West Orange High School: Valedictorian's speech

Hello graduating Class of 2022! I would like to start off by thanking both my parents and my amazing guidance counselor, Mrs. Julie Mazur. It is due to their support that I have been able to complete my high school experience this successfully. I think everyone graduating today has people to thank, however; whether they be family, teachers or friends, nobody has accomplished this on their own. We are all here today thanks to someone.

That said, we are also here thanks to our own dedication and perseverance. We have all faced personal challenges in our educational paths, and we have all shared challenges, as well. The pandemic was a challenge we all faced, and we are all now moving past as a society. It tested our ability to adapt in the face of adversity, and now we are moving forward. This year has been something of a return to normal, which I’m sure everyone is grateful for, but we shouldn’t forget the lessons we’ve learned from this experience. The world is constantly changing, and as we become independent members of society, we must be prepared to adapt and persevere with it.

Your presence here today speaks to your dedication and drive. The challenges we will face in the future will be bigger and with steeper stakes, but I think as long as we remember to take advantage of the help that is offered to us and persevere towards the future we desire, we will be successful. Good luck, everyone!

— Sean Herlihy