8th Grade Promotion Speech: Mia Tuccillo

First, I want to say thank you to Mr. Scheideler and all the Canton Middle School staff and teachers for two memorable years. I would also like to
thank my family and on behalf of my fellow students I say thank you to their friends and families as well.

OK…… I am going to ask that each eighth grader turn to the person to his or her right… and ask them to tell you their middle name. If there is no one on your right… ask the person right behind you or in front of you. If they do not have a middle name… ask them to make one up. Okay… Go ahead… Done… Great!

Now…… your job, for the rest of your life is to never, ever forget this person’s middle name. Please commit it to memory. At any moment in the future, when you least expect it, I may find you and ask you “So, what is the middle name of the person you sat next to on promotion night.” Some of you will surely remember. Some of you will not. Some of you will only remember the color of their shirt or dress. And, some of you will not even know what I am talking about.

So, now you may be wondering what in the world is my point. Well, certain
memories stick with us while others do not. Why is this? Why is it that some details stay with us and others are locked away? No matter how hard we try, particular details escape you while others are crystal clear.
Memories are a tricky thing. The silliest ones often stay with us forever
while seemingly significant ones fade away.

Why is that you can easily remember that John Solomon wore his sneakers backwards one day in 7th grade? But you can’t recall what time of year it was. Why is that you can easily remember that Mark Iovine got his pants
stuck in his trumpet during band? But you can’t recall what type of music
Miss Corbett chose that year. Why is it that you can remember the day
where everyone but Henry McKenna had Henry McKenna’s agenda? But you don’t recall what you scored on any supplies checks. Why is that you can see as
clear as day Pearl Allen advertising for Life Alert in drama? But you can’t recall anything about any experiential class you took these last two
years?

Well…… I have thought about this a lot. Why do we lose sight of the big picture but still latch on to the smallest memories? I believe that the answer simply lies with the individual. Memory is an individual experience.

We are part of a family… we are part of a community… we are part of a school. However, when our time together comes to an end and you head down new and open roads… try as you might… the only person that comes with you is yourself. You pack up your memories and head out the door. And even though your bag is swollen with all your experiences and all the things you have seen and learned and done, certain moments seep out and help you create yourself. It’s all about choice. The choices we make consciously as well as the ones that come from far within. You, and you alone, are the one who will decide when to turn left and when to turn right… you, and you alone, will decide what to make of your education… you alone will decide what to take with you and what to tuck away.

As the years go by, your overall middle school life may become more and more difficult to recall. The big picture will become fuzzier and fuzzier.
But that’s ok. Because all in all, school, and for that matter life, is like a memory card full of snapshots. They are your snapshots to use as you see fit. You will print out the ones you like and save the others for a different time.

However…… once in a while, even when life seems too full and too challenging, try to take a moment and look through ALL your snapshots and try to remember as much as you can.

Because even though only a selection of memories is easy to recall, it is actually the stringing together of the small moments that truly created the experience. Your experience. The good and the bad. The small details as well as the grand journey. Together, they have made you who are you are, tonight, and who you will be in the future.

So, get out there and create lots of small moments for your self Delight yourself in the happy moments of your friends and classmates while always attending to the bitter moments you are sure to witness.

Four more years, and our bags will be packed… packed with the moments of
our childhood. Packed and ready to take you where you want to go.

But for now, you are still here. You can work hard but still be a kid. You can be carefree and have fun. While you’re opportunities may not be as plentiful, your worries are scarce. So enjoy your time here.

In conclusion, thank you for electing me your student council president. Good luck to everyone next year. Whether you follow me beyond the third floor or head off to a new school, I wish you all the best.

Because we will never forget you.