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Graduation Speech by Annie Fang（Abstract)

June 7, 2018

Graduation Speech by Annie Fang（Abstract)

It took 12 years, or, more precisely, the blink of an eye, for our identities to transform from slightly timid first graders to 234 SHSID seniors who are now comfortable calling this campus our home. Some of us went from being an immigrant to China to a polyglot of multiple cultural identities; some took on the roles of dancer and composer in addition to being a computer science enthusiast, and others who started with small doodles of childish imagination have transformed into masters of diverse, elegant brushstrokes. We’ve all grown so much in adding different dimensions to who we are throughout our time here.

Over the last year, however, we felt an insurmountable amount of pressure to dig into these past few years and find the single identity that we would settle down with. Do I want to be a musician? A scientist? A writer for The New York Times? The next Elon Musk? A free lance photographer? These questions boiled up within our minds as we frantically reflected upon the the things we did, or didn’t do, in high school and tried to seal everything off in a few documents and essays. While some of us may have found that lifelong passion that they want to pursue, many others, like myself, still see the future as devoid of certainty, but I think that’s perfectly fine.

We are so young. Today, we graduate high school, but we’re really just entering the primary school of life. We are 18. Our future awaits as we dive into the depths of the liberal arts, travel to every corner of the world, and befriend the thousand different personalities that we will encounter out there. This is our time to explore – not just the world, but ourselves. It’s time to experiment with the distinct identities and sides to ourselves and figure out where we want to head further down the path because this challenge to discover ourselves is a lifelong one. The best times of our lives are still ahead of us, embedded in the subtle ways that we will go on to impact the world and others with our passions. So remember to maintain the courage, humility, curiosity, and passion that the past four years have taught us – it is these qualities that will forever motivate and push us further in our adventurous endeavors.

Of course, always remember to stay grateful as you look back on the past and as you walk into the future. Our achievements are merely arbitrary labels if we don’t recognize the people who were there beside us when things happened. The people who cared just as much as we did. The simple but impactful words of encouragement sent via text late at night, the group hug after a difficult task, the advices from our teachers, our older brothers and sisters from the year above us, and more importantly, our classmates who have inspired us with their dedication and enthusiasm.

When life takes unexpected turns or when things just don’t work out the way you wanted them to, know that you wherever you are in the world, you are fighting alongside 233 others. We may be physically separated for a very, very long time, but we will forever be bonded together under the name of Class of 2018, in spirit and in our hearts. I cannot wait for the next time we sit together and recount on our post-high school days and hear about how each and every one of us grow and learn in the world. Before that happens, Class of 2018, before our roads cross again, best of luck and happy graduation!