My son’s speech. Just posting it is bragging, I’m afraid.

I thank everyone for coming here tonight; including our families, teachers and classmates.  I also thank the school board and other distinguished guests for coming. Your presence means a great deal to us.

Hello, I am Will Kilter, and I am here to talk about the state of Jefferson High School.  The State of Jefferson High School is very good even if the senior class is leaving.  Next year, there will be a new class of freshman joining the high school and they will only change the school for the better.  Also, most of the seniors will probably have family around here and will return from college to visit them, so the seniors will never be truly gone.  As such, I say that the state of Jefferson High School is good.

In the past, our parents, grandparents and all of our ancestors before them have faced many challenges, such as world war, famine and disease.  While it is true that we have not faced one thing on the scale of what they faced, one thing is true for each generation; they all had to leave home and live on their own upon reaching adulthood.  Just as they faced fear when they had to leave home, so do many of us.  The reason for this is that we are always most comfortable with what is familiar and what feels safe. We do not want to face any dangerous risks.  Of course, as John Shedd said, “A ship in harbor is safe – but that is not what ships are built for.”  Just as the ship is meant to leave the harbor, so are we meant to leave our home and school.  We should not fear what the future may bring because every day has challenges.  We should be excited by what the future holds, and look forward to meeting new people and having new experiences in the next phase of our life.

Even though academics are very important, there is more to school than academics here at Jefferson.  At Jefferson, students are offered many opportunities to grow in non-academic areas such as; band, sports, yearbook, reading arrows, clubs, choir, Science Olympiad, etc.

The one that has the most importance to me is Band.  In band, I have met some of my best friends, and this gives me a sense of belonging.  Mr. Gray has taught me about determination, being prepared and working hard on my music.  But most of all, he has taught me that coming from a small school doesn’t mean you are less than others.  Mr. G says to hold our heads high, be the best and show our

Arrow Pride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO ARROWS!!!!!!

I would like to thank my family for raising me to be the person I am today.  I also thank my friends for supporting me and for treating me with respect despite my autism. I hope that my classmates have learned from me to accept differences, and see the best in everyone.

My teachers also deserve thanks for helping me with my assignments and also for being some of my friends.  I also thank Mrs. Jean for helping me to keep up with my homework especially after being sick sometimes for over a week at a time.  I also thank God for giving me the strength to get through each day.

I said earlier that the state of Jefferson High School is good.  In addition to what I said earlier, I would also like to add that I believe that all the students at Jefferson High School are good people and that they will easily hold the school up to the standards that it already achieves and will push those standards up even higher.  Also, I know that when my fellow students of the class of 2007 go into the world, they will show everyone that Jefferson creates some of the best people in the world.