Every adult wishes they could recapture their youth, Iola High School graduating senior Jeremy Waldman told the Class of 2019 during commencement ceremonies Saturday.
But time marches on, and the graduation ceremony is but one marker of the end of childhood, Waldman said.
?This is the very last time we are all going to be in the same place together,? he said. ?I get to look out and personally address every single one of my friends and thank them for growing up with me.?
?I can remember when all of us were little, when my biggest worry was what I was going to do at recess. When we had to ride bikes to each other?s houses instead of driving cars. When boys were gross and girls had cooties.?
Iola High School?s graduating seniors launch their caps skyward at the conclusion of Saturday?s commencement ceremony in the IHS gymnasium.
But, just a few years later, those same students checked off a list of high school moments: first homecoming, first Friday night lights, first prom, first heartbreak.
Then, they checked off a list of ?last? moments: last Friday night lights, last homecoming, last prom, senior prank, ?last day as a true kid.?
And, finally: ?Graduate. Check.?
?Most of time we feel that time is working against us. Everybody in this gym has uttered the phrase, ?There?s just not enough time in the day,? or ?If I only had a little more time to (fill in the blank),?? Waldman said. ?We?re literally moments away from walking across this stage, not only to leave high school but also to leave our childhood behind. If we only had a little more time.?
Iola High School senior Jeremy Waldman addresses his fellow graduates Saturday.
