WWW.MERIDIANSTAR.COM • NEWTON HIGH SCHOOL • GRADUATION 2020 • 73
JAKARRIUS MAY
Salutatorian
Good Evening! I would like to say congratulations
to my fellow seniors. Congratulations on securing
your first step toward your future. We started
this journey as kindergarteners and now we are
seniors. Four years ago we began 9th grade as
mere freshmen. Moreover, we each have changed
and grown from 9th graders into well-established
leaders of the 12th grade and role models for the
future. We learned early on, high school was nothing
like middle school. The classes were different and
slightly harder to pass, but we made it through in
the end. It was only possible through hard work,
focus, and help from our parents and teachers.
Our teachers made the time to help us understand
the lessons and taught us about being committed
to our work. They always made it possible for us
to have more opportunities to pass the class,
whether it was from extra work or giving us extra
time to study for a test. Throughout our high school
experience, we all learned life skills whether it was
through training in nursing, teaching, or financial
skills from our teachers. We owe them a lot of
gratitude for making it possible for us all to be here.
Mrs. Wilson (our principal) and Mrs. King (our
counselor) also deserve our appreciation. Even
though Mrs. Wilson is our principal, she was a
teacher first, so she understood the struggles
students went through in class. If a student had
misunderstandings in math, Mrs. Wilson was the
type of principal who gave a helping hand and her insight. She would even go into the classroom and assist
the teacher with the lesson, if students could not grasp the concept. She made it as another one of her job
descriptions. Mrs. King, our counselor, substituted as a parent figure and told us what we needed to accomplish
and how we could achieve our goals. A parent’s role is to provide encouragement, support, nourishment, and
guidance to their child to enable them to go beyond their expectations and follow their dreams. Mrs. King’s job
as a counselor is similar to a parent. German writer Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe stated, “Knowing is not enough;
we must apply. Wishing is not enough; we must do.” This quote will remind us as seniors; to apply what we all
have learned and experienced each year as we grow older and stop procrastinating as we work to accomplish
our goals.
As seniors, we must take action to become a success, rather than just hoping for the best result. Whatever
waits for us, as college students, future military personnel, or workers in the community, we must be prepared
for any shortcomings or accomplishments heading our way, because we can, we must, and we will succeed as
Newton High Tigers.
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