As I walked through these school halls in September of 2007, I’m not gonna lie, I was scared.  Just take a look at the teachers over there, aren’t they an intimidating bunch? In the past 8 years of my life, I have been at several different schools and there has not been a teaching staff that could ever come close to the one that we have here at BCA.

They are not only great teachers but they are the most loving, compassionate and hardworking people that I have ever met.  They work so incredibly hard at their job demonstrating the Christian faith.  And it is greatly appreciated by myself, our families and classmates here tonight.  In Peter chapter 4, it reads “as each has received a gift, employ it in serving one another, as good managers of the grace of God in its various forms”.  The teachers here at BCA always teach us to take the road less travelled, to challenge ourselves, to set goals to be the best possible people we can be, by following and appreciating God’s gifts.

 At our school we are very fortunate to have several skilled high jumpers.  The greatest problem with high jumping is the great risk involved, thus the need for constant supervision.  Not only does a teacher supervise but takes part in the jumping to increase his own knowledge of how to pass on these skills to add to our goals and to prove to us, that with hard work and dedication, they are attainable.  The high jump is really a metaphor in our lives. 

On a weekly basis, there are teachers who give us their time after school to help students who struggle in math, science and language arts.  There are a couple of teachers who give of their time at lunch to help with the athletic development of our students.  There is the after school music and arts program, and sewing classes too.  As you can tell, we are very fortunate to have the best of the best here at BCA for guidance, influence and inspiration, sharing the gift of God’s word.  Yes….I’m speaking about all of you scary teachers over there.  Thanks for another great year.

Now to my peers, On June 19th I awoke early to the excitement of our final day at this school.  I was anxious and again, scared.  I was scared to arrive and now I’m scared to leave, go figure!  BCA has become my home.  It’s funny how life is!  Just when you get used to something it ends and then you have a whole new hurdle to get over. 

Our Elementary years have come to an end and our new surroundings will be much larger with more risks and temptations but as long as we remember our teachings from BCA and its community we should be able to make the right decisions and be further along the path towards our better selves.  Just know that I am going to miss ALL of you. 

 Although I haven’t had a chance to get to know each and every one of you that well, I will still miss what we are together, as a team.  In fact, that’s another concept I’ve come to learn at BCA.  The ALPA program is so much about leadership and in order to be a good leader, you really just need to have a good team and that’s what we are at BCA….a really good team. Each of you has a special part in the graduating class.

 I don’t know where I’d be without you, Nathan’s Laughter, The Eric’s, Eric Everleighs science experiment with cinnamon and oranges, Hayley, Kristin, and celia’s cartwheels, Looking up and seeing Brett either dangling from a tree or standing ontop of the school, The quiet leadership of jazmin and Leanna, The nonstop chatter of Jeremy Shaw, The incredibly late rounds of golf with Kade and Jack, The great tshirts from Angela that will make these memories last, Recess football with Zach, The constant measuring of height between James and I, New kid on the block Debbie, The unbeleivable computer knowledge of Jeremy Kosnic, And Steven who I’ve known and gone to school with since Kindergarten and who has always driven me further down the road to sucess, through healthy competition and comraderie.  All of you have inspired me to be the best that I can be.  I think we are all better off because of each other.

To our parents, thanks for loving us and never letting us alone to give up and or to worry about our sorrows.  You have given us roots and given us wings and now it’s our turn to fly.

 Sure we all feel sad and scared at this time of our lives but for now, no tears, for tonight at least, let’s feel proud and appreciate our God-given gifts, the relationships we have built, the memories we have created and the futures we have realized.  Let’s leave BCA with warmth in our hearts, minds opened wide, and our heads held high.

God Bless!!!