By Michelyn Whitford
LCSS 2018 Valedictory
Hey, thank you everyone. For those of you who don’t know me my name is Michelyn Whitford. I have lived in Williams Lake my entire life. I have attended Lake City Secondary for all years of high school.
It has been so amazing to attend school with all of the bright minds who sit behind me. I am so honored, to be representing the class of 2018. We have been through so much together, from exams, provincials, fun-days, nights out at the lake, and of course some Monday night games. And who doesn’t love that!
We are the class of 2018, and I’m truly proud of each and every one of you, for achieving your goals, and being able to walk across this stage.
So here we are my fellow graduates, a day that we have always imagined, a day we have worked so hard for, we completed our grad trans! Well I hope!
But in all seriousness, and as cliché as it sounds, we made it. After all the years of being called a sausage by Mr. Csizmadia, we pushed through what we may have thought as impossible and passed English twelve! We are now free of being called a noodle by Gobs, and hopefully, if we are lucky, done with the conversion of moles.
So today, I want to remind you guys, my fellow grads, to look back and remember your high school experience with an open heart, and realize that all of the challenges, inside and outside of school, all the stress, the heart aches, and self-battles have all worked together to prepare us for the step that we are taking today, the step which puts us closer to our final goodbyes of our high school careers and step closer to a brand new beginning.
Over the years I have truly recognized the mental growth we have all achieved. And of course, making it through all of our awkward stages, but don’t worry grads we have all been there.
The most change and biggest lessons we have all learned have been to do with our mentality and how we express ourselves. We have all experienced, loss and gain in life, and how we have reacted has truly determined who we will become.
And with the growth and bonding we have shared, we have all become one close grad class, and I will truly remember that forever.
In high school we all feel on top of the world, and invincible, and I think this is because high school is like an escape for many, an escape from real life. It is a place where we can all feel free to comfortably express ourselves, and learn in so many different ways. This made me realize over the past couple of days that in a sense, we are starting over. Starting a new time in our lives to succeed outside of high school. We get to see the world as young adults. And we have guided ourselves here with the help of family, guardians, staff and each other.
I would like to thank my Mom for always being there when I need it the most and for guiding me to the light when I feel lost in the dark. I would like to thank my older sister Montana for being my best friend and for teaching me how to be strong.
I would like to thank all of the staff at WL, including Mrs. Ives for always being supportive and helpful at all times, Mrs. MacKinnon for being understanding and patient with me when I lose my assignments in my binder, and Mrs. Gobolos for always giving the best advice about school and life after high school. I encourage all of you to thank those who have made a difference for you before we finish school.
My fellow grads, I hope you remember that we are living the good old days as we speak so continue to create good memories while you can. And I wish you all the success, happiness, and love the world can give you. You have all worked so hard, and deserve the best in life.
Thank you all for being a part of my high school experience, you all mean so much to me, grads and staff I thank you. Peace.