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BHS Graduation Speech: Rachel Pernick

'I salute you, O Class, I salute you with pride. You're brilliant! You're daring! You're lively and kind!'

Following is the speech senior Rachel Pernick delivered Thursday evening at :

Salute to the Class of 2012, with lines from Oh, The Places You’ll Go! by Dr. Seuss

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You're off to Great Places!
You're off and away!

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

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Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen,
don't worry.  Don't stew.
Just go right along.
You'll start happening too.

OH!
THE PLACES YOU'LL GO!

You’ll be stirring up potions!

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And turning life’s gears!

You’ll be inventing and selling and having no fears!

You’ll be FEARLESS, I say!

You’re a catch and a find!

A FORCE- that is, the unstoppable kind

 

This dam has broken and we’re flooding out!

Quick! Grab the cat, there’s no stoppin’ us now!

 

Your grandmas and goldfish will line up and smile

Because they’ve just learned something you’ve known for a while,

I’m important, I’m great!

I’m gifted and smart!

Got a whole lotta’ brains and a whole lotta’ heart

 

Oh, the caves! And the clouds!

The peaks and the plains!

You’ll climb to the top and shout out your name!

For the world to hear and for you to shout loud!

And the world, she’ll shout back,

“I’m just so very proud!”


On and on you will hike
and I know you'll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.

You'll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You'll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life's
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

I know that you’re eager

Full of thrill and of wit

More marvelous, I think,

Than Mom would like to admit

 

I salute you, O Class

I salute you with pride

You’re brilliant! You’re daring!

You’re lively and kind!

 

Pack your dreams up with care

Careful! Don’t let ‘em crack!

Those things are fragile!

(So use extra bubble wrap)

 

You’ll have a couple wrong turns

Where you turn the wrong way

Where the people you meet boorish or blasé

 

And some are just plain not nice

And you’ll have to show ‘em how

You’ll brandish your dreams

Unfold them with care

And show that ol’ person the rips and the tear

And say “Look here, fella!

Sure they’ve got some wear,

They’ve been beat down and torn up

And need some repair

But these dreams are what I’ve got

So Dream On! I declare!”

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
you're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!

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