[music]
Class of 2020, please join me in the pledge of allegiance.
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America,
and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation
under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee,
Texas, one state under God, one and indivisible.
[Pomp and Circumstance plays]
Plano East graduating class of 2020, you inspire us. We are uplifted by your
capacity to endure unexpected challenges. We ache for the
We ache for the We are energized by the resilience you
have displayed. While our time together was abruptly cut
short, you will long be remembered in the annals of Plano East history. It
is clear that few graduating classes that have come before you
are better equipped to lead through the
challenges ahead.
Though thrust upon you, your evolution to lead through adversity has been both
strengthened and sharpened. And as we imagine the world you will one
day lead, it is especially relevant and important
in these days and times to draw upon the words of the Reverend
Martin Luther King. In which he has said, "Our lives begin
to end the day we become silent about the things that matter". "An
individual has not started living until he can rise
above the narrow confines of his individualistic concerns
to the broader concerns of all humanity". And finally, "Hatred paralyzes life;
love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life;
love illuminates it". And so graduates, as you go forth
do not remain silent about things that matter.
Focus not on yourself but instead your family,
your community and our society. And remember to bring out the best in others
with kindness and love.
[music]
Hi. For those that know and don't know I'm Gracie Warhurst.
The best piece of advice I ever got was from my newspaper teacher.
She told me, "You're gonna make mistakes but you're still becoming who
you are". As a senior in high school this
especially struck me because I realized that we're all just jumping on stepping
stones leading to the person that we will become.
As in any walk of life, there are bumps in the road but this doesn't prevent us
from reaching our final destination. If anything, our mistakes and obstacles
aid us in becoming that much more resilient and strong.
As student at Plano East we have a shared experience of being especially
prepared for the real world. It's in the relationships that we've
made, both with teachers and friends, in the work that we do and the events
that we've either planned or attended. Plano East has had an organization for
everyone. Personally, I was a part of a newspaper staff and
I got to spend two periods every day in what felt like more like the real
world then high school. I believe this is true for all students.
Whatever their interests were. Teachers treat us not like the kids we
may be, but like the adults we're becoming.
Peers help us in our journeys. And our individual interests accustom us to life
outside of high school. Another thing we as students share is
feeling respected in the journey of learning to respect others.
I've always been proud to attend a school rich in diversity.
Every student attended school each day from a different cultural background,
a different family structure and a different life.
In my personal relationships and acquaintances I've been able to learn so
much more about people different from me. I think this has taught all of us to
accept our differences rather then reject them.
And to embrace the people around us because none of us are the same.
And to embrace the people around us because none of us are the same.
and have been crafted by our time at this school. In so many ways we have been
immersed in an environment that is curated for our success.
But we don't know everything yet. There are still memories to be made,
schools to attend, graduate programs to apply to and friends to make
and life to live. There will be mountains and valleys and every hill in between.
But when we walk across the stage today we get to start the future with so much
preparation already behind us. Amidst everything that
should have held seniors back this
year, we're still graduating
and that's something to celebrate. I know I am personally thankful to see the way
our teachers have encircled us and lifted us up in a time of crisis. And
And how our time at Plano East as a whole, with every club and organization, class
and extracurricular have shaped us into the young adults
we're becoming.
We attend a school that truly cares and
wants to see succeed just as much as we
want to do so.
When I look back on the year walking
from class to class, running through the
rain and staying in the breezeway to
avoid the heat I'll always remember that
piece of advice from my newspaper
teacher
and look forward with pride from where
I come from. Once a Panther. Always a
Panther. I'll see you guys soon. Congratulations graduates.
[music]
To the faculty, friends and family, thank
you for not only being here to witness
our graduation from Plano East
but for the past four years of support
and guidance.
We couldn't have done it without you. And
to the class of 2020, congratulations; we finally made it.
The road it took to get here was not in
the slightest bit easy
but we have been united in both our
struggles and our successes.
Together we have survived the Africa
parking lot after school,
being splashed by the contaminated pond
water on the way to class
and Building Four bathrooms, or lack
thereof.
But it is also together that we strive
to learn, achieved countless accolades,
destroyed the juniors in the pep rally
chant competitions
and it is together that we are here
today. As much as we are united we are
also a class of over 1,200 unique individuals. Our student body
is diverse and is filled with different cultures
and ideas that enrich both its campus
and its people. This duality between
unity and individuality
is what makes East East. We are so
fortunate to have an amazing education
and a multitude of opportunities that
our school has offered.
Something that millions of children
across the globe do not have access to
and something we should not take for
granted. We have the luxury of such
resources
and the responsibility to use them to
not only better ourselves
but the largest society around us.
