2012 CHS Graduation Speech: Morgan Matt and Matoaka Kipp

Matt

Canton High School Class of 2012! How’s everybody doing out there!?!

Let me start by saying what an honor is has been to both represent and serve the class of 2012 for the past four years. Words cannot express the extreme pride that we, as your co-presidents, possess in reflecting the growth of our class. 

Often, we have been noted for our high academic scores, our sports accomplishments, musical success, and individual talents. Without a doubt, our hard work and unique skill-sets deserve to be recognized, but what we would like to primarily address is what truly separates us from the rest: Unity.

Most of our class has grown up side by side, spending nearly their entire educational career together. The joke around Canton is that we grew up in the same sandbox together. Now, because of this, a unique bond amongst peers has been created. This bond, however, extends farther than the Canton natives. The kindness and acceptance exemplified by the class of 2012 is particularly dear to Matoaka and I, who moved here less than five and six years ago, respectively. Although we were new students, we were anything but ostracized. One year after our arrival to the Canton community and school systems, WE were elected as co-presidents. Can you imagine? One year after joining the class of 2012, we, the new kids, were given the honorable title of co-presidents. Such an example of acceptance and genuine love for one another has only continued to be demonstrated over the years.

Kipp

Within the last few months, our class has adopted, what you might call, a favorite saying. Although the origin of this saying is unknown, we would like to share these five words because they truly embody exactly who the class of 2012 is. This saying is usually used after special events, such as discovering how beat the library system by avoiding being “pubuted” at all times- (this really is a skill). It was used after we beat the class above us in spirit week three years in a row (Let’s just say, we’re pros when in comes to food drives). It was used when we managed to miss the first day of school and, to top it off, miss a full week in October. And I am going to use it now. The phrase I am referring to is simply: “Guys, I love our class”. I have heard this more times than I can count in the last couple months.  The mutual love and sense of community developed in the class of 2012 is what we love about our class most. We would like to describe our classmates as extremely caring, accepting, and open; never failing to be enthusiastic about coming together, whether it be spirit week, prom, or a rootbeer keg party. The support we have for one another is really remarkable.

Matt

Although many great high school friendships have been known to fizzle out over the years, we confidently believe that the friendships of 2012 will last a lifetime. Many of the friendships here in the class of 2012, including our own, are unlike anything we have seen before. We truly love our class and… as a prominent vanguard hip hop artist once said “We da Best”.

Hey, I truly believe that. We have a wide array of talents in the class of 2012-Before you, we have future nurses (Steph Gauthier and Hunter Lang), rocket scientist (Colin Gurry), artist and photographer (Ashley Enns and Connor Sutton), Broadway stars (Jillian Goeler and Alex ONeil), future chefs (Ryan Glynnand Ian Melrose), dictators (Simon Ciccarillo and Tom Bastan),Gusty Gumbs: police and criminal justice( I don’t know about you guys, but I look forward to being pulled over and interrogated by Gusty…that should be fun), Ali Coutu and Andrew Millar will most likely be somewhere making drugs...in a lab or pharmacy, and apparently Connor Sutton will also be majoring in, quote, “self-reliance.”

In all seriousness, however, this class has worked hard for their success ….as individuals, teammates, and as classmates. In moving forward, I know success will only continue for the dedicated and conscientious class of 2012. And although we should aspire for the future, remember this: never neglect the present. Take the time to laugh everyday, read a good book, or enjoy one of those delicious beef burrito bowls down at Chipotle. (They are really good). The point is, enjoy the ride….just as these past four years have come and gone, the next four will fly bye even faster. We urge you to do everything that you, you as an individual, want to do with your life. It is not to say that you have to cure the common cold or be the next celebrity, so long as you are pursuing your own life goals.

Kipp

As I was putting my one hundredth fork into the ground a few nights ago, I began to think how lucky we have been to be surrounded by such amazing people and to finally, after four long years, be graduating together. These people include not only fellow students but, the parents, teachers, and faculty. Thank you for inspiring us to be who we are today and motivating us to keep going. Faculty, although we loved staying up until the late hours of the night junior year to finish your homework, we would most like to thank you for your endless support and encouragement. To be both honest and very cliché, we would not be standing here today without you.

For the future, remember to work hard and get a little crazy taking chances. But, for now, let us enjoy ourselves this afternoon. Let us celebrate our accomplishments and not worry about tomorrow or the day after tomorrow. Let us be in the moment because I’m pretty sure that, unless you can think of something more creative, we only graduate from high school once.

Matt

And so, Class of 2012. We’ve got big things ahead of us.

Our future….Our future is so bright.  (Put on sunglasses).

Kipp  

That’s right. We have to wear shades.