Graduation – Class of 2007
San Diego High Educational Complex graduated the class of 2007 on
Valedictorian Speech
By Sara Cantor
Class of 2007
Today, I want to talk about learning.
Now, I’m sure that all of you are inwardly groaning, thinking “Aren’t we supposed to be done with school?”
I understand that. It’s been a long four years, and it seems like everything we’ve done has been in a desperate attempt to get good grades to get into college to get a good job to have a good life. It’s been hard and it’s been frustrating, and that’s why you’re glad to be done. I understand that.
But we’re not done! And I think that’s a great thing.
See, as cheesy as it sounds, the whole world is a school. There’s something new to learn lurking around every corner. There’s interesting information to be found in books, sure—they really are more than the things you pretend to read to do well on tests—but the most interesting things you learn will not be found in the classroom.
Pay attention to the world around you. Let things sink in, process them. That’s what we’ve been in school for all these years—to learn how to deal with the wealth of information around us.
Use what you remember from history class to help you decipher current events. Think about science when you’re watching the waves crash or the snow fall. Use your foreign language to talk with people from cultures different than yours. Remember the rules of logic when arguing with a friend.
Seek out knowledge wherever you can. Read the newspaper and check the internet, sure, but remember that the most fascinating information will be found in the least likely places.
Now that we’re no longer in high school, we’ve been given a new start. Use it to explore new options. Try new things. Skydiving and scuba diving and racecar driving are all new things, of course, but the less obvious are valuable, too. Talk to new people. Take time to sit alone and think. Get a new job. Change your habits. Because ultimately, the things you learn about yourself will be far more important than anything anyone else can teach you.
Most of all, what I am trying to say is this: Pay attention. Everything—every new experience, every new person, every new place—has something to teach us. Learning is something we can never escape, no matter how hard we try. But why would we want to? Learning is what allows us to change, to become better people. It doesn’t deserve the bad reputation that grades and college applications have given it.
No matter what you do, do not give in to apathy. It’s easy to look at the world and decide that you’re above it all. Don’t give in to this urge. Engage yourself. Only by being part of the world around you will you have a chance to grow and succeed. Grow. Succeed. Even though the future may seem terrifying—I don’t know about you, but I’m scared to death—I have complete confidence that we can do it. We’ve made it this far, haven’t we?
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