Beginning Of An Essay

I started my graduation speech. I like where it's headed. I just want to make it as applicable and moving as possible. I want it to be remembered. I want to be able to look around at my class, knowing I'm their equal, knowing we made it through this thing called high school together. It wasn't pretty, that's for damn sure. But nobody said it would be. 

Most of us came into high school as wide eyed fourteen year old kids. Some of us have faced harder times than others and will leave hardened, toughened, and accepting of the evils the world offers. Others haven't faced such hardships and will be leaving as wide eyed eighteen year olds. Neither of those is the wrong way to leave either. 

The real world will be different than high school, that much I can assure you of. But different; different isn't necessarily bad. 

Those leaving wide eyed will view it as another beautiful opportunity. Those who were hardened will approach it more cautiously, and maybe more realistically. There is nothing wrong with being wide eyed or hardened, and there is nobody saying a hardened individual can't still be optimistic. The only thing I'm saying is that some people have had it harder than others.

Whether or not you had it rough in high school, the only thing that is going to matter come June 1st is whether or not you stuck it out and finished. 

I'd say survived, but we did more than survive high school, we thrived. 

NP: Mind Your Manners- Chiddy Bang