Good evening my fellow classmates, parents, teachers, friends, and families.
Congratulations class of 2008!
Now, many of you out there know that I’m the one with the large family. I love having a large family of nine, soon to be ten, children. The best thing is having so many stories to share. From dinner table conversations to embarrassing moments. There are of course the sad moments, the frustrating moments. And also the happy moments, the moments that stick in your memory.
Recently my sister Theresa sang in the Dogwood pageant and afterwards my youngest sister Anna would go around singing the song and doing the motions that went along with them, attempting desperately to imitate her older sister.
“I got da sun in da mornin and da moon at niiiiiight!”
She was first of all, adorable, but also, illuminated. I saw this glow about her, a light that I looked at and saw as potential talent.
I saw her shining bright, with a smile on her face, and knew she’d grow up to do great things.
All children shine, and like I see the potential in my sister as she shines, so too did our loved ones see potential in us, and expect great things to come from us.
“We are all meant to shine, as children do. We are born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us, it’s in everyone.”
Those words, from spiritual activist Marianne Williamson, I find not only true, but also, very applicable to our graduating class.
We all had that glow as children, and sitting here, on the eve of our graduation, I look out and see that glow still.
You all have that light burning inside you. You need to let it shine!
The light that I speak of in all of you is exhibited in the many talents that the students of our class possess.
I mean it when I saw we have a VERY talented class. Each and every person is great at something, whether it is athletic, artistic, academic, musical, civic service.
I look out and see…the next Olympic pole vaulter, the future artists of exhibits at the art museum… One of you will be causing power outages along the east coast, no names, JAY HOWSON.
A Broadway star is sitting out there, next to the winner of an Oscar for best film of the year, a captain at the Naval Academy… I could go on all night.
Because all of you will go on to college, or into the service, or on to travel…but you will take your light with you and I trust, I HOPE, that you will let it shine!
Live up to the potential your loved ones saw in you when you were younger, and do great things!
You weren’t afraid to boast of your talents when you were younger. Don’t be afraid NOW. If you haven’t yet found what you think your talent may be, that’s OK
Go from here, from Phoenixville, and find your light, your talent.
All of you, take it, work at it, practice it, master it, and USE IT! Use it to do great things.
There IS a glory in all of us that God has placed in us, which is meant to shine! It’s up to us to let out light shine on.
Take every experience set in front of you and learn from it to refine your talents, especially in times of failure. Do not be afraid of failure. We can grow through those experiences.
I know I have gone through experiences that were hard for me and hard for recognizing the glory God gave me in talent. When I came to high school, I was very lucky to find the TV Studio, my second family, and I knew that Broadcasting was what I was going to do with the rest of my life.
Not many people find their passions this early on in life. Not many people find a family in the ones they work with, or go to school with.
But you will find your passion, through knowing your talent. Just keep looking. Keep an open mind… and open mind to the many possibilities out there, and listen to those who love you and those around you who support you.
I have many thanks to extend to Doctor Harrington, Mr. Ramsey, and Mr. Carucci especially, for they constantly pushed me and showed me things I never would have learned on my own.
But, I had to be open to learning new things, and to working hard at making the best out of my skills in communicating.
Communication is one of the hardest, and yet, best skills to learn in your lifetime.
Communicating with others is essential, especially when you have such a large family!
But more importantly, outside of your family. In school, in friendships, relationships, the workplace…and in all of those situations I have had trouble forming bonds of language.
Through experiencing and practicing and just being open to learning the workings of communication, I have understood so much more about finding a common ground in communication with others.
You must all be open to what is out there for YOU.
If you close down on opportunities, or become frustrated due to failure, that will only make your light dim.
Continue to strive to do your best.
Jay, perfect the Tesla Coil, and take over the world! Rachel Kinback, I’d like to do a special report on your exhibit at the Philadelphia Art Museum someday. Ryan Delaquilla, can I have your word I get an exclusive interview after you clear house at the Academy Awards?
I could go through and name all of you, and say what I hope you’ll be doing in the next, five, ten, maybe fifteen or twenty years. But what’s most important is that YOU know what you will be doing.
That you glorify what the Lord has placed in you as talent, and that you see it in yourself.
Think a moment, about where you want to be in ten years. I’m going to count to three, and I want you all to shout it out, the profession you want to have in ten years. Artist, Actor, lawyer, doctor…think about it, and just say it out loud on the count of three. Ready? (pause) One, Two, Three. (pause)
Good Luck Everyone!