good evening ladies and gentlemen please rise and remove your hats for the singing of our national anthem followed by the peter sound ship all modern sung by graduates shane brennan adam chaplin haley can everyone you may be seated graduates you may be se good evening ladies and gentleman and what an evening we have had so far and i am looking forward to this evening and how it will go from here on behalf of the peters township school district administration and board of directors welcome to the twenty eighteen peters township high school commencement ceremony as an assistant principal of peter south as my son serious honor to present you this exceptional group of young men and women the spirit and character of the class of twenty eighteen was built with the aid of quite a few people i would like to take a moment to acknowledge those people who are sharing in the celebration tonight first and most importantly our parents and families thank you for providing the constant guidance and support endless amounts of transportation and much needed laughter and shoulder to cry on this night is as much for you as it is for our graduates graduates please stand at this time and show your appreciation by applauding your famil we practice that so many times in our graduation practices that i don't know if they sit without direction at this point so i love it looks good ok seated with our graduates tonight are their high school teachers joined by their elementary and middle school teachers to the left and right of our stage are our building principals counselors over twelve years of schooling these graduates have spent sixteen thousand two hundred hours with these staff members you  seeds for success and established a solid foundation for learning leadership and character on behalf of the senior class i extend a very special welcome thank you for joining us to celebrate me on stage is the superintendent of schools dr jeanine french and the board of school directors led by board president mr thomas mcmurray and vice president mrs rebecca bowman and including members mrs allison mrs lisa anderson mr rolfe regal mr ronald done levy mr dr jamison hardy mr william merrill and mr daniel taylor tonight we commemorate the graduation of these three hundred and thirty nine students because of your caring leadership and insistence on excellence thank you thank you before i introduce our first speaker i would like to take a moment to recognize those individuals who have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to guarantee that tonight run smoothly and then scrambling to make sure it runs smoothly again our partners  media and tech teams including our partners at channel seven the clerical system maintenance and custodial souths mrs pavlik are building principal who could not be here tonight for her daughter is graduating at this very moment itself mark mrs ragland our eleventh and twelfth grade principal mrs stephan our dean of college and career ready miss and the high school counselors many many thank you at this sign please join me in welcoming our first speaker our senior class president mr anthony romero when i was advised i would be introducing these distinguished guests i decided to do a little research to learn more about the time when they graduate high school in the air they lived in now i must warn you what i uncovered during my research was wander to the tank almost empty so now we're going to a gas station you pull up you're at the pump and this is the moment we've been dreading paying for that pesky guess you look up and you see seventy four cents  wait a second seventy four cents well believe it or not seventy four cents is all a gallon of gas costs back in one thousand nine hundred sixty and that's not all in vision you're walking through your local  far as your eyes can see you see the freeze made in america not made in china visualize a time where t v s were the newest radical piece of tech out there not the new smartphone in magical time where there were mobile phones to begin with the point being so much has changed these past five decades advancements in technology and evolutions in our culture or what fueled the engine that drove such changes it's only getting faster and more involved in all aspects of our lives a fellow on life from the class of sixty eight mr bill merrill put it best quote nowadays simply checking your banking records health records car house payments all of it requires a computer the era of technology is upon us with artificial everything becoming increasingly superior this means  decrease in human interaction think about how many companies have been created that eliminate the need for human interactions self driving cars alexa google home  mr tomic mary another alumni from the class of sixty eight stated in order to be successful and adapt to these changes one must possess a strong set of core values these values can change and can be used as an inner guidance in a method of direction whatever exists today will change and continue to change and we may have to modify the values somewhat as society continues to bantz but the core should basically remain the same i also wanted to share the following words from mr macmurray which represent my own outlook and i quote the matter how bad my day has been what challenge people have been or the thought that how can this day get any worse the concept that the sun will rise tomorrow has always been reassuring and a goal to look forward to a positive attitude and outlook on life coupled with a smile