Welcome
to our Faculty, Administrators, staff, Parents, Families and of course to the
Graduating Students. Thank you for
supporting our students at this year's commencement ceremony. I am proud and honored today to represent
the Hudson School Board of Education in celebrating our Graduates and offering
some encouraging words as you look to your future. This is a celebration of a great
accomplishment!
I
am encouraged by the future of our youth as I look out at your faces full of hopes,
dreams and aspirations, eager for the next chapter of your life to begin. This is the first chapter in your Journey of
Life, a milestone to be celebrated. You
have spent the past four years achieving the Learner Performance Goals and
developing the Keys to Success. Each and
every one of you has incurred some obstacles and barriers along the way, from
overcoming Academic challenges to personal challenges. Some of those challenges
may have been small and some may have been large but you overcame each one
through persistence and determination to arrive at this day. We are grateful for your many contributions
that make our school shine in the community including: Academics, Athletics,
Performing Arts, FFA, Yearbook, Newspaper and the many other extra-curricular
programs that benefited from your talents.
I
am reminded of a phrase that my Grandfather always said when we complained
about the demands of school. He would tell
us “Get an education – it is the one thing they can’t take away from you”. I didn’t quite understand what he meant until
much later in life, but those words always guided me when faced with some
obstacle.
You
see my Grandfather came to this country with nothing but a Dream. He sold his homemade Mexican food from a
stand on a street corner in New Orleans beginning in the early 1930’s. He
taught himself English and studied to become a US Citizen. He earned enough money to purchase a ½ acre
of land in a thriving city to build a home and raise his family. He encouraged all of his children and
grandchildren to get an education. He knew that an education was the Ticket to
leveling the playing field and making one competitive in the job market.
Through
his persistence, overcoming obstacles, along the way he found success, even
during the Great Depression, all because of his determination to achieve his
American Dream of a better life.
Getting
a High School Education today is just as important as it was many years
ago. It truly is the Ticket to leveling the playing
field. Once you walk across the stage
today, you will ALL be High
School Graduates regardless of your background or status. You have developed a great foundation and
have acquired the keys to success to begin the next chapter in life.
I
challenge you to continue to “Get an Education” whether you step directly into
the workforce, enlist the military service or pursue Higher Education. With an education you have choice – Learning
from every situation you encounter.
As
I stated earlier, I didn’t quite understand what my grandfather meant until
experiences witnessed much later in
life, for instance: You can be laid-off, downsized, have to move from your home
or any number of unexpected life events but you still have your education. I never wondered what I would do or where I
would work because I had an Education – that gave me choice, freedom and
security as well as a chance to give back to my community.
Now
because of your persistence and determination along with the encouragement of
your parents, teachers, family and friends, you have the same opportunity to
build upon your educational foundation acquiring choice, freedom, security and
community engagement along the way.
Today
as you leave the stage the field is level –You earned your Ticket!
What is your DREAM?
What
will you do with it? Where will you go? How will you continue to engage your
community?
Use
your Ticket Wisely and be amazed at the places you will go and the fun you can
have!
On
Behalf of the Board of Education, Congratulations to each one of you– Enjoy
your Journey!
Karyn Finn
Hudson School Board Director
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