As Graduation approaches on June 5, Finn Sullivan (12) and Makiah Reeve (12) were chosen as the senior keynote speakers.
The keynote speakers were chosen by Ms. Erhard, Mrs. Anderson, Mrs. McClellan, Mrs. Sepe and Ms. Rodriguez, who looked for students who they felt represented the school as a whole.
Ms. Erhard shared, “This goes beyond students who exclusively took AP courses or went to every school dance or football game. Ideally, the speaker is someone who can reach all student experiences; we want someone who can speak to the high school experience on a relatable level. The goal on graduation day is to celebrate the entire student population — not just a select group of students who have similar experiences.”
Senior speeches are an opportunity for seniors to share their experiences and acknowledge everything their class has accomplished over the past four years. These speeches take place after the junior honor court welcomes the seniors and before they walk the stage.
As a part of the Associated Student Body, Sullivan is the Senior Director of Recognition, and shared, “I am so grateful and honestly very excited to be one of the keynote speakers at graduation! I’ve wanted to be a part of it since freshman year. Sahar, the Senior Class President at the time, gave a very moving speech that inspired me to fulfill this goal. The application process was amazing, and I wish I could have heard more of my opponents’ speeches!”
When asked how he would summarize his speech in a couple of sentences, Sullivan shared, “If I were to summarize my speech without giving much away, it would be that it focuses on our class as a whole. I tried my best to send a message that would be motivating to everyone who attends, considering that we all have lived very different lives throughout high school!”
Reeve had similar feelings to be chosen, “Being chosen as the keynote speaker feels incredibly surreal and deeply meaningful. I’ve always wanted to share something real with my class and something that would make people feel seen, and this is the perfect opportunity to do that.”
When asked how he would summarize his speech in a couple of sentences, Reeve shared, “My speech asks a simple but powerful question: What’s your song? It’s about recognizing that the story of high school isn’t just in grades or trophies, but in the lyrics we’ve been writing through every laugh, loss and lesson. And in the end, we’ve all created something unforgettable.”
Sullivan and Reeve have put a lot of effort into their senior speeches and look forward to sharing their high school reflections at graduation.