doesn't cost a single cent we are all capable of this by now the theme is very evident technology advancements in the world are moving at the speed of light but the importance of human interactions and strong core values are necessary as we continue into adulthood we must never forget the significance of these values in the power of a smile inclosing class of twenty eight hundred my fellow peers and friends i wish you the best in the years to come we received an education from outstanding nationally recognized high school we have our parents relatives teachers administration and friends to think as they have all played a part in shaping who we are today now it's up to us to change the future it's  been on or to represent such a wonderful student body you are all such praiseworthy rights and caring individuals and i leave you with this go out into the world and find your passion pursue it needless to say what i had prepared i'll be shrinking because the human mind can only take what the bottom can handle ok and in this circumstance i know you appreciate that i'm not sure and i've looked around to try to find dr richard st clair our principal at the old high school in the first principal for this building is with us tonight and we are hoping that he would be able to be introduced to you all  he was an outstanding educator a wonderful teacher but probably even a best administrator one of the best we've ever had we sat here approximately eighteen thousand two hundred fifty mcraven at the university of texas and make your bed speech i'm going to tell you what i've learned what i have shared with my fellow classmates over these last fifty years but we're going to do it in short snippets so just try to bear with me the difference between school and life is the school gives you a lesson and gives you the test life gives you the test and you learn the less always keep a picture of your grandparents parents siblings and your first true love handy you have learned a lot from them and you'll reap furred to them often always by good shoes good tires and good sheets i'm telling you these are pearls you don't listen when you plan to marry someone remember you marry the entire family and this is something i know about make time for your parents on your birthday no matter what your age it was a special day for them to learn how to drive a stick shift before when sitting behind the stop the school bus wave to the kids if you don't you will start or end their day on a down note all right and besides that you will smile and you'll get the better of it dance with your parents when you can if you don't you'll miss the memories later the older i get i have learned that some people are not good for me no matter how much i care for them i have learned that two percent of the people really care about your problems thirty two percent don't care at all and all the others are glad you have them cuz it makes their miserable lives that much better and this is a lesson sorely learned never fried bacon without clothes on a toilet plunger before you need it don't let others set the limits of your life becoming a doctor or lawyer indian chief are wonderful but remember society has a longer life from those people that figured out how to keep the sewer products off the streets  sidewalks don't deprive people of their hope sometimes it's all they have if you have a family that loves to a few really good friends food on your table and a roof over your head you are wealthier than most of the world's population this enemy is better than a friend who lies it takes courage to stand up to your enemies but it takes more courage to stand up to your friends that was told to us by professor dumble in the saucers a stone never waste an opportunity to tell special people that you love them you will never know how long they will be with us all families are crazy everyone has an uncle al or add sally or both whose pictures are under the dictionary under knots they add color to your life enjoy them while you can and they'll give you something to talk  holiday dinners in the future sometimes it's difficult to know what is right or wrong but once you know what is right it's difficult not to do it that's a quote of the movie the confession in  the early bird may get the worm but the second miles gets the cheese true friendship isn't about being there when it's convenient it is about being there when it's not there comes a time when you must choose to either turn the page or close the book everything ends youth love and life and that's what makes them all very precious and valuable be romantic in the little things real love does not just happen or get shown when the lights are out and from our dear friend dr seuss a cat in the hat be who you are and say how you feel because those that mind don't matter and those that matter don't mind now i'm going to take a little time here and just ask you your indulgence you have nine members going to the military would you stand up were about to join the largest fraternity in the world there are twenty four million active or living veterans right now and they have taken the oath that you're about to take  them you will commit everything you have to protect the ninety nine point two five percent of the population that are expecting you to carry that heavy load when you are far away from your loved ones over the holidays and you wonder why you volunteered to do this take a look around these friends and their families are part of the three hundred million plus that are needing you to