The Real Thing:

This is the speech I ending up saying two week ago at graduation....

Rose Kennedy wisely said, "Birds sing after a storm." In this world, no one is exempt from storms. Each of us must face different tempests that will blow through our lives. But hope lies in the promise that all storms must come to an end. And behind the clouds that will one day leave is a sun that shines warm and bright.

During the storm two weeks ago (it's now been about 4 weeks) many trees were completely uprooted. Massive trees that ripped power lines and crushed houses. As I pass them on the side of the road, I cannot help but be fascinated by that part of the tree that everyone knows is there, but no one ever sees or thinks about...the roots. The roots are the strength of the tree, its lifeline and anchor. In the same way, we all have loved ones who anchor us throughout the fiercest of storms.

The end of high school has been a hurricane of events including the growing distance between myself and three of the most influential women in my life: my great-grandmother to dementia, my god-mother to cancer, and my sister as she prepares to move to Wisconsin. These major changes, along with other shifts in my foundation, have nearly blown me down completely. However, I have faith that the storm will pass, and hope that growth will come after the rain.

Storms may hurt more than just ourselves. Sometimes they wipe away what we most cherish, turning our once abundant lives into a blank canvas. It is then that we are offered a time of restoration. The rain often leaves us with a sense of freshness, clarity, a washing away of the old in preparation for the new.

Seniors, now is your chance to start fresh, this is your opportunity to declare your identities to the world. To make a name for yourself beyond the high school stereotype of "athlete," "thug," "intellectual," "class clown." Teachers, now is the time to begin a new chapter, with new students, to help mold minds in new and fascinating ways. Friends and families, no matter what storm you are coming out of, you have a second chance.

As we sift through debris and begin to rebuild after whatever storms have passed through our lives, do not be afraid to rearrange and set things up larger and stronger. Do not be afraid to ask for help, from your teachers and mentors, from your friends and peers, and from your family, your lifeline.

Remember, storms are imperative to growth. When is it that flowers bloom, grass grows high, and birds sing the loudest? After a storm. Yes, the wind will blow and we will be knocked over. Yes, the rain will fall and we will get wet. And it will be painful and trying. But it is only when our roots are fully exposed that we find out just how deep and strong we truly are.

So be proud of your storm. Be able to stand up and say, "I survived. Because of this storm, I am stronger and I will continue to grow. I may be knocked down, but I am not knocked out."