Schools
WHS Class of 2012 Graduation Speech | Valedictorian Yue Ren
Ren speaks about his immigration from China to the U.S. and asks his fellow classmates to let their passion for life guide them through it.
The following is the text of the speech given by Wakefield Memorial High School's Class of 2012 Valedictorian Yue Ren at WHS's graduation ceremony on June 2, 2012:
After four years, we have finally made it here! Congratulations Class of 2012!
"Having written a quite lengthy recollection of my high school experience, I should get into it right away. During the golden ages of freshmen year, I remember the first geometry quiz I took on September 14th, 2008 and what I got on it. Next, I remember my first English test taken on September 15th, 2008 and what I got on it. In addition, I can recall my first biology test taken on September 21st, 2008 and what I got on it.... (pauses – rips speech)
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Yeah, I was not actually going to do that! It is strange reaching this point in our lives because this is a convergence of past, present, and future. It’s like a space-time warping wormhole. We start to recall the highs and lows of our high school careers, we live this proud moment of graduation, and we dream about the future of what we aspire to be. So yes, we are pretty much time travelers.
Every one of us is unique because of the experiences that have shaped us. I will not pretend to know what you had to do to get here on this day. I only know my slice of life. So, what I will talk about is Yue (pun intended).
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When I first came to the United States from China, I was three years old. Going into preschool and then kindergarten, I always felt different and limited because of my language barrier. Although I eventually spoke English as fluently as I did Chinese, it still was hard fitting in. To fit in is all any kid wants: to be considered normal and to settle in without drawing unwarranted attention. This desire lingered in the back of my head and though it did not consume me, I tried to remain nondescript for fear that my little world might just blow up. Clearly, I was completely rational.
Hitting high school, we all matured a little (hopefully), and my sentiments had also developed a bit. As Mr. O’Leary put it: “Time will fly by,” but this observation made me more anxious than anything – anxious because I knew time at high school was limited. In some ways, I think that partially fueled why I poured hours into all my extracurricular and academic pursuits. I felt I had to strive twice as hard to obtain my goals, in small part because I was dreadfully slow at completing work, and in large part because of this notion that I was indebted to the fact that the U.S. allowed me through its gates and granted me citizenship and the privileges of being an American. I appreciated the fact that, relatively speaking, America was a meritocracy and rewarded hard work. Motivation. Motivation is a most precious fuel and a commodity rather difficult to find. However, motivation and ambition must be found because it is what propels us in life. As with what I learned, there is no better motivation, than motivation by passion.
Oftentimes, the harder I ran the harder I fell. One of the most valuable things that I have learned is to embrace failure no matter how bitter it is. Sure learning from mistakes is awesome, but facing failure is a test of character. Will you let it consume you or will you consume it with the hope of making tomorrow better? In every case, the former is the easiest thing to do while the latter is the tougher way to emerge. I am sure many of my peers (actually, I know this for a fact) have called me crazy for working like I did. Well, the truth of the matter is that everybody has the capacity to achieve his or her own potential.
Look around you. Whether you are a student, athlete, musician, or simply a solid citizen, we all strive and build accomplishments with the tools of toil. Eventually, there comes a time when we reap the fruits of our labor, such as winning the League Championships for Cross Country, or winning the Platinum Medal at NESBA for Marching Band, or going to the Superbowl for football, or invading the Garden and parting the Red Sea for the Hockey team, just to name a few.
So what? My answer is because hard-work is worthwhile and tasting bitterness before sweetness makes the fruit taste that much sweeter. Because looking at a daunting mountain inspires awe, but climbing the mountain gives you a thrill like no other, and at the peak you will realize that you have just climbed that insurmountable mountain; you’re the man! However, getting there is never easy, but there lies support in friends and family. Support will ease the way, but the initiative is yours to take. The inescapable truth is that you are the only one who can make things happen. You are the only one to define your own success. You are the only one who lives your life.
Before taking that leap into the next chapter of our lives, think about everything you have built and the experiences that have built you. Think about the people who have helped you and the intense loyalty with which they stuck with you. Before I finish, here is a big round of applause to all faculty, friends, and family. Here is big thank you to Mr. Hoover, Mr. Rozzi, Mrs. Prosperi, Mrs. Levine, Mr. Brennan, Mr. McKenna, Mr. Pappas, and to all who have guided me through these four years. We are truly lucky to have such great mentors and we all would do well to never forget them. Finally, thank you mom and dad because I owe you more than the world.
As we are about to embark on our separate journeys to college, to the workforce, or to the military, remember your past and your roots. These form the basis of your identity and your uniqueness. That is why that notion of fitting in and being normal is so paradoxical. It is time to embrace yourself and to stand out with your strengths while keeping in mind your weaknesses. Let your passion and practicality guide the way to both success and failure. With that said, go forth proudly and humbly because life is short, and we have already spent a quarter of our lives. Because we are given this one chance to obtain happiness and to live all the richness that life has to offer. So dedicate your life to those around you and help each other attain that happiness. With some luck, the world will not end this December 21st, so seize life and relish it!
Congratulations class of 2012 and best wishes to all!
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