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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2005-07-07, Page 12PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 7, 2005. Bly th Grade 8 valedictory address lists top 10 By Jessica Sparling Good evening, parents, siblings, teachers and guests. Welcome to the graduation ceremony for the Blyth Public School Class of 2005. By being here, each of you is wit ness to the first fork in the road in the lives of a great bunch of young people. Thank you for celebrating the moment with us. It is my privilege to provide the valedictory address on behalf of my class. In preparation for this evening. I reviewed the transcripts of the three previous valedictory speeches and quickly realized that each of the speak ers suggested what Ivy Baker Priest said years ago: ’'The place which may seem like the encl may also be the beginning So. tonight like thousands of Blyth students before us. we gather here, at the fork in the road. At the end which may also be the beginning. And we should feel great. Even grateful. Grateful for the opportunity to build a solid foundation to our education, (irateful for the leadership and wisdom of our parents and teachers. Grateful lor the challenges. Grateful for our freedom and the opportunity to pursue our dreams. Grateful for the friendships we share - even if at times', they seem more complicated than they need to be. Grateful for the laughs. The silly stuff, too And even though we are dressed up and looking fine ... doing our best to create the illusion of maturity, even sophistication, let's face it: we're not kidding anyone. There's always silly stuff lurking just below (he surface And that's the way we like it. Isn't it? Since most of the silly stuff would come off like inside jokes. I will spare my classmates the embarrassment now - and the risk of parents asking ques tions later. Speaking of parents. I came across some old photographs recently - and one was of my dad’s Grade 8 gradua tion at Blyth. 30 years ago. Nice leisure suit. Dad. Geez. Brandi's mom. Frances, was also in that graduating class. Frances, you looked exactly like Brandi at her age. If a graduation diploma is considered to be our ticket to "change the world", before we depart this "fork in the road", let’s take one last look in the rearview mirror I call it. "Ten Memories We Should Hold - As Long As We Can": 10. "Marvelous Me" in kindergarten - being "line leader" was seriously cool and the hat let everybody know it 9. Wacky Hair Days - and multi coloured clumps of hair for days after 8. Downhill skiing for the first time - 5,000 class smiles ... one fractured bone 7. Our first haunted house - can you believe that we were actually scared? 6. The Belgrave, Blyth and Brussels School Fair - remember that 85 per cent of Canadians used to live in rural areas, now 85 per cent are urban - this fair is living history 5. Operation: Kids Who Care - our little school raised $2,700 in just five days in support of the tsunami relief effort in Indonesia 4. Fundraising for our class trip - realizing how much work it is to organ ize and seeing how families work together to help us raise the money 3. Annual track and field - and the first sunburn of the summer - how many times do we have to be (old to use sunscreen? 2. Peacemaker program - another example that the key to successful lead ership today is influence, not authority MOVING ON — The Grade 8 class at Blyth Public School is, back row, from left: Cody Gicscrceht, Ben Rouw, Kenny Plunkett, Brett Courtney, Brad MaePherson, Dean Linner and Aaron Gross. Front: Aleisha Dale. Danaka Bailey, Amelia Carter-Brown, Robyn Nicholson. Meghan Watson, Jessica Sparling, Stacey Beane-Currie, Brittany Cartwright, Natasha Hubbard. Rachelle Ducharme and Brandilyn Bcarss. I. EQAO - like it or not. it’s only the first time we will measure our capabil ities against our peers. Experts tell us the future will be bright, fast-paced and ever-changing for our generation. And check the fine print. In the 20th century, people were considered illiterate if they could not read or write. In the 21st century, Alvin Toffler suggests that the “illiter ate will He those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn". So, as you and I stand together at the first fork in our road, we have a few obvious choices to make. What high school? What programs? And the Continued on page 14 Can^^atu.latian& Cta&& 0/ 2005! Luann's Country Flowers & Gifts • Fresh or Silk Flowers & Gifts for all occasions • We deliver in town to Wingham, Clinton, Brussels, Goderich & area Free delivery to funeral homes with a minimum $30. order Luann Taylor 519-523-4440 1 -800-610-7757 here's to your future success... from .6 • sp Qparlinqs --------' PROPANE Best Wishes to all our Graduates ELLIOTT NIXON INSURANCE BROKERS INC. Established 1910 Blyth 523-4481 Blyth Decor Shoppen rl ii fi H mi d rr Queen St., Blyth Don "Barney" & Linda Stewartuon barney & Linaa jiewari Bus.: 519-523-4840 / Home: 519-523-9448 * <T..u ...tnHcr Best Wishes To The Class Of 2005! Congratulations from all of us - at Scrimgeour's Food Market Queen Street, Blyth fBeAt ‘WiAtieA <£ Chauncey's Hairstyling ' YOU DID If! The Suntanning Parlour 211 Dinsley St., Chances are...you ll love it 523-9722 Blyth Over 20 years in business Established in 1982 Congratulations and Best Wishes to all Graduates STICKERS FAMILY RESTAURANT Tues. - Fri. 7 am - 7 pm; Sat. 7 am - 4 pm; Sun. 9 am - 7 pm Auburn 526-7759 Blyth Building Supplies Ltd. Your building and hardware store Blyth 523-9305 castle boOdinq cmlres