Make a difference

“Always finish what you start.” Always finish what you start! These words were spoken by Ms. Martin in my tenth grade AP World Civilization Class. Today we finish what we started four years ago—high School. Today we begin a new chapter in our lives. …
Fellow AMES graduates, we are prepared to turn the first page of this exciting new chapter… with knowledge, confidence, persistence, leadership and real world experience that we gained at AMES.

Fellow AMES students, every minute, every second is precious in our lives. Like Mr. Ramsey would say, “Don’t sit around and wait until someone tells you what to do.” We are not the followers of today or of the future. Rather we are the leaders of today and leaders of tomorrow. Fellow students, remember when I say, ‘Don’t wait until tomorrow to make a difference, you can make a difference today—right now.’ I hope by saying this I make a difference in your lives.

We all have experience in the area of being leaders not followers. Remember in ninth grade when we didn’t know if we wanted to stay at AMES? By making the decision to stay, you made a decision as a leader and not a follower. There are few leaders like us. It is our job to become masters of leading, not for our pride, but to help others in need of guidance… This is the essence of leadership.

I know that I will hear about your great accomplishments. Make every moment count and when you are older, you can look back onto the great things you did for humankind and for our changing society…Remember, you have the power to make a difference.

To conclude my speech I want to thank my family for being part of my life’s journey. Quiero agradecer a mi papa, a mi mama y a david por seguir apoyandome en todo lo que hago... Muchas gracias por averme dado la oportunidad de estar en este hermoso pais y tambien por las ensenansas se de sus experiencias... Gracias por averme dado una educacion con principios y valores para toda la vida. Hoy es el dia que comienzo una etapa muy importante de mi vida...hoy soy una mujer mas independiente pero nunca olvidare las personas que mas amo—a ustedes mi familia. En realidad no hay palabras para describir todo el agredecimiento por todos los sacrificios que an echo por David y por mi.

Los Amo

Graduates, I thank you for indulging me as I thanked the people who taught me how to finish what I started. I hope you will take the time to thank those who have helped you finish what you started. And graduates, we have done it—we have finished what we started: We have finished high school. Congratulations!!!!!!!!