56 • GRADUATION 2020 • NEWTON COUNTY ACADEMY • THE MERIDIAN STAR
HANNAH WEST
Valedictorian
To the Class of 2020, hey, guys, we’re finally here.
We made it. Did you ever think we’d get here? If I’m
being honest, I never thought that I would be the
one up here giving this speech. I consider myself
very, very blessed to be here, in this moment, with
all of you. So, bear with me if I’m a little emotional.
I think we can all agree that it’s been a long year. I
hate, more than anything, that our last nine weeks
of high school got taken from us. I never thought
that I’d miss it like I did when we were in quarantine.
Never thought to miss the how the girls spent break
together, never thought to miss watching somebody
struggle with one of Mr. Hansford’s various eccentric
hall-passes, never thought to miss the break line
that felt ten miles long, or the intercoms squeaking
during the morning announcements.
High school graduation is an important milestone in
everyone’s life, but for some reason I thought that
we would be in high school forever. I think that has
something to do with the fact that a lot of us have
been with each other for forever. I think it’s safe to
say that I’ve spent more time with most of you then
I have my actual parents. And, to have to come to
terms with the fact that this constant force in our
lives is over is . . . absolutely crazy. I didn’t want to
be a cliché but saying that this chapter of our lives
is over just fits so well. This really is the point where
we have to turn the page. Our time here has gone by
just as fast as everyone said it would. Let that be a
message to the Juniors. Cherish this next year and make as many memories as you can. I pray that my class, each
and every one of you, has cherished these moments, have cherished OUR memories. Charles Dickens once said,
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” I’d have to agree with that statement. The past four years of
high school have been a mix of emotions, but that just comes with the territory. Regardless, when we remember
these years, I hope everyone will look back on them fondly.
This school, the faculty, and, most of all, this amazing class of mine has all helped shaped me into the person I
am today. You’ve probably heard people say that you can’t choose your family, but you guys will always be a part
of mine.
Well, it ends here. We’ll go our separate (separate spelt with an A, thank you Mrs. Burkes) ways and hope
that we’ll see each other again sometime in the future. I’ll end with a quote from our childhood, a character named
Winnie the Pooh, who said— “how lucky am I to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.” Thank you.
391737-1