Senior Speeches 2022-23

"When I was younger, I didn’t really understand the idea of being distracted. I just thought that the way my third-grade teacher wrote the number nine in our math equation was supposed to form a trail of thoughts that led to the Revolutionary War. That’s just the way all of our minds work, right? So I continued my elementary school years excelling internally but struggling externally. Over time, I had led myself to believe that I just wasn’t smart. But my falling behind had nothing to do with my intelligence, but rather with the way my brain works. As I proceeded in my academic years, I discovered ways to both work around my struggles, and use them to my advantage. For example: this speech. Throughout the years, I have learned to take this part of me and apply it to the things in my life I find most important. Whether it’s through music, writing, drawing, or whatever my brain can manage to make up, my differences are always there to help me excel in my creativity. Taking what I believed to be my weakness and turning it into my superpower will always be something I am proud of. Maybe forgetting to wash your hair in the shower because you’re performing a one-woman show in your head isn’t the best use of your time. Or maybe trying to learn how to say the alphabet backwards in the middle of a band performance isn’t the most convenient. Maybe I’m going plain crazy. Or maybe, I just have ADHD."

I discovered my love for 19th century novels and poetry. I’ve always enjoyed reading, but this time I wanted to explore later than the 20th century. I read Pride and Prejudice for the first time, and I admired how Jane Austen would write her complex characters, the sarcastic way they spoke to each other, and how they each underwent their own personal growth. Dead Poets Society was the movie I watched daily, for I was captivated by the moving speeches that Robin Williams gave to the class. That film was what made me fall in love with poetry. My parents got me Walt Whitman’s poetry book, Leaves of Grass, for Christmas, and I immediately fell in love with the lyrical passages. I treasured that book and I took it with me wherever I went.

In February of 2021, after tearing my ACL along with several other things in my knee, I sat at my desk, staring at a blank page.

After almost a year, I was able to return to how life used to be, competing regularly once again. However, it felt different this time. My injury taught me a lot about myself and forced me to grow in many different ways. Throughout this time, I found that there were going to be days I felt like I was at my best; ready for anything, and other days where I felt like I was at the very bottom, both mentally and physically. This actually made me realize this was kind of how life goes. I believe that everything happens for a reason though and we are all faced with challenges in life to make us better people. I realized that I had taken basketball–the gift that has guided me through life in the most positive way–for granted. So once again, I sit down looking at this blank page, and I realize that I may not be certain what my purpose is, but in searching for it I have found the things that make me the happiest and I have become grateful for all this life has to offer.

Teamwork, sportsmanship, integrity, independence, and responsibility are just a few of the skills that sports have taught me. I believe that these skills have made me a better student and will help my transition into college. In team sports, you are a crucial part of the team, and if you do not do your job, you can ruin the entire outcome of the game. Through baseball, I learned that you need to be upfront to be a team player. If you cannot go to practice or go to the game, the team needs to know that so they can prepare. Being upfront has also helped me in school. In a group project, you need to do your part or everybody suffers.

An incredible lesson I have learned about myself is that the greatest way for me to release my inner feelings is through artistic expression. Artistic expression is an ambiguous term because it means something differently to everyone, but it also creates connection within yourself, others, and what is beyond us.

The coolest thing about it, though, is everyone has it within themselves. Through time, precious moments we as humanity experience, and the hardships we face and yet overcome are all done with time and healthy mechanisms. Time and artistic expression, I can promise you, is your best friend.

My biggest take away from RHP isn’t a huge life lesson I will live with for the rest of my life. It was a ton of little memories like going on trips outside of school, to having a discussion with someone who I hardly knew. I will always remember the night I reached my goal, but I will always remember the little things that RHP has given me.

Do what makes you happy and don't let society's drama and gossip control you. Dealing with parents, the breakup of a friend group, and losing a best friend. I can assure you that it won't matter in a year. If your best friend is truly your best friend, you will always be able to find a solution. Know the people you can rely on in these times. Knowing who you can count on will be a defining factor to whether or not you come out of any situation better or not.

Through all our [football] practices and adventures, I truly learned the importance of friendship. Before Covid, I took for granted how much better life is with your friends. When I wasn't allowed to see them, it made life much more boring. Ever since the pandemic, ive looked at my friends in a whole new light. For example, i try and enjoy every moment im with them because you really never know when your last hangout might be, especially before college. If theres one thing that I want you to take away from my speech, it would be to cherish every moment you have with your family and friends, because life goes by much faster than you might think.

Coming to RHP meeting James Clough '23 and Gabby Biancamano '23
wouldn’t have been possible without my mom. My mom wanted better opportunities for me, this school was one of the many steps to achieve that. She wanted to give me all of what she wanted for herself when she was younger, to me. I’ll always appreciate her for putting her best effort forward in our relationship, most kids can’t say that they’re best friends with their mother, but I can. Yes, she gets on my nerves as I am my dad’s child, but the other side of me from her loves her a great deal. I would say I’ll miss you when I’m going to college but you’ll be an hour away anyways, so when I do I’ll just drive up to sit in the pool once in a while. Even if you’re an hour away, I’ll send you videos that aren’t funny but I know will make you laugh. Jokes aside, Something I will miss the most is riding in the car with you talking, arguing, and laughing about the dumbest things. When I walk across the stage at college it won’t just be me, it’ll be you too.

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 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.