Senior Speeches 2022-23

You are defined by how you meet life's challenges. They are an opportunity to find out who you are and help build character. I came into this world having to fight every day. I have been fighting hemophilia since I was born and dysgraphia since 2nd grade. Nothing has come easy for me in life, which means I appreciate learning and applying new ideas, methods, and processes to problems.

The leaves on trees fall in the same way people come and go. Rain may come unexpectedly in the same way new friendships or experiences can appear, uncomfortable at first, but necessary and refreshing. Spring will inevitably turn to summer, summer to fall, and fall to winter. Nature teaches us to welcome change.

Having an international perspective allows me to understand more people, and so, I’m realizing that I don’t have to choose a favorite between the Philippines and America, I can make my own community, among people from all over the world. To understand them and their language alongside exploring my own. As I am no longer scared of being ‘foreign’, instead I’m finding a home in the constant chaos of not fitting in. Considering it has given me such amazing opportunities to grow, I kinda appreciate it. So I guess what I’m trying to leave with is: don’t worry about fitting in. You are not one of those kids toy puzzles where the shape only fits one way. You have your own language. Give others a chance to learn it, and don’t be afraid to build your own community when the ones around you just don’t feel right.

The time and effort you put into teaching our team things that most coaches would just skip through have helped a lot of us more than you could ever know coach. You brought a group of hardheaded teenagers together and taught them to work hard and push through fatigue and mental roadblocks so that we can put ourselves in the best position to succeed. Through you, we have formed bonds that can’t be broken or ever taken away from us. So I know I speak for all of us when I say thank you, truly.

In my experience, you should never feel like you can’t ask for help or talk to someone when you feel scared, confused, sad and alone. Allow yourself to trust others with your thoughts and feelings, you shouldn’t ever think vulnerability means weakness, it doesn’t. And you need take advantage of friends and family’s kindness in positive ways. Allow yourself to grow and realize you’re not alone in the world. I’ve learned that if you don’t push and advocate for yourself, you’ll never make or see a change. And If you don’t try you might never find out.

All the failures during these 4 years of my high school days showed me that taking risks is not just about moving to a new country, learning a new language, or making new friends. It's about being ready for big risks because they come with big opportunities and bigger rewards. It's also about being open minded and open to people, open to new beliefs, new cultures.

My academic goals and personal ambitions have both been shaped by this single adventure. From the classes I’ve chosen to how I spend my Saturday mornings, everything has been about the butterflies, and more broadly, the environment. Perhaps broaching the topic of climate change is much too morbid for a Monday morning. But it’s important to realize that advocacy comes in all shapes and sizes. Standing up for what you believe in does not look the same for everyone, and you don’t necessarily have to love every aspect of something to realize its value. All advocacy, at its core, is an exercise in empathy, so never be afraid to raise your voice for honesty and truth against injustice. Thank you.

Being an RHP student has allowed me to expand my horizons into playing baseball, trying soccer, and allowing me to be my true self. Without that change, I wouldn’t be who I am today. RHP has not only developed me into a role model on the field and a role model at home but has also allowed me to expand my education to a level that I never thought I would have been able to. Fortunately, I am now eligible to apply to and attend college. Putting on my football pads transforms me into a dog and overall machine on the football field. Yet, I am now more than just a football player. RHP has helped transform me into a well- rounded academic athlete. I am no longer that boy who feels he doesn’t fit in. I am now lucky enough to have friends that I can call my own for many years to come. People all have different things that may transform them in some way, but my football pads and RHP is what has transformed me. What is your Transformation?

When looking at who I am now, I don’t think I would have found [cooking] a passion if my dad hadn't passed. I would have continued to have the privilege of a new meal everyday and I would not have that urge to create something that emulates who my dad is. When there is a loss in any group we as individuals have to become better and make up for the loss to the best of our abilities. Every year on our RHP basketball team we lose such important players. All of our competitors think our team is minuscule compared to the year before; yet we continue to prove the words of doubt wrong each year, surpassing all of the expectations. Every year we all gain and lose people in our lives. It’s important to grow and I feel like my dad has helped me grow the most when he was here and now that he isn’t.

I've been at RHP long enough for most of you to know that I like to stand out. It is incredibly important to be your own individual. My entire childhood, I had no anxiety or social fear and did things like this regularly until one day, at fifteen years old, everything changed.