cure to do that effort and for everyone else i ask you to become worthy of that commitment knowing that these individuals are protecting you and your loved ones and keeping you safe and free as class members your individual journeys are about to begin everything you have learned is just a part of the foundation of the rest of your lives the school district has worked with your families and communities to prepare you for this day with the formal and informal education and the values that you are needing the roller coaster is now full and you are bop to leave the station you must be prepared for those ups and downs that will sure to face you but there will be many bright days in the future and as was stated in the wizard of oz there is no place like home it seems like today an attorney away but center set your mental calendars for approximately eighteen thousand two hundred fifty days to come back here with a class of two thousand and sixty eight and celebrate with them i know that our class wish we could be here with you but we will be here and spirit just plan on carrying on the tradition and continue to make us proud to be twenty of you now sit back make sure your safety strap is on is going to be a great and wonderful journey and one heck of a ride hold on tight and have faith thank you now we will hear from the senior class speaker dominic gr mom and dad i love you and everyone who supported me along the way from my heart thank you so much everyone in the world should pursue their dreams it doesn't matter what people think you should do or what they tell you to do truly matters is what you and you alone want to do ladies and gentlemen my name is dominic gray and i have been dreaming about this moment since i was in tenth grade while some my peers may only recognize me as the guy who unsuccessfully ran for class officer two years in a row a lucky few have truly gone to know me in about my life goals and aspirations these people know what this moment means for me and for the rest of you we must take a look at the past to better understand when i was in tenth grade i took speech class with mrs  time favorite classes one day in this class she showed us a speech from the two thousand and fourteen toastmasters world championship i'm going to try my best on pronunciation but the man who gave  there was a repeated phrase in the speech that has stuck with me to this day which goes i see something in you that i don't know what it is not only did how to write you win the competition  he inspired my love for speaking which got me here in front of all of you today ladies and gentlemen the peters township high school class of two thousand and eighteen has completed a big step of our journey through life and it feels amazing one day we were waking up as our freshman selves in our biggest concern was whose parents can take and pick up the friday night applebee's and what feels like just days later we're waking up today on the day of our commencement with a new worry completely foreign to us responsibilities the responsibilities we will soon face in life will be unlike anything we have ever known the future will hold ups and downs in our lives but we must learn from these experiences and always move on no matter what happens but today we're not here to worry about the future we're here to celebrate we're come together to believe in each other believe in ourselves and to believe in the future of our generation class of two thousand and eighteen i see something if i asked a parent a teacher or friend each interpretation of what it is would be different i can tell you one thing for sure you have a purpose but what is that our experiences we all form our own ideas when i look into the crowd i see success but more importantly when i look at my fellow graduates i see potential potential to innovate succeed and change the world no matter what this amounts to it amounts to something something i see in you but i don't know what it is you can ask as many people as you want what should i do with my life and you may get an answer my mom once told me i should be a lawyer i don't want to be a lawyer but my mother saw something in me based on my skills and interests she didn't know what it was moms don't always know best you must take control and you must find out what it is because i don't know what it is do me a favor so your eyes feel like and think about the greatest moment of your life think about that feeling you had like nothing else mattered except the very moment you were in remember these moments whenever you're having a bad day remember these moments whenever you're upset remember these moments these moments are the they are the proof that you can feel your bliss capture this positive energy use it to rise up tell people stories listen to their stories and share your experiences through the power of conversation instead of just taking a picture and sharing it on social media find someone and share with  everyone in the world should pursue their dreams class of two thousand and eighteen i see something in each and every one of you and if you follow your dreams you will find out what it is parents before i address the graduates i want to thank you i want to thank you for one of the best collective groups of students that i've ever had the opportunity to work with from their freshman year i knew this class was special i found your students to be hardworking kind and deeply passionate about making their mark on peter's township high school it's really been a pleasure and i think that reflects