valedictorian!

[michaelp]

Yahoo! I am our classes valedictorian for grade 8. Although we are a small class, it's still pretty cool being the valedictorian of the class.
There were 4 nominees: 2 guys and 2 girls. And I got it.
So, our graduation is in about 2 weeks (today is June 12, graduation is June 24) and I have to write a speech for the grad.
So, I am basically gonna start off with the whole welcome thing, great honour to have this nomination and what not.
Then I am gonna list off all the events that have happened with our class this year.
Then I am gonna talk about an issue that I feel is very important in determining a persons character: determination and will power.

The reason I bring that up is because in a book I read, called "The Mental ABCs of Pitching" and a book that I am currently reading, "The Mental Game of Baseball", a large issue involved, mentally, is determination. It seems that how determined you are is basically determining what you do. It's an unbelievably great book(both) and recommend them to anyone interested in sports, baseball, or the mind in general. So that's what inspired me to talk about that.

I might also talk about the whole gaming the educational system a bit, and how a grade 2, 3, young kid can memorize something, but it takes an older mind to understand it.

Anyone else been the valedictorian?

[Insectoid]

When we had the vote for Gr. 8 valedictiorian 2 years ago, I had an in-school suspension for mooning the principle. (I didn't know he was in that van!) So, I didn't get to vote.

I must say, in grade 8 and doing computer science? Either you have an awesome school or are a...computer sciencey-guy....

[michaelp]

We don't have computer science taught in our school, I just self-taught myself and enjoy doing it as a hobby.

[Insectoid]

Excellent job, what language(s)? And congratulations on valedictorianship!

[Zampano]

It probably won't serve you to well to earnestly say something you feel is really urgent. I suggest you just do the generic and meaningless valedictory address, as it will hardly be remembered: "We went to the Ontario Science Centre, we went to Quebec, we went to Queen's Park, we went to Ottawa . . . etc. etc."
Unfortunately, middle school graduation is not the time and a plethora of 8th-graders are not the audience to receive your message.
Save your words.

[michaelp]

insectoid @ Thu Jun 12, 2008 7:34 pm wrote:

Excellent job, what language(s)? And congratulations on valedictorianship!

C++, some Turing and Python, and some LUA.
And thank you.

Zampano wrote:

It probably won't serve you to well to earnestly say something you feel is really urgent. I suggest you just do the generic and meaningless valedictory address, as it will hardly be remembered "We went to the Ontario Science Centre, we went to Quebec, we went to Queen's Park, we went to Ottawa . . . etc. etc."
Unfortunately, middle school graduation is not the time and a plethora of 8th-graders are not the audience to receive your message.
Save your words.

I know it probably won't be remembered much, but I really need to say something about it, cuz I've never actually talked about anythign like that in public. Or to anyone really. So I jus need to vent about it. And hopefully someone will take it to heart.

[Tony]

You could start a blog. I also accept guest submissions for compsci.ca/blog, but as Clayton will tell you -- I could be a difficult editor at times.

[michaelp]

I might be able to start a blog. I might actually get readers, if I can consistently right half-decent stuff. Since joining the internet, my internet writing has improved dramatically.
Speech is 11 days. :O

And also, to Zampano again: I don't want to have a speech exactly like what is expected.

[zylum]

Just don't speak like this guy

[michaelp]

Done.
I'm also try and get some humour in the speech, to get people at least listening.

[Insectoid]

Ah yes, humour is good funny!
I like peanuts, which I am eating right now! (See? more people read and say 'that guy likes peanuts and says things weird! He's funny! I want to listen to him talk!'). I rest my case.

[michaelp]

Yeah, that's pretty much what I'm hoping will happen.

[nike52]

Great experience for you, public speaking is a valuable skill.

[Insectoid]

So when is your valedictory dictation happening? (when is grad?)

[michaelp]

June 24, in 8 days.