Change your stars.  This was said by a character in a favorite movie of mine called A Knights Tale.  The main character, Will, is born a peasant, is sold to a knight, and grows up to be a knight himself.  Will changes who he is because of three small words that his father told him when he was a boy.  Will soon became a very strong person.  He took something he believed in and acted on it.  He made something of himself.  Despite that Will is a fictional character, he is someone who I strive to be like.  A huge part of what has helped me to better try and achieve this is Renaissance Academy. During my nine years at Renaissance, I have learned more than I ever could have hoped for.  It has helped me to become a stronger, more independent person.  All of the things that I learned at Renaissance Academy I will take to Fountain Valley School, where I will be going to school in August. Using all of my resources around me, I have become a person I never thought I could be. 

However, I would not have made it this far without the help from a few people.  All of my teachers, Mrs. Greenfield, Mrs. Hayden, Mrs. Volpe, Mr. Kerchner, Mrs. Hokinson, Mr. Campbell and Mr. Rubenstein, you have all helped me grow in so many different ways, I could not have picked better teachers.  Rabbi Moskowitz, you have helped me to discover who I am spiritually, mentally and emotionally.  All of my friends, you have supported me and given me that extra umph when I needed it.  Clayanna, you have inspired me to be the best I can be. Mrs. Wood, you are more than a teacher to me, you are my role-model. It says so on my Fountain Valley application. Alex, you aren’t exactly a little bundle of joy but you supported me in ways you could not imagine.  Mom, and Dad, you helped me with my homework, even if I yelled at you or if it got too hard for the both of us.  You supported me in any was that I could possibly imagine, even if it meant taking me to Sencha to relax for a while.

By coming to Renaissance, I have changed my stars and become a person who wants to make a mark in everything that I do. One person can make a difference, so remember that you too can change your stars.

 

Although I've only gone to Renaissance Academy for 5 years, that is long enough to show me that this school teaches more than just education to its students. When I walked through the doors to Renaissance 5 years ago, I was shy, very sensitive (as my good friends know all too well), and very, very insecure in my new environment. Thanks to superb guidance and instruction I received from my teachers, peers, and parents, I'm now grateful to everyone who gave me a stronger sense of confidence, self-respect, and have almost cured me of my sensitivity.

 

I would like to thank everyone who has made my life better and more interesting while I've attended Renaissance. First and foremost, thank you to all my teachers who I have learned from since the beginning of fourth grade. Mrs. Volpe, thank you so much for guiding me through my first two years here. You were the key ingredient in making my life at Renaissance go as smoothly as it did. Mrs. Wood, Mr. Kerchner, Mr. Campbell and Mr. Rubenstein, you all pushed me out of my comfort zone and encouraged me to try new things and be a leader. I've heard these traits will be useful in high school. Thank you so much. Caremenza, Ms. Ruth, Mr. Bursnall and Mrs. Hok, thank you for having the patience and persistence to teach me in your classes. Clayanna Killing, thank you for standing by me from day one. For all of you who have taught me, I not only gained experience and knowledge, but a friend as well. Thank you.

 

To my fellow graduates: It's been a good three years. Whether we were trying to figure out the volume of a bowling pin or planning 70's day, thanks for being my friends and standing beside me. Good luck to you all! To my other classmates, thank you for all you've done to help me.

 

To my best friends, Jeannie, Julia, and Becca, thank you so much for everything you've helped me through. I don't know how I would've gotten through middle school if you hadn't been right there beside me, urging me on and just being my friends. Thanks again.

 

And last but certainly not least, I'd like to thank my Mom, my Dad and my brother Max for their ever-lasting love, encouragement, and support of me.

 

I would like to leave you all with a quote from Dr. Seuss:

"Do not cry because it's over. Smile because it happened."

 

 

I don’t know half of you half as well as I’d liked to; and I like half of you half as well as you deserve. Those words are similar to the words of Bilbo Baggins at his birthday party. Those who know me well know how much I love J.R.R Tolkien, and it would make sense to you that I included some of his quotes. He was very wise in his words, and said many good things for parting. He new how to say things in a way that made people interested and want to listen, and I shall do the best I can to follow in the footsteps, or words, of one of the greatest writers of all time.

Parting is always a hard thing to do, and I try to do it as infrequently as possible. Every so often, a time comes when you have to step away from a loved circle to join a new one. Many things happen in that time, and goodbyes are necessary. This is that time, the time of many changes.

First I shall say goodbye to my peers; I would like to thank you for always supporting me, because every little bit of comfort helps. Thanks for helping make life easier, and know that a good leader always has good followers. To you, I leave you with these words paraphrased from The Fellowship of the Ring:

Take care. I do care for thee. Don’t worry for me. I’m as happy now as I’ve ever been, and that is saying a great deal. But the time has come. You’re old enough, and perhaps wise enough, and I am being swept away.