the parenting they received along the way my class of twenty eighteen my students and my future alumni your time has come to move on your time has come to go separate ways and to branch out in the world i'm so excited for the adventure that awaits you however before you go i want to finish something that i started four years ago the very first time we did this you know the thing where you're sitting there and i'm addressing you and you're listening and i'm trying to tell you about how the next step is going to be four years ago we did that if you recall was the assembly where i laid out the things the way things high school would be we started our journey together by discussing the rules and the expectations of peters township high school you have navigated them very well most of you all of you at that first assembly is where i try my very best to offer you my advice about how to make high school success i think those same pieces of advice are relevant tonight as well as moving forward into your next steps first when in doubt where read at the time my purpose was for you to engage in the school spirit and get involved in the culture of camaraderie and indian pride continue this by dedicating yourself to purposeful group effort and by getting involved in being active participant wherever you find yourself as you go forth remember your pride and be passionate and full of spirit also red is the color of confidence life will not be easy so when in doubt wear red second if you like drama see a play initially my goal was to be punny and to try to keep you from bullying one another moving forward it's an encouragement to be relational instead of confrontational do your best to be kind and be a peacemaker friendships are too few to come by so maintain the bridges rather than burn them down assuming that there will be many more in the future reach out to those you don't know those you don't look like you or see life from the same vantage point as you also be a patron of the arts if you like drama see a play and finally if you ride the bus you will never be late now again my initial purpose in teaching that to you was to cut down on the late to school as parties were this group's number one reason for receiving of attention sure why this was always everyone's favorite phrase of mine however i still stand by it today being prompt and on time is a virtue some of the most respected people in my life are the ones who always seem to be waiting patiently for me having arrived early i highly recommend doing your best to be early to everything it reduces anxiety and shows respect to those who are meeting with you if you ride the bus you will never be late i guess it's also good for ages praise for public transportation use it save the environment the last words i want to share with you as your principal or encouraging ones i've been blessed to know you for part of our shared journey i'm sure i will continue to be blessed by stories of the difference that you will make i know you will make a difference in the lives of those around you and those that you share the next parts of your journey with continue to let us know how you're doing because we will genuinely want to know you will always have a place in my heart class twenty eighteen thank you it is now my pleasure to welcome dr janine french superintendent of schools to the good evening class of two thousand and eighteen this day that you've been waiting for is finally here minus a severe weather drill it's a very exciting time to be a young person so much has changed since you first entered school the advancements in technology that have occurred in your lifetime are nothing short of remarkable our technologies can drive our cars and heal our wounds and even recognize our faces it certainly is an exciting time but it is also a challenging time i ever expanding digital landscape has opened the door to increasingly uncivil discourse through our tweets posts and our chats we can launch attacks on anyone who displeases us we hide behind our devices and no longer have to look into the eyes of our victims and bear witness to the pain that our words cause and my hope is that you will be the ones who say enough enough already my hope is that you will use your youthful energy to fiercely protect that which makes us unique lee human our capacity for kindness and caring and empathy to keep my time in front of you to day intentionally brief so that i ask of you is not lost in a sea of words and i ask is simply this that as you go you work hard to do good with all that you have been given and that you nurture the seeds of kindness that were born into each of your hearts let the whispers of your kindness create a roar if this world cannot ignore happiness and success the members of the class of twenty eighteen were asked to consider a faculty member that they liked edmar respected and in their eyes made a difference in their high school career they slike to disperse and to offer them words of wisdom as a embark this night on their life's the denture their choice is our next speaker miss sarah mccarthy earned her baths for science and mathematics and her master of arts in teaching from the university of pittsburgh following the completion of her masters program she joined a staff of peter's touch a place full as a long term substitute in tw and was hired to a permanent position the following year for the past three years miss mccarthy has taught a wide range of classes including algebra two accounting one financial literacy and s good evening