Blast from the Past: Speeches of the Past

So I thought enough time has passed that I should put up some speeches I've given in the past, long and short, on video and in writing. Comments are welcome!

First my valedictorian speech:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ragrillo1#p/a/u/1/9zkJsCmbvzs

And my speech for the Latino Diamante Award:
http://www.youtube.com/user/ragrillo1#p/u/0/z85leiRdHTg

Now two in print, from the Parkland Honors Banquets:
KEEP ON THE GOOD FIGHT (11th grade):

What a long, strange road we’ve traveled on. In the search for knowledge and accomplishments, we’ve gone through many highs and lows. We’ve met new people, made many friends, and have had more enriching experiences in high school than ever before. As I look back, I’ve seen how much my life has changed, as well as those around me, in such few years. I remember when I came in to Paisley in the ninth grade, very eager to succeed. High school at first seemed like such a new experience, and I worked hard to be the best I could be. In the ninth and tenth grade I learned more about the real world, but also just how hard school can be. My class for the ninth and tenth grade was very small, so I made very close connections to people. These friendships have lasted for quite a while, through the thick and thin. I can name a few in this very room, and I would like to just thank them for being there for me before going on. The eleventh grade brought about brand new challenges. A new school, new people, new teachers, new obstacles. As I’m sure many of you agree with, 11th grade IB has been the most indomitable challenge ever…heck, 11th grade in general. Our energies have run low, and many of us have been on the verge of giving up, but we never did, did we? And thus, we have been brought here. I am proud of being here with each and every one of you. We have worked hard to be in this level of success, and it has paid off. Now, I know how many of you feel. What’s the point of doing all this stressful work for what may feel as an elusive reward, too far off into the future to be worth it at all? Why do so much for what may sometimes seem to be nothing? I myself have been faced with many of the same questions, and some of you know just how angry I can get at times with all the stress. But, let me tell my class one thing. There is only one more year left to go. As for the seniors, you only have till the end of the school year. There is very little left to go. Let’s not spoil it. To those of you in the ninth and tenth grade, keep striving to succeed, and don’t give up despite what you may feel at times, because, in the end, it will pay off. By being here, by succeeding in school, we have proven our worth to our teachers, to our school, to the world, and most importantly, to ourselves. With every accomplishment we make, academic success being one of them, we are opening a myriad of doors to new possibilities and to significant success. I applaud you all for showing just how talented and capable you are just how capable our generation is of excellence. Thanks to today’s society and technology, we can make a greater impact on our world than any previous generation. But to do this, we must never give up. The best way to prove ourselves, to demonstrate our superiority, and to “stick it to the man” as you may say, is by showing just how well we can play their game, and how we can go so far as to create our own rules. Let’s show the world how it’s done, and let’s keep going with this string of triumphs. Our future is near, and we have the power to make it a success. We are already well on our way to our goals; let’s make it all the way. Now, before babbling off like my usual self, let me leave you all with a final quote, “In a world filled with hate, we must still dare to hope. In a world filled with despair, we must still dare to dream. And in a world filled with distrust, we must still dare to believe.” So let us keep believing in ourselves, dreaming of and striving for success, and reaching for the stars. I hope to see each and every one of you here again next year. Keep on the good fight.


TIME (12th grade):
It’s amazing how quickly time passes. It feels like only yesterday that I was walking through Parkland’s doors, nervous and uncertain about what the future beheld. Oh, wait…that WAS yesterday, walking in for my IB History Exam… But seriously. It is amazing how quickly these four years have been. Everything seems a blur, as I reach the end of my high school career. I know many of you can relate in some form or another. Instruments have been mastered, sports have been conquered, classes have been covered in the blink of an eye. Incredible bonds have been formed. Lasting friendships have been made. Loves have been found, lost, and found again. Memories have been created, identities have been discovered, and our past, present, and future have all been shaped in four, three, even one year for some of you. And what is the single thread that has connected these things? The single resource that has abounded, or actually lacked? It is time. As our time in school draws to a close, I’ve been considering this ephemeral concept more and more. Time in itself is essential, but even more so is what we do with our time and how we manage it. Now, I’m not going to say that the secret to success is to spend every moment studying and striving to do well in school. It’s obvious that we’ve managed our time well enough to have gotten to this level. However, if there is one thing I do regret, it is this: I am a guitarist, I write poetry, and I used to draw extensively. Had it not been for all the time I’ve spent fretting about the future, playing video games and watching TV putting off what I truly wanted to master because “I always had tomorrow,” I would’ve been much more skilled than I am now. As my journey through high school with my friends and loved ones is drawing to a close and a chapter in my life is about to close, I’ve realized that the only time we have assured is today. Harvey MacKay once said: “Time is free, but it's priceless. You can't own it, but you can use it. You can't keep it, but you can spend it. Once you've lost it you can never get it back.” So I say to all of you: Consider the value of time and make the fullest of it. Use the time to discover who you are, what you truly want, and never leave for tomorrow what you can do today. Sure, work hard, but also take the time to explore a new interest, spend quality time with friends and family. Time is limited, so explore your passions to the fullest. If you want to try something new, if you want to talk to someone new, if you have something you feel you should do, do it, and don’t put it off.
Now, for the upperclassmen. We have seen how much we have accomplished in these short four years. Sure, our time in high school may be drawing to a close, but we have a long and bright future ahead of us. As we enter a new stage in our lives, and this goes to everyone too, we must make sure never to settle for mediocrity. H. Jackson Brown once said, “Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein,” I’m not saying you have to set out to be an Einstein or a Mother Teresa…I know I don’t want to be a nun…The point is, we have accomplished so much in just four years, and now we have at least ten times that amount ahead of us! We have the time to accomplish what we want, and as we enter adulthood we will have the freedom to pursue our goals. Remember, it is never too late to start something new, and it is never too soon to accomplish your goal. So as our time here draws to a close, remember to always keep sight of your dreams, and never let them take a backseat because you’ve “settled down,” “ran out of time,” or are “too busy.” Well, my time has run out, so I leave you with MLK’s words, “The time is always right to do what is right.”