KITSENIOR CLASS FAREWELL

K: Success is not a one-person job We’d like to start by thanking the teachers and staff members who have poured countless invaluable hours into our academic and individual endeavors

J: Thank you to all the parents, guardians, and family in the audience today We are immensely grateful for your guidance — you are a huge part of our accomplishments today and will be a part of them for many more milestones to come

K: As an aside, we’d like to thank our own moms and dads There is no perfect way to ever express how thankful we are for your love and support

J: You are our biggest cheerleaders, our north stars, and the people we aspire to become

K: Class of 2023, we all have one key thing in common, which is why we’re here today: we’re #Gifted I know, saying #gifted sounds like a Roeper facebook post But being gifted is something we cherish because it’s something that brings us together When we walk off this stage, we’re not leaving that trait behind Many students we’ll meet in college can identify as gifted, but only we are lucky enough to say that we’re Roeper kids Well, what we mean to say is that we’re #RoeperKids

J: Roeper is where we’ve intersected before we embark on our individual walks of life Even though we’re going our separate ways, I would caution you to never lose the Roeper Kid in you When we go off to college, I hope we all get to make friends with the people who would’ve fit in well with our grade

J: So, Katelyn and I came up with a list of ways to characterize the Roeper Class of ‘23, we call it: How To Spot A Roeper Kid

K: 1 They want to continue to learn beyond the structure of college Don’t get me wrong, higher education will greatly contribute to your success But learning doesn’t stop when you get your degree — just like it doesn’t stop today Roeper kids are lifelong learners You are all motivated to learn for more than just a good grade

J: 2 They have eclectic and encompassing passions From poetry to car repair to philosophy to dance, the Class of ‘23 has proven that once we gain an interest, we pursue it relentlessly As someone who avidly reads the Roeper Record, I am constantly in awe of the things you accomplish within your passions Roeper kids put in the time and effort to achieve their desired results without fail We’ve seen this firsthand by watching our friends build award-winning robots, take action for their beliefs, and outrace their opponents to the finish line

K: 3 They’re open-minded and non-judgmental We are taught at Roeper to listen to each other That has led to productive conversations, and it has contributed to our growth as citizens of the world I’ve found that whether you’re interested in the history of Valentine’s Day or in literary techniques of surrealist poetry, you can find someone here to talk about it with you That’s the thing about Roeper kids, they’ll engage in conversations with you as if they were experts in the field

J: 4 They’re caring Roeper students react with compassion and empathy We are all trying to help each other succeed I know that any one of you would take a few minutes of your time to help explain a math problem, a question on a lab report, or proofread a college essay You care about the world beyond the walls of our school You take action for the causes you care about, instead of remaining complacent — you’ve done work ranging from fundraising for disease research to writing advocacy letters to Michigan Senators I hope this active attitude towards justice sticks with you; the world of tomorrow needs it

J: There you have it; your guide on How To Spot a Roeper Kid Now that our future as graduates has gone from being an out-there concept into a pressing reality, we can say we’re profoundly grateful for the privilege of growing up here

K: All the positive memories we’ve created, the photos we’ve taken, and the videos that make us cringe, will never truly leave us To quote John Green, who I’m sure we’re all familiar with from late-night cramming Crash Course videos before an exam … “We’re on a roller coaster that only goes up, my friends ”

J: If you went on Shivering Timbers on the senior trip, it sure felt that way! But I take this quote to remember to live life on the bright side We’re saying goodbye today, but there are great things behind us as well as ahead, and that is something to be grateful for

K + J: Congratulations Roeper Class of 2023! F