Thank you for allowing me the ability to use my voice here today.

For me, my experience at Sturgis started with a panic attack in the school bathroom. There weren’t many familiar faces, and I had never gone to school without my sister before, even if it was only for the first day.

On this day, I walked to my first class, which was english with Mrs. Ferguson. I felt the immense anxiety creeping throughout my body. I felt like I couldn’t breathe. I couldn’t even use my voice to speak. The walls were closing in on me and I couldn’t do anything to prevent it. Seeing clusters of kids around the room, I decided to sit by myself. It seemed like the safest possible thing to do. But as I was trying to keep my head down and finish the rest of the period, the last person who I would have expected decided to sit down next to me and ask me about myself. He was very outgoing, his voice was friendly, and he could see that I was nervous. We were in class after class together that day and he quickly became my first friend. After talking to him whenever I felt nervous, I realized that the people at Sturgis really were more approachable than I thought. Cooper Laurie taught me of the positive impact that using one’s voice could have on another person. 

My father is my biggest supporter and he taught me how to use my voice. He encouraged me especially during the most difficult times. I remember before school during Freshman year, I would always beg my dad to let me stay in our car after we dropped my sister off at the front of the school. I told him that talking to my classmates was too intimidating for me. After I made this comment, he gave me the most memorable and useful advice that I have ever received. My father told me to simply smile and say hello to my classmates and that the rest would unfold for me. I didn’t speak much during class, but I started slowly. Starting conversations with other students after class helped me gain confidence in my ability to communicate with other people. I would smile, and try to say hello to almost everyone I saw in the hallways; surprisingly, every person would give an enthusiastic response. My voice was beginning to break through with a few simple greetings towards others. Although I was making friends with more and more people, I still found difficulty in speaking up. My classmates were so outgoing and smart, I thought that I could never be like them. The anxiety incurred by these thoughts caused me to spend most of my time in my study skills teacher, Ms. O’Hara’s classroom. I would practice for presentations with her, and she would encourage me to voice my ideas during discussions in her class in order to increase my confidence.

But even after all of the hard work and dedication I put into all of my school assignments, and even after all of the time I spent practicing, I could never find it within myself to actually be able to share anything in front of my classmates. 

I knew the answers to many things, albeit I would never raise my hand to contribute. My

fear of judgement and failure was incessant. Consistently, I capitulated to these thoughts;

I had allowed them to control my high school experience.

But in spite of these negative thoughts towards myself, I realized that other people saw me in a different light. My classmates would compliment me on positive aspects of myself which I had never even noticed or allowed myself to believe. My teachers literally applauded me when I decided to participate; and it’s probably obvious that I only ever decided to participate once every few months. That was the type of encouragement that I needed in order to find my voice.

One of the teachers who encouraged me to use my voice is Mr. Morales. I’ve had Mr. Morales as my teacher for the last two years and he was the first person that I trusted to read this speech to. He never gave up on my journey to find my voice. He always stuck by my side, even now, giving a speech with me today at graduation. The encouragement which I received from people at my school and from my family had pushed me to create a positive perspective for myself and my abilities. Standing here right now, I now know that I am a caring person who has as much value as my peers; this is something I wouldn’t have been able to say aloud a year ago.

I walk through the hallways of Sturgis Charter School now, but as a different person. In 2017, I was the self-conscious girl who barely ever talked. I spent most of my free time at school on the phone with my dad. I could never imagine voicing a one word answer, let alone a speech, to an audience. But in 2021, I feel confident, I can voice my opinion to others regarding various subjects. I have faith in myself now, just as much now as I had always had in my classmates. So many of us have grown in character during our time here.

No matter where a Sturgis student decides to go after high school, whether it be college, the military, a job, or anything really, that student will have the support of their teachers. The unwavering compassion in which my teachers have shown me in the last four years has been life-changing, and really something that I will never be thankful for enough.

Sturgis has taught me various things, from Shakespeare to the Cold War, but the most important thing I took away from my experience here was how to find myself. I now know who I am. I have my voice. We have the ability to use the voices in which Sturgis has cultivated within us in order to better the world. 

Thank you.