Passivity
is the greatest danger to our world; as
cliche as it is
be the change that you want to see. Our
black gowns and black caps
are proof that we are capable enough to
do so. We are a school
of change and empowerment. We helped
UNICEF raise over 4,000 dollars
for coronavirus relief efforts.
Our students have founded clubs about
social activism and justice
and we started recycling this year.
It is this change in empowerment we
experience here at school
that we must continue in other aspects
of our lives
and society. Especially in times like
these
our actions today will become crucial
parts in history
that can drastically change our future
tomorrow.
So keep this in mind as we move forward
from high school and become more active
members in the world around us.
Even though our journey here at East has
come to an end, the memories
will carry through to all our future
walks in life.
More than just earning a diploma our 13
years of school
has given us relationships and moments
that don't just end today.
In the wise words of our childhood
heartthrob, Troy Bolton from High School Musical,
"East High is having friends
we'll keep for the rest of our lives and
that really means we're all in this together". As important
as my classes were
I know that when I look back at high
school it's the times of
eating at Dona's, spotting the fake duck
and chilling in the breezeway
that I will miss the most. I am so proud
to be a Panther
and I am so proud to graduate with you
all today.
I know this is not the finish line we
expected or wanted,
senioritis in quarantine has proved to
be a deadly combo
and I think my freshman 15 came six
months too early
but we have persisted; from senior year
yard signs to continuing plans for
senior sunset
we have overcome and united during one
of the most isolating times
of our lives. No matter if your next step
is
college, entering the workforce or
honorably joining the armed forces
I know that we will bring the jungle
with us. Thank you
and congratulations to the class of 2020.
[music]
Faculty, fellow graduates, parents,
relatives and all others who are
watching, Congratulations to the Plano East Class of 2020.
Here we are, four years of hard work,
one virus away from ever shaking our
hands. I can't be the only one who
thought
this was going to take place over Zoom
and we were going to get our diplomas by
email.
I want to give a special thanks to all
the essential and healthcare workers out
there.
I also want to thank my Mom, Dad, twin
sister Rekha
and all my close friends for supporting
me throughout my life.
When I was given notice that I'd be
delivering this speech today
I decided to put in the same amount of
effort we've always put in
our assignments and school projects;
after binging
HBO's West World and the Last Dance and
drinking a couple cans of Red Bull along
the way, it's finally ready. Senior year has been
full of surprises, no I'm not talking about losing to that
school on the opposite side of town in
football,
who would have thought a global pandemic
would take away the very much expected
end to our senior year.
When I first heard spring break was
going to be extended by a week I was
ecstatic celebrating in my room.
Then I never thought I'd say this, I
started to miss going to school a little.
I miss seeing my teachers. I miss my
friends.
I also miss trying to see how long it
would take a teacher to see I wasn't
wearing my school ID;
thanks to Miss Meek and Dr. Biss that
didn't last too long.
While being locked in my house for the
past couple of weeks I started thinking
about revolutions,
personal revolutions. No, not gimmicky New Year's resolutions like those
fad Keto diets on TV, believe me I've
tried,
those never work. I want to talk about real
definitive change, like the revolutions
that didn't stop Elon Musk
from revolutionizing the car world with
Tesla.
And currently we're facing a large-scale
revolution with the Black Lives Matter
movement. During quarantine I found myself
pondering what it means to be an
American today.
Is it the prospect of the American dream?
Is it the ideas of liberty and freedom
we so deeply cherish?
Since the death of George Floyd and
countless others
it's become increasingly clear that some
of these core values are being withheld
from some Americans in our society
and that systemic racism still permeates
our society.
Now thousands of peaceful protesters
rallied our pangs of anger against
police brutality
from all 50 states through compassion
for each other.
So how exactly can we create our own
personal revolutions?
First we must challenge our existing
assumptions
and identify areas for improvement. We
shouldn't have to accept the norms that
society has given to us.
I think it's fair to say that now is a
crazy eye-opening time to be alive.
With that in mind I encourage everyone
in our graduating class this summer
to start their own personal revolution,
big or small.
It could be reading a book, maybe you
want to find a novel way to support the
Black Lives Matter movement,
perhaps you want to start your own
company, whatever the case may be we must
then execute our plans. To execute our plans
effectively we need to break down
our revolutions of choice into small
feasible goals.
Danielle Carmignani states that
solidarity lies in
action. This action requires us to
embrace new challenges
and work together to improve our world.
Knowing the possible risks and dangers
involved. Without action
our best intentions are still left as
intentions. When Elon Musk started SpaceX
in 2002
he wanted to propel the future of
humanity.  He went against the advice of nearly everyone he talked to.
After numerous failures his team has
ushered in a new era of commercial space
flight
and even made history last week with
NASA with their innovation and reusable
rockets.
if we want to make these personal
revolutions possible we must focus our
attention.
