Good morning, Ladysmith.
I’d like to start by acknowledging that we work, learn, and play on the unceded territory of the Stz’uminus First Nations. I’d also like to thank the class of 2024. After all, it’s your fault that I'm standing up here. Additionally, I’d like to thank all the staff at LSS for helping us walk across the stage today.
Thank you to all the teachers: to the PE teachers for giving us the knowledge to maintain our physical and mental health; to the humanities teachers for teaching us critical thinking skills and fascinating history and literature; to the science teachers for giving us an in-depth understanding of how our world works; to the math teachers for teaching us the problem-solving abilities required in everyday life; to the electives teachers for allowing us to pursue and expand our interests; to the EAs who are always supportive and ready to lend a helping hand; to the cafeteria teachers who make the most delicious meals and teach us to work in a kitchen environment; to the staff at the Key who are always there to encourage and facilitate learning; to the office administrators for keeping our school organized; to the principal and vice principal for your leadership and direction; to the maintenance workers for keeping our school running. And thank you, of course, to the custodians who, despite the boys' bathroom, always have a smile on their faces and a friendly word to say. I don’t know how you guys do it. Lastly, thank you to anyone else who has supported, motivated, or inspired the graduating class over these past five years.
And what a five years it's been. Starting high school is a big transition for anybody, but for us, we had eight months to get used to high school before the world went into lockdown. This changed the course of our education and our lives over the next two years. Our Grade 8 year saw us quarantined, doing all of our schooling online. In Grade 9, we returned to a new challenge: staying awake during a three-hour class. Not being able to socialize outside of our cohorts left us feeling disconnected from our communities. But we persevered, not only through COVID but also through TikTok trends, like the one where we stole from school and posted it on social media, or the one where we ate laundry detergent in little colorful packets. I'm glad we’ve all grown from that.
Our senior years brought us into a new chapter of our lives where we transition into adulthood. Many of us have already made plans for our future careers and post-secondary education. Our Grade 12 year has been a fun and exciting experience, with the student council, grad committee, and prom committee planning activities that make our last year in high school memorable and enjoyable.
As we reflect on our journey through high school, it is clear to see that all of us have grown tremendously despite adversity in our environment. We have all learned so many valuable lessons during our time at LSS, and I'd like to share some of the lessons I have learned during my time here.
My time at high school has been a period of tremendous personal growth. I’m not the person that I was when I first walked through the doors of LSS, and neither are any of you. This school has enabled us to grow into the individuals that we are today. This great change in character initially seemed intimidating, but as we mature into young adults and leave our childhood behind, it's easy to see not only the necessity of this change but also the fun in it. Our time at high school has taught us that change is not something to be feared, but embraced; change allows us to progress and adapt as individuals.
The biggest lesson I learned in high school is the importance of pushing through adversity. If you were to tell me five years ago that I would one day be valedictorian, I certainly wouldn't have believed you. I say that because I had a complete breakdown on the first day of school. On the drive to school, I kept repeating, “I can’t do this” over and over. When we got to school, my brother had to coax me out of the car. After I entered the school, I completely broke down. I started crying, and my brother walked me out of the building. That was day one for me. But I went back the next day, and the day after that. After some time, school became tolerable, and then school became fun.
Now I stand before you, five years later, as the valedictorian of the graduating class. I think this story is reflective of everyone's experiences. I’m sure everyone in this room has had an “I can’t do this” moment in their lives. Walking up onto this stage may be one; getting out of bed in the morning may be one. But no matter how daunting the task may seem, if you give it your time and patience, you will succeed. Each and every one of you has pushed through the adversities you faced and are now about to enter a new stage of life, all because of your own hard work. Each one of you has built discipline and a hardworking spirit over the last five years that will stay with you for the rest of your lives. We made memories here, we made friendships here, and this place has helped form us into the people we are today.
So, I want all of you to think of the lessons I have learned from my stay here and apply them to your own life: always embrace change as a necessary part of growth, and never fear the task at hand, no matter how daunting.
As we walk across this stage and enter into the rest of our lives, let us not forget the memories made, the friendships formed, and the lessons learned at LSS.
I wish you all a happy life, thank you, Django Casely, Grade 12 Graduate, LSS.
