The View at the Top of the Stairs

This was the speech I gave at Balboa Academy's 2009 Graduation.

I would like to thank Juliet for her strength and support to get this speech done. Without her confidence in me I doubt I would have had anything more than a piece of paper filled with angry scribbles and funny drawings.

I would also like to thank Dr. Sirias, who, for one more time at Balboa Academy (I plan on asking for his help in the future as well -- just because I graduate doesn't means he's off the hook), went over this speech for me. When I asked Dr. Sirias for ideas for this speech, he said I should go up in front of the crowd and talk for an hour about how amazing he is. Obviously, I didn't. Instead, this became the final product. Thank you for all your help Dr. Sirias.

The View at the Top of the Stairs

Everyday students at Balboa Academy have to climb at least three flights of stairs to get to their classes. Along the way, the walls are decorated posters that have corny sayings on them. On days when we are full of energy, excited about our classes and ready to learn, we don’t notice these posters. Nevertheless, I know that everyone of us has read at least one each day because every time we climb those stairs we need to rest to catch our breath. And all of us at Balboa Academy know and respect those stairs: they are probably the hardest workout most of us get.

Anyway, back to the clichéd posters: one in particular always catches my eye. It says, “Teachers can only show you the door, but you must enter by yourself.” When I see this one it usually just means there are only about ten seconds left to get to class before the bell rings. But when I stop to think about it, the lessons we have learned from our teachers go far beyond the boundaries of the classroom.

What’s more, when I say teachers, I don’t just mean those at Balboa Academy who have dealt patiently with us these past three years, five days a week—and for this we are grateful; but I mean our parents, our siblings, and our friends—they have all taught us something throughout the years.

Our parents have stuck by us and cared for us unconditionally, even when we did something wrong. But think about this: Did they really have a choice? Regardless, they have been our teachers since we were born, helping us differentiate between right and wrong, nurturing our development for the day—which has arrived today—when we will have reached the top of these stairs and stand before that door into adulthood, poised to make our own decisions. For this, parents, we are also eternally grateful.

Our siblings, even if they are very annoying—like my brother Aaron—love us dearly. We need to remember the good times, as we’ve helped each other grow and mature. At the end of this summer, our paths will begin to diverge.

And now, Class of 2009, I want you to look at your classmates. At Balboa Academy we have become a family of our own. One of my favorite moments was during Field Day this year, when we made a giant huddle, jumped around and chanted, “Seniors! Seniors!” The ringing roar of our voices and the terrified look on the faces of the freshmen will be etched in my memory forever. We are, I believe, the most united class Balboa Academy has ever seen.
So here we are today, at the top of the stairs at this crucial stage of our lives, standing in front of that door that leads into the future. All we have left to do is open that door, enter on our own, and become adults others can rely on. But for now, let’s just say goodbye and, more importantly, let’s always remember the lessons we’ve learned from all our teachers—at Balboa Academy, at home, and among friends.