I like writing comparison and contrasting essays. I know that sounds bland and a lot of writers probably believe that that's the worst kind of essay to write. But I’ve always been good at pointing out certain differences in similarities others don't see. I can see little things many people tend to overlook. I can see when a certain topic is better than another or what another topic is lacking. I can see every detail of what one topic has or what one topic has to make up for.
But this speech is not about essays. This speech is about me. Many times I see myself as a topic in an essay that I’m comparing and contrasting to other topics. I can see things about myself that others don't. I can see what other people have that I lack. And I can see what I have to make up for.
Growing up I did like school. I found that I gravitated towards certain topics like english and math but I knew I was never the smartest in the classroom. I also liked playing sports a lot. Soccer especially. I was fast and strong but I knew I was never the best player on the team. I also really enjoyed art and music. It was a way for me to show my attention to small details and express myself in a creative way but no matter how hard I tried I knew there was always someone better than me. This became a constant cycle of me finding interest in things, trying it, and realizing there will always be someone out there better than me.
I'd constantly compare myself to others. It felt like everything was a competition and I was always on the losing end. I wanted to be the best at something, but the idea that there would always be better held me back so much.
I kept writing comparing and contrasting essays till one of my English teachers failed my essay. I was so upset that I brought my failed essay to her desk after class and asked why she gave me this grade. She told me I didn’t understand the thesis. It was a comparing and contrasting essay so I asked “what was there to understand?” I thought I had done everything correctly. I stated 3 points, analyzed them with supporting evidence, and decided which one was better. She told me “this was not an argumentative essay, this was a comparison essay.”
After that I left her classroom and did a lot of thinking. In every essay I wrote I always pointed out which topic had been the better topic. I had never sat there and thought about what it meant to simply compare and contrast. It was crazy to me how one failed essay made me rethink my whole perspective on how I viewed myself in this world.
She was right. This wasn’t an argumentative essay. There was no better option. I was simply supposed to state the similarities and differences. There was no lack of, when things were different and no making up for. It was simply different. I realized I had been viewing myself as an argumentative essay. I was searching for things I didn’t have instead of looking for differences.
If I stand here and say everything from that moment changed I would be lying. I didnt all at once stop trying to find a reason as to why people were better than me. But instead I grew to understand there doesn't always need to be an argument as to why things are better. Sometimes you can just compare and contrast and leave it at that.
Shout Outs:
- First I would like to thank all my teachers who I've had the pleasure of being a student in your class. This is the first school I've attended that I can say that all of the teachers I've had here truly cared for me as a student and also as a person. Being taught by all of you has shown me how much I can grow educationally and how much potential I have.
- I would also like to thank all the staff here that I have gotten closer to because of my family and also from being a student. Thank you for always looking out for me, my mom, and my sister.
- I would like to thank my friends that I made here because of this school. Thank you cait, maria, chance, and liv for being some of my first friends at rhp and inspiring me everyday. Also thank you to Haru, Lulu, and Lauren. You guys are my rock and people that I'm so lucky to have met. Truly you guys are such special amazing people who I know will make it so far, and even though I will never say this outside of this speech, I love you guys so much.
- Shoutout to my friends and my support system outside of this school. Maddy, Alex, Kiara and Jade. I know you guys have been a huge support for me throughout these years and will continue to be my lifelong friends.
- Thank you to my coaches and trainers who taught me how strong my work ethic can be and for showing me support through my soccer journey and outside. I hope I can make you guys proud and grow with you guys in my future career.
- Lastly but not least my family. Andrew, your humor and genuine likability is something that I’ll always look up to you for. You’ve been my best friend and biggest bully growing up and I wouldn't have it any other way. Victoria, you are the true definition of an older sister. You’ve always humbled me and have been there for me even if I didn't see it at the time. Thank you for being there when Andrew forgot to pick me up from school and letting me know youre always a call away. Thank you Josh for being my buddy. You’re family to me and always have been even when I give you a hard time. I’m so excited to have another addition and brother from another mother by side.
- My dad, I love you. You’re so brave and hardworking and not many people have the love and admiration I have for you. You’re witty jokes that sometimes I dont get and quiet but always present support is something I will forever cherish.
- Lastly, I would like to thank my mom. mainly because I know you’ve been waiting the longest. I'm more like you than anyone else. All your traits have left a forever impression on me. Everyday I strive to make you proud and with everything I do the thought of impressing you is always in the back of my mind. My biggest goal in life is to be as strong as you. I know I don't say it enough but I mean it with all my heart when I love you.
- Thank you everyone for listening to my senior speech.