and welcome staff family friends and of course the graduating class of two thousand and thank you so much for having me as an honor to come and speak to you all tonight now i know when i stepped out here many of your parents probably thought this was some sort of joke that a student had somehow swiped a teacher's cap and gown and you're all about to be punk in spite of my small stature and babyface i assure you i am an adult but even saying that now feels weird graduation speeches always seem to focus on today being the beginning of the rest of your life or the beginning of adulthood and yes that's true but while tonight is a milestone and a huge accomplishment you wake up tomorrow and you won't really feel any different because even standing in front of you right now i still feel like i should be sitting exactly where you are nervous and excited taking pictures trying to get as many snapshots as possible and still trying to figure out exactly which way does this graduation cap go even writing the speech i was my own high school self procrastinating until the very last minute up late tonight before it was due asking myself why did i do this why haven't i learnt there is no pick me or life changing realisation that's going to hit you and somehow change you into adults isn't handed to you or written on your diploma in a lot of ways you're already adults you have responsibilities and routines there rewards when you do things right and consequences when you don't but in other ways even ten twenty years from now you'll never quite feel like an adult immaturely and laugh at the same stupid things even when society thinks you should a well grown out of it i think we all know i'm guilty of this guys the only universal experience is that starting today life is going to move fast it's going to feel like it's moving faster and faster with every passing year before you know it you're going to be graduating from college settling into your career starting your life there may be times where you s and there may be times where you feel like you're never going to catch up in these moments i remember the words of that great philosopher mr ferris bueller life moves pretty fast if you don't stop and look around once in a while you could miss it so take a moment right now in congratulate yourselves it's been a crazy ride but you finally made it the moment you've been working toward for thirteen years is finally here congratulate your friends and family thank them and be proud that you've gotten to this point together take this time to stop and enjoy it live in this moment because after tonight life is still moving and you'll be moving with it maybe one day you'll be standing here or somewhere else having procrastinated on the speech that you have to give in front of thousands of people wondering out loud how you became an adult in the first place the truth is i don't know i can't answer that adulthood isn't something that someone can define for you all you can do is have fun make memories make your decisions and stay true to yourself and become an amazing person you were meant to be make your family proud make your teachers proud but most of all make yourself proud and remember to stop even if it's just for a moment and look around to see what you did as you might be missing now saying that i see a lot of potential in all of you and i can't wait to see what the future holds for you i'm going to miss you all dealy and i wish you the best of luck congratulations class of two thousand  key douglas allison jessica to anderson daniel robert michael justin bell jennifer michelle tyler john  jennifer beth bennington shane paul brennan rose barry logan james brant ski harley collins blair jeremy joseph for our hunter matthew bruce john patrick brock and natasha chapman adam james chapman junior hayley and matthew timothy clark jake anthony cortez emily marie eric christopher das austin luke maggie rose english benjamin hume delaney william robert delaney gregory robert to giorgi charles thomas downey one sebastian fake u connor james ferrari luke alexander gallagher madison noel johnson kavin michael class ski dominic daniel gr emily paige will barbara madison janice alexander constantine hannah noah daniel party matthew jonathan hec brandon le michael clarke hunter shannon catherine jacob john hurl logan michael tyler john highly margaret meller wesley thomas kaylor catherine ms a car person michelmore rebecca sharon nelson michael charles lawren jamie lynn oswald samuel john leighton robert thomas lieberman john edward majestic patrick jacob manning daniel alfred duncan shawn mccall abigail morgan skin now nicholas joseph mccall alec john mcconaughey catherine mary schreiber alexandria adam jordan trevor james mackintosh nicholas christian austin james miller mary elizabeth talon dylan joseph minion nina alexandra corey daniel mitchell jake patrick elizabeth joan andrew james joseph michael william nelson matthew jeffrey no over brandon richard o'bri william chapman ogden the third millie page young i love mia rose conor o'brien peterson matthew john calvin william ray moore anthony paul romero john anthony's sable max warner show ryan joseph anthony maxwell sylvester jonathan michael wayne or please welcome back dr french to certify that our graduate now with the authority vested in me by the secretary of education of the commonwealth of pennsylvania i pronounce the class of two thousand and eighty for the peters township high school graduated welcome to join the graduates on the gym floor