Hello friends and family, faculty and administrators. It is so exciting to have you all here today. Before we get started, it is imperative that I tell you these facts about myself. I have been a part of student government for four years, and a member of the yearbook staff for the past three years, eventually becoming co-editor in chief. With that being said, I think my peers have the right to say they know me pretty well. At some point, almost all of my classmates have received a message from me asking for a yearbook quote, sharing information about an upcoming school event, or desperately trying to recruit volunteers for Olympics. If any of you muted my notifications, I understand, and if I hunted you down in the hallways, I am sorry.
What I’ve learned through these experiences is that tracking people down for projects can be surprisingly difficult, and sometimes even a little humiliating. For example, last spring, on my way to photograph a boys’ lacrosse game for the yearbook, I realized I couldn’t access the field without climbing a fence in front of dozens of parents, and even worse, middle schoolers. In the process, I tore the entire back of my leggings. Still, I crouched down on the sidelines, completely mortified, because we needed the content. The memory still stings.
That certainly wasn’t the only time I embarrassed myself for the sake of school spirit. More times than I can count, I’ve stood in front of the entire class with a microphone, attempting to teach everyone a dance routine for the Olympics while exaggerating ridiculous moves, watching my peers stare and giggle at me.
Nevertheless, I willingly continued to put myself in those kinds of situations. As intimidating as the social aspect could be, and as tedious and time-consuming as the organizational work often was, those experiences helped me get to know the people I’ve spent the last four years growing alongside. Through all of you, I discovered the incredible range of talents, passions, and personalities within our class. We have brilliant artists, musicians, athletes, journalists, scientists, photographers, veterinarians, beekeepers, cosmetologists, scuba divers, and even pilots. The list could go on forever. So just as all of you have come to know me (sometimes through vulnerable moments), I’ve had the privilege of getting to know all of you, both as individuals and as a community. And through that, I’ve learned something important: it is astonishing what you can discover when you refuse to let embarrassment hold you back.
I think all of us have experienced moments of embarrassment, moments when we felt uncertain, or out of place. That’s part of being teenagers, part of learning how to exist as our own distinct individuals. Actually, those exact moments of awkwardness are the times where we grow the most as humans and truly shape our identities. For me, embarrassment meant learning how to turn independence into collaboration and finding fulfillment in giving back to my community. In the process, I became more open, more sociable, and more willing to understand the people around me.
As we discover who we are, we will inevitably face insecurity and uncertainty. It can and will feel like everyone else has everything figured out while we are still trying to keep up. But what matters is that we do not allow doubt to define us. Every person here has something meaningful to offer: your talents, your perspective, your voice; I have seen it firsthand. So don’t be afraid to let the world see how remarkable you truly are. Share your talents, lean into your passions, and humiliate yourself from time to time. Most importantly, never hide who you are out of fear of embarrassment, because embarrassment will only help you grow, and doubt will hold you back. In light of our awkward moments, we are resilient, adaptable, and uniquely ourselves. And right now, we are exactly who we are meant to be and where we are meant to be: graduating together, ready to meet whatever challenges and opportunities await us next. So congrats to us, class of 2026, I look forward to seeing where all our embarrassing moments lead us. Thank you.
Senior class president Frankie Ring gave this speech during the commencement ceremonies Saturday at Pelham Memorial High School.
