and family members to our friends and faculty you have loved and guided us through our childhood and it has helped shaped us to the people we are today there have been many times in my life where I felt alone but we'll right in this beach trying to fit in all the people that I'm grateful for I realized that I've never truly been alone so many people have stood by me encouraged me and carried me the times I've fallen most importantly through all my heartaches and hardships I believe God has walked beside me in the same way I believe he walks with each and every one of us and will continue to as we leave behind our childhood to adulthood we are not alone tonight there are 100 of us crossing the stage tonight as we head to the military job or undecided you are a success tonight we are all receiving the same diploma not one better than the other this is a fresh start a new chapter and I am so incredibly proud of all of you I poured my time and effort into becoming valedictorian because I know I could do it and I believed it would help move me forward in life well it certainly has I wish there were titles and honors for being the kindest the most supportive the most loyal and all the other trades God calls for us for us in His image those characteristics may not come with honors or certificates but they build the type of Life and Legacy certificates but they build the kind of Life and Legacy that surely lasts sometimes we forget that success isn't only about grades or Awards but about the kind of person you choose to be I wish we could all be up here speaking because each of us have our own strengths and a story with sharing as we step into the world will begin to see more clearly that character how you treat others how you face challenges how you stay true to your morals and values is what defines real success I won't pretend it's not scary I'm scared right now life is scary growing up is scary leaving behind what's familiar saying goodbye to people we've seen every day for years stepping into the unknown it's all terrifying the times we don't always talk about that part because we focus on the excitement the plans and graduation itself but underneath all of that because uncertainty and that can be overwhelming it's okay to be afraid what matters is that we move forward anyway courage isn't about being Fearless it's about being scared and still taking a leap still taking the job and no matter how scared you might feel remember you're not the only one we're all stepping into something new and we're doing it together I would probably say that none of us have it all figured out even if we think we do I don't even have my license yet and I've never had a real job but we don't have to have it all figured out we just have to do our best and Trust in God in moments of uncertainty I encourage you to hold on to what is good hold on to kindness to compassion to integrity the world is chaotic and it won't be easy to stay true to who you are that's exactly why you have to the Bible tells us do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good as we go our separate ways I hope we all carry the same goal no matter where life takes you or what you do be good and you will prosper" -valedictorian Alyssa Flores