Many people call our time the age of
information.
James Williams, an Oxford trained
philosopher, instead believes
that we're living in the age of
attention and I agree with him.
The overarching goal of technology in
our lives is to help us reach our aspirations.
However, our generation faces a world
full of click
bait, full of corporations like Instagram,
Facebook, Google, that generate billions
of dollars of revenue
each year by sending us advertisements
and tracking our online presences.
The technology surrounding us therefore
requires us to pay them
with both time and attention. Often
leading to stress and anxiety.
Are we really managing our attention?
Or is our attention being managed in the
hands of a few?
Attention and focus thus allow us to
reach these revolutions.
So let's start controlling our attention.
I have no doubt we're going to make some
meaningful changes in the coming years.
Congrats again and good luck to the
Plano East class of 2020.
[music]
Class of 2020, we live for those moments
that make life
a little sweeter; a life full of firsts and last.
From the many firsts that we got to
experience in our 13 years of grade
school
we dreamed of the last that would
culminate during our glorified senior year.
The last season of a high school sport,
last fine arts concert,
prom, graduation; most of which we had to
live vicariously through virtual
platforms.
We never finished out this roller
coaster of a journey in the way that we
all imagined.
I mean seriously, I don't know about you
but I never thought that I would end up
with hundreds for the fourth nine weeks.
But through all the challenges that we
face as a graduate class
you can't forget about some of the
things that made the end of senior year
as special as it could be given the
circumstances.
Krispy Kreme gave out free donuts, my
personal favorite,
celebrities came together to recognize
us and
let's not forget about the effort that
our faculty and administration put in
to celebrate the seniors. 2020 has been
unconventional to say the least and I
know it seems cliche to say
but retrospectively through raging war
and economic recessions
our country has come back stronger than
it was before.
So who's to say that we can't come out
of this better than we were before.
Graduates with four years worth of
memories and experiences at Plano East
I've learned a lot from my teachers,
parents
but most of all, you guys. Through all
here three lessons
I've learned that go hand in hand;
lessons that give us hope.
First, invest in yourself.
Second, accomplish meaningful goals through the
challenges
and third give back to your community.
I want us to focus on ourselves and to
embrace our individuality.
To build our strengths and what makes us
unique. I'll never forget a story my dad
told me about one man
and the story went something like this.
He lost his father at age five,
quit school at 16 and was discharged
from the army.
He was fired from six jobs and then at
the age of 65 he felt like a total
failure and decided to commit suicide.
He sat down to write a will but instead
he wrote about what all he would have
accomplished with his life.
He remembered how good of a cook he was,
his strength,
and he borrowed some money and sold his
famous fried chicken door to door.
Colonel Sanders, the founder of the KFC
empire, finally died a billionaire at the age of
88. If we want to be ready for the
challenges that lie ahead we have to be
willing to fall back
on what makes us unique and our
strengths because that is how we build
our resilience and prepare
for what lies in the uncertainties. Once
we build our strengths
we strive to achieve meaningful goals
and to find our passions.
I'm sure all of us remember Shel
Silverstein aka
the author of some of the best books
ever from our elementary school days,
one poem of his comes to mind, "Listen to
the mustn'ts child. Listen to the don'ts. Listen to the
shouldn'ts, the couldn'ts, the won'ts.
Listen to the never haves then listen
close to me. Anything can happen, child, anything can
be".
Regardless if we found our passions thus
far we all have interests that I'd like
to see us take further
even alongside the challenges that we
currently face.
The pursuit to achieve goals that mean
something to us and to find our passion
should always be relentless. And finally
ground yourself with the community; if
there's one thing that we've learned
from these tough
times it's that we have to be
conscientious of others
and we have to be willing to help in any
way possible.
Teachers, family, friends, essential workers
and all those here who have sacrificed a
lot for you to be here today
should be recognized for their
compassion, dedication
and willpower in making you who you are
today.
It is our duty as the upcoming
generation of adults to serve our
community and to facilitate that hope
among others. These three things,
three simple tasks are enough to give us
something to fall back on when we feel
as if nothing is going right anymore.
I am proud to be a part of such a
diverse senior class with such intellectual and
extracurricular prowess
but most of all a class that has endured
some pretty unprecedented times.
Class of 2020, we fought this battle
together and we fought hard with the
hope of a bright future.
We may have lost part of our senior year
but hindsight is 2020
and we will rise from this stronger than ever.
Congratulations class of 2020. We did it!
[music]
And so as Principal of Plano East Senior High
I am proud to announce that the students
before you have met
all course and local requirements for
high school graduation
as prescribed by the Plano Independent
School District, Board of Education
and the Texas Education Agency. I now
declare each graduate worthy
of the high school diploma from Plano East Senior High.
[alma mater plays]
[music]
