I was the Valedictorian of my high school graduating class. I was never really given that “title.” I was ranked #1 in my class but my school didn’t really recognize that with being “valedictorian.” I once told a friend, who seemed impressed that I had achieved that, that being valedictorian and having a buck will get you a dollars worth of change! Well, I have since learned that being valedictorian did give me some advantages.
Usually, the valedictorian addresses the class on graduation day with a speech but the teachers at my school didn’t feel that just because you happened to rank in the first three spots on the list that you necessarily had the gift of writing a speech worthy of presenting. Instead, the people interested in making a speech wrote one and then they were voted on by the teachers and 3 were chosen.
I am glad that I was not forced into giving a speech. (I didn’t even write one.) I didn’t feel that I had anything of value to say at that point in my life! But 26 years later, I do! I have learned a few things over the years and do feel that I could say something of value to those starting out (or along in their journey).
One of the biggest lessons I have learned is the key is to strive for excellence, not perfection. Perfection is not attainable and you’ll drive yourself crazy trying to get somewhere that you can’t. Instead, strive for excellence in everything that you do.
Another lesson is that you can’t be afraid to fail. It’s only by failing, and then getting back up again, that we truly learn.
A last lesson I have realized is that persistence and hard work get you where you want to go!
You can do it! Strive for excellence, make mistakes and learn from them and keep at it! You’ll get where you want to go!
My name is Jacob, and on Thursday I went to