Valedictorian address

As we go forward into the world, don’t forget the many people who have supported you along the way. At one point tonight take the time to thank your family, friends, and teachers.

That leads me into my Thank yous Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for driving hours to my sports games and any event that I’ve had. Many people probably think you live in Gilman with all the support you’ve shown me. I love you.

Thank you Mom and dad for always pushing me to be my best in School and athletics and offering me every opportunity for growth. I wouldn’t have reached my goals or be where I am today without your support. I love you.

To my brothers Dayne and Corey. Thanks for being the best role models a little sister could have. You both have inspired me my whole life. I love you guys.

To my classmates whom I have grown up with for the last 14 years. Especially my 3 best friends since Pre K. Thank you and I can’t wait to see where the future takes us.

Lastly, I’d like to finish my speech with a message to my classmates.

As we start this new journey I encourage you to embrace every opportunity that comes your way and to follow your passions and dreams. Your high school graduation is just the beginning of a new chapter in your life, and I am confident that you all have what it takes to achieve great things.

And always remember, plans don’t have to go perfectly to get to the final destination.

Congratulations Class of 2023 we did it.

When we started high school we all had expectations on how it was going to be. We were just entering the spring of our Freshman year and then Covid hit. There was no more being together as a class, school was online, and sports were gone. When it was time for sophomore year things were still not back to normal. We started the school year off with masks and weren’t allowed to have many fans cheering us on for sports.

When winter sports came around the rules were the same, masks were required and there were limited fans. In the Spring, sports were pushed back until May which made the seasons go into late June, conflicting with our summer plans.

What our class had planned was not a reality with Covid. We didn’t have a normal year of high school until our Junior year.

I personally can relate to having to battle with adversity and adapt to change. When I was in 8th grade, I tore everything in my knee while playing volleyball. I had spent my whole middle school career training to be a varsity volleyball player. But when my freshman year came around I wasn’t cleared yet to play sports. When things didn’t go as planned I decided I needed to stay positive and face this challenge.

This obstacle really changed my mindset on life. I started to appreciate everything more. I realized at any moment something you love can get taken away from you.

Despite all the challenges .....we made it through. Similar to before, we don’t know what’s going to happen next.

It’s important to remember to be adaptable just like we were with Covid.

We have proven we can work through difficult times and still come out strong. We were able to work through this challenge together and now here we are, getting ready for the next chapter of our lives.

First of all, thank you all for being here. It’s so great seeing the people that have shaped us into who we are all in the same room. I know not everyone could be here tonight. But all of you who are here have shaped one or many of us in ways you wouldn’t even know.

I am Gilman’s class of 2023 valedictorian. Being valedictorian has been a goal of mine since before high school.

When writing this speech everyone told me I should go to my brother Corey for help. But I couldn’t read half of the words he said so this is what I came up with.

Congratulations class of 2023 we got through it. All the long nights of studying, (for some of us), the crying about math problems (me- every night) and all the assignments we thought would never end. We got through it. I first want to start with a heartfelt congratulations to each and every one of you on graduating from high school. This is an accomplishment that marks years of hard work, dedication, and perseverance. We should all be incredibly proud of ourselves for reaching this important milestone.

Graduating from high school is not an easy feat, and it takes a lot of effort, commitment, and sacrifice to get to where you are today. We have all demonstrated the ability to overcome challenges, to learn from our mistakes, and to stay focused on our goals. These are valuable life skills that will serve us well as we move forward into the next phase of our lives.

Our class has people going into education, graphic design, road construction, and much more.

With all of our different skills and life paths, our class will be touching many parts of the world.

As we go on through life, plans will change along the way. We need to remember not to get discouraged when things don’t go as planned. We have to adapt to change, work through challenges, and enjoy what’s given to you.

— Gracie Tallier