To my teachers, thank you for teaching me more than just academics. You taught me how to lead, follow, and observe. You helped me see how materialistic our society can be, and see the simplicity in the comfort of a bed. You opened up my eyes to so many new things, that it seemed as if I was blinded in nature’s glory. For this, I thank you, and I will miss you dearly.

Mom and Dad, you have always been there for me. You have helped me with projects, with applications, and with contacting Cheyenne. You’ve had patience with me when I didn’t always respond right away, and had faith in me when I didn’t have faith in myself. I thank you and love you with every fiber in my body. Know that even though part of me will be left behind with the days of middle school, and that I will be in high school, I will always be your little girl.

Everyone has to change, and leave, and for four 8^th graders, today is one of those days. I leave you with these words by Tolkien to ponder:

The road goes ever on and on

Down from the door where it began.

Now far ahead the road has gone,

And I must follow, if I can,

Pursuing it with eager feet,

Until it joins some other way

Where many paths and errands meet.

And whither then? I cannot say. 

Here I am, Graduation day. It took a lot to get here, more than my three years of work. Without the love and support of some very special people I wouldn’t be here today. Mom, Dad, we have been through a lot together. Whether it be first steps in a tornado, or building rockets for the next calm day. You’ve been there guiding me down the road since that first, long, arduous, ear-piercing, scream. I can’t leave out the one who said, “Boy, he can scream,” that day. He has had a great impact on me, too. Those first not-so-few years were hard between us. I’m sorry I couldn’t play baseball that first year; I know that really got you down. You’ve been a best friend, worst enemy, mentor, and brother all in one. I owe a lot to you mom and dad. Cooking, camping, computers, or playing with blocks (remember that set which always fell when you were around) you guys have always been there for me, guiding me onward and upward on the path of life.

I remember my first day here, at Renaissance. Well, maybe I don’t, but I do remember it was the first time I ever was excited about school. I believe that that is the yield of a lot of hard work from some very special people. Mrs. Wood and Mr. K, you both mean a lot to me. Mrs. Wood, you have always believed in me. You’ve been there for my battles with spelling, skirmishes with social studies and encounters with writer’s block. You’re the one who really got me going on writing, and I will always be thankful for that. Mr. K, you’re a one of a kind teacher. It’s not without good reason that we have always called you evil. You’ve always made sure to turn each person in the right direction to learn the most from every assignment, which was mostly through the harder directions and indirect answers. It’s been a fun three years getting here. I think as the years go on, we will appreciate Carmenza’s passion and perseverance in teaching more and more. Drama has always been interesting, from West Side Story, for those who remember, to Murder at the Brantley Manor. With stories of sledgehammers and laminated hamsters, computers have always been one of the funniest classes. Forever I will be mortified by the thought of eye surgery, but I will always look forward to the next essay.

Three years of long nights, hard assignments, and fun days, have gotten me here, graduation. But what does that mean? Is it not a summit on the climb? Not a place of ending but of beginning. Where you reach the summit and look out, only to see another higher point in front of you? To finish one climb, only to begin another? And where does that climb go? To the future. Isn’t that what we are all here for? To learn and teach one another? To invest in it, and make sure there are bountiful returns?

 

Four years ago a young girl walked into Renaissance Academy. Right away she felt at home. The past three years have been the best years of her life. Over the course of those years, she grew into the young woman you see today. She’s older, wiser, and stronger in more ways then one.

I am going to miss everyone that has stood by me and supported me these past years. They have all contributed to each step I have taken from that young girl to this young woman. Every life at Renaissance that has touched mine has made a difference. No one here will ever understand how much I love them and their friendship. Just as I am sad to leave, I am happy to find a new place where I can learn and grow into a woman.

I would like to thank Mr. Kerchner first, for always believing in me and answering my questions when I didn’t understand something. He made my path through Renaissance Academy a fun one. I’d like to thank Mrs. Wood for being a second mother to me. She was always there to talk to and was an excellent teacher too. Mom, thank you for teaching me to be independent and thanks for believing in me when I didn’t. Dad, thank you for understanding that I don’t always get things done on time, and for helping me come up with ways to manage my time better. My two loving brothers, thank you for reminding me everyday that I’m loved. To my best friend, you support me in every way possible and you’re always there to talk to. And finally all of my friends who make my life fun and full of love and friendship, I thank you. I love you guys so much. Thanks.

Today is a celebration. It is a festival of remembering all of the good times we had and looking forward to all the good times ahead of us. Let us not cry for sadness, but for joy. Let us celebrate life and all it has to offer.