Tuesday, May 28, 2019

Graduation Speech by Joel Klemm




Today is the day that we have been working towards since our first day of school. Now,
as I look back, it honestly doesn’t feel like it has been 13 years since that first day. I guess our
parents were right when they would tell us that this day would be here in the blink of an eye.

We have made many memories in our time here at Exeter-Milligan, but now it is time to look
forward to making new memories as we begin a new chapter in life. We can look at today as
the end of a chapter, but I would prefer to look at today as the first day of the rest of our lives.

Throughout our many years together at school we have shared many memories and
gotten to see each other succeed in different areas of life. I think it has been amazing to see
our class succeed in extracurricular activities and academics. Over the past four years, we
have seen our athletic teams work really hard to be a top contender in all of our athletics. Just
a couple recent athletic achievements have been last years volleyball championship and this
year’s football team making it to the semifinals. On the topic of athletics, I would like to
congratulate Macy, Kate, Josie, Blake, and Katherine on having the opportunity to pursue
sports on the college level. Yes, Blake, congratulations, even though we would always give you
crap that trap shooting isn’t a sport. I would also like to point out how our class has also been
very academically successful. Over half of our class has 4.0 GPAs and nearly everyone was
able to make the A Honor Roll this year.

Even though it might seem like we are saying goodbye, we are also saying hello to our
futures. We are now entering a new chapter in our lives and I am quite confident that every
single one of us has an idea of what we can succeed in. I know that every single one of us will
make a difference in whatever career we find ourselves in because I have seen the hard
working abilities of every single one of us. Whatever career you plan to go into, I would like to
wish all of my classmates the best of luck with their future endeavors. I would like to thank all
of the parents, family, and school staff that have helped all of us become the incredible young
adults that we have become. I would also like to thank the community for supporting all of us in
everything we do and encouraging us to succeed.

We have all had the amazing opportunity to attend a small school where we were able
to really get to know each other; not everyone gets that amazing opportunity. I don’t think
anything could be better than being able to graduate with the same people you became friends
with in kindergarten and personally know every one of them. I would honestly consider us to be
more like family than just classmates. Now, as we embark on our own journeys and enter our
careers, I hope that we never stop pursuing our dreams and do whatever we can to be
valuable members of our society. So, I just pray that wherever you find yourself you represent
our nation as proud Americans, our state as proud Nebraskans, and our community as proud
graduates of Exeter-Milligan High School. But most importantly, I hope that wherever you find
yourself, that you’re happy. I would like to leave everyone here today with a quote by Albert
Schweitzer, “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love
what you are doing, you will be successful.” Congratulations class of 2019.

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