Good evening Dr. Romano, Ms. Seabold, Mr. Bellizzi, Mr. Yang, Mr. Lennox, esteemed members of the Board of Education, staff members, parents, and students. Thank you all for attending this momentous occasion. I am Olivia Cho and I stand proudly before you today, as the Slocum Skewes Class of 2017 valedictorian.
To start off, I can safely say that while I was growing up, I wasn’t the brightest bulb in the bunch. Sadly, I know now that putting my finger in a pencil sharpener was not the wisest decision. My lack of common sense caused me a lot of problems, especially academically. But, amidst the struggle, I somehow stumbled upon a strategy that helped me get to where I am today. How, you may ask? Well, as unusual as it may seem, all I did was fail. I’m sure many of us here have felt the disheartening sensation of failing and tried hard to avoid it whether it was in school, sports, or even…show more content… When I applied to Bergen County Academy and took the test, I was scared for my life. Taking that test was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. It felt like that one sheet of paper determined my entire future. I remember leaving the room in shock and feeling like my dreams were crushed. Months of studying and preparation just seemed to go down the drain. I felt like a disappointment and thought about how I couldn’t live up to my parents’ high expectations. Turns out I wasn’t alone. Ashley, Jessica, and I went to my house and cried for a good hour while watching Oprah talk about how failure is not the end. Even though in that moment of weakness I was feeling upset, I’m glad that I had experienced it as it has taught me to not be afraid to rely on people around me. I’m grateful to those who helped encourage me through hard times: friends who were always there for me, teachers who continued to help me learn and grow, and parents who let me know that no matter what I did, they would still love me
