Family, Friends, Romans, Countrymen, and Terds-

Joke [I left out my joke right here, because it was not written down anyways.  I will be posting my joke later in the Jolly Jokes page of my Website.  The joke ties in with the rest of the speech.]

My decision to ask Mr. Hunter to come down affected Becky indirectly.  I did not know that in doing this, that would affect her decision to move.  Everyday decisions are made that affect us directly or indirectly.  It can be a drunk driver on the road, choosing to accidentally take the life away the ones we loved so dearly.  It can be the decision of a couple to get married, and later finding out things didn’t really work.  It can be the simple decision not to study and then regret failing a class and then forced to take it again.  Often enough, we don’t see the direction where these decisions are heading.  Sometimes the outcomes of these decisions are so unexpected that we turn away from them and pretend like nothing has happened.

Two years ago, I made a decision that affected me both directly and indirectly.  A small group of my friends and I were out late one Friday night.  We were celebrating the Baseball victory against Desert Christian.  That night we played hide-and-go-seek and cards and made a small bonfire.  It was almost past four a.m. when we decided that it was time to go home.   We had two designated drivers—one was heading toward Johnson Valley, the other heading into town.  Right then I made the decision of my life.  I didn’t really know what to expect when I made that decision—maybe just the thought that I want to be in bed.  I just wanted to go home and sleep and did not go with my friend who drove to Johnson Valley.  In making this decision, I realize that it is why I am still standing here today.  A while after I got home, I got news that my friend Jake, who was driving the other vehicle, and my friend Tyler got in a car accident.  Jake suffered minor injuries from the accident, while Tyler, till this day, is sitting in a wheelchair.  I couldn’t believe what had happened.  I wished and wished that it was all a lie and bad dream and that everything would be all right.  The whole thing finally hit me like a train when I visited my friend Tyler at Loma Linda.  He was all scratched up and he lay on the bed with no emotions.  I was speechless.  I started to tear up a bit and didn’t know what to do.  Tyler and the Warnock family started comforting me.  Then Tyler said something that made me realize the importance of my decision: I’m glad you didn’t come with us.  If you were in the back seat, you wouldn’t have made it.

So stop and think about the decisions you make each day.  Realize how great and wonderful each day is, just because you can make your own decisions.  Quit putting off all the things you wanted to do, because you don’t know what will happen in the next minute.  James A Michener once stated, “Don’t put off tomorrow what you can do today, because if you enjoy it, you can do it tomorrow.”

These four years of high school have put color into my life.  I loved the people around me and the people I interacted with.  My friends and teachers have really made these years the best.  I don’t know where I would ever find such great people and supporters.  I want to thank my best friend Desire’ for always being there for me and doing her best to please everyone, even when she probably doesn't want to.  I want to thank Stephanie for the constant competitor in everything and allowing me to realize what it takes to strive for something beyond reach.  I want to thank Marty, my oldest friend, for always arguing with me, yet always so true and dependable that I don’t know what I would do without him.  I want to thank my friend Christina Holme for being sensitive to my feelings and standing up for me when I am too scared.  My friend Christina Sisk, I want to thank you for always being the happy person you are and letting me appreciate the happiness hidden in this world of ugliness.  And Heidi and Sandra, one filled with endless laughter and confusion, the other filled with silence and seriousness, has showed me the importance of friendship in a family.  Jake, I thank you for your secret companionship and aide in times of need.  And the most important friend of all, Tyler, I thank you for being you, and for believing in yourself when you felt like you lost hope.  I thank you for being strong, so the people around you can be strong.  I thank you for not giving up hope and to continue life with happiness, pride, and courage for the future.

Each and every teacher on campus has given me all the assistant and encouragement I could ever asked for throughout these last four years.   I feel very privileged to have each and every one of you as my guidance and wisdom.  You have all brought me moments of happiness and curiosity.  I will truly miss the effort and dedication the staff has put into our education and into the success of our future.  I will definitely miss falling asleep in Mr. Little and Mr. Hood’s classes.  I will miss arguing with Mr. Hood about his million pairs of shoes.  I will miss racing with Mr. Little during Baseball games, even though he cheats and never lets me win.  I will miss storming in into Anita’s room to beg for help on college classes and for a place of peace and silence.  I will miss Mr. Van Bavel’s Canadian “A”, his corny jokes, and his sudden sparks for new ideas.  I will miss Mr. Wortham’s sarcastic remarks and his travel stories and constantly arguing with Mr. Johnson that I grew taller.  I want to thank Mrs. Perry for inviting me a place to work in and for taking me to various cool field trips.  I want to thank Mr. and Mrs. Schlenz for putting the welfare of other people in front of themselves and for giving me a trip to remember.  I will miss Mrs. Monson telling me stories about her little grandson and that she never seems to have enough chocolate.  I thank Mr. Halamicek for his relieving the stress of college preparation and for giving me a head up in what to expect.

And Becky, thank you for everything.  Thank you for giving me the best shoulder to cry on, for listening to me complain and argue with Marty in the morning, for helping me with everything, for explaining old people’s jokes to me, and most importantly, for being a mom and a friend.  And to Mr. Hunter: you have really been a light in my life.  You’re always there to assist me in my endeavors and to listen to my jokes.  I will really miss everything about you.  And Mrs. Hunter, I will no longer be around to keep an eye on Mr. Hunter and to make sure that he eats before the board meeting.

Finally, I just want to say high school has been fabulous and thank you to the community for their constant support.  Thank you to my family, grandpa, grandma, mom and dad, and my sister Mo Mo for their everlasting support and dedication.  And to the Class of 2005, don’t prejudge the people you may meet away from home.  While in college the hairy person to your left will one day be your lab partner, the stinky person to your right will one day be your roommate, the drooling person in the back will one day be your best friend, and the sleepy head in the front will be the one you’ll spend the rest of your life with.  Just remember everyday is a new beginning, waiting for us to grasp it.  Carpe diem everyone, seize the day, make your lives extraordinary.  And lastly for Marty and Mr. Little, schwann to everything!