I would like to thank you class of 2006 for the privilege of standing before you to day. “Don’t worry, I won’t keep you long.” Throughout my years at AMES high school I have received a lot of help and support from not only my family but my teachers as well. I never dreamed of having the opportunity to go to an early college high school and I could not have done it without help I received. My family has always been supportive of me throughout my school years, but when I had the chance to go to AMES it became a little bit of a challenge with the transportation involved. Instead of going to a high school that was five minutes away I now had the chance to attend a more elite school a lot farther away. My mother and sister believed in me and provided me with a vehicle so that I was able to gain a better education that we all thought was possible.

AMES has helped me to accomplish one of my biggest goals, which is to become an automotive technician. I was able to go to an internship and work on my certification while I was still in school. The teachers here are very supportive with my schedule, and have always helped me in working around my hours at my internship. I have had a disability which is called colitis ever since eighth grade. This stomach problem causes me to miss a lot of school and I have never had teachers help me and be so caring about it until I came to AMES. Throughout high school I have had some very tough times, I have even gotten to the point where I just wanted to quit and give up! I am here today and ready to graduate because of the teachers who would never give up on me. I consider this school to be one big family everyone is very supportive of each other and are always willing to take the time to help.
Today as you leave with your diploma in your hand remember the good times as well as the bad. Remember the promises you made to yourself and others. Keep in contact with those who have touched your lives including your teachers and peers. Come back and visit! I know our teachers would love to see us again and besides it gives them a feeling of worth. Take time today to thank the people who have helped you make this day possible. In closing, I would like to end with a poem titled “Graduation” from an unknown author.

Look at the person besides you
Tell me what you see
10 years from now
What do you think they will be?
We sit here in our graduation robes
Thinking I can’t wait to get out of here
But I know in your heart of hearts
You will always want to be near.
We didn’t want this past 3 years
To go by so fast
But we will always look at them
As the best times that past.
We’ll always remember the teachers
That were there in time of need
Didn’t want anything from us
Just for all of us to succeed.

Cord G.