Meadowridge School

Friday, June 18th 2010, a special day for Meadowridge School, parents, students and especially the Graduating class of 2010. Since the day we were born, we have been brought up to attend school, make friends, graduate and pursue our dreams. Yet we have accomplished so much more than what can be taught out of a textbook or shown in a diagram. All of us standing up here today can only mean one thing; we have accomplished what Ferris Bueller never did, graduation.

Apart from the education that we have acquired here, I realize that it is the characteristics we have gained, friendships we have made, and experiences we have gone through that we will take away most from Meadowridge School. In 13 years of grade school, we have all been through sunshine and cloudy skies. When times are hard I see compassion and friendship, when times are good, I see priceless laughter and genuine happiness. When I reminisce on our time at Meadowridge I begin to realize how much it has shaped and become an everyday part of our lives. These halls are not only filled with artwork but with our footprints and stamps of our legacy at Meadowridge. When you truly see this graduating class and attend even one day of class with us you will realize that inspiration and will are never hard to find, they are in every one of us in every classroom, performance, and game. These halls and classrooms became our field, our stage and our lives. With only 26 people in the most confident grad class Meadowridge has ever seen, we have all forged bonds that are unbreakable and shared the greatest memories we have had to this point of our lives.

The reason that we have had the opportunity to share these friendships was education. Education is the reason we are all here, because our parents cared for us enough to put off retirement for a little bit longer. Our parents have gone beyond what was needed to ensure that we had a great education and a chance to step out into this world with a head start. Since the day we were born, we could always count on your support and it has led the 26 of us here today. It is an honor to call you our parents and today is a celebration for all of us. To the teachers of Meadowridge thank you for believing in us for giving us an extra push when we needed it and kicked us twice when we were down, for providing us with such an environment that we felt safe and were free to be young. Without the full support of the school administration, teachers, parents and students, Meadowridge would simply be an empty building.

Perhaps when we look back on this day in years to come we will remember that it was the beginning of an end. Meadowridge School has many bright students and grades in years to come will begin to understand this feeling that the 26 of us are feeling today. A feeling of happiness for what we have achieved and sadness for what we are leaving behind. No words, speech or presentation can sum up the 13 years that we have shared with Meadowridge but through words we can give thanks and appreciation for without a doubt the greatest years of our youth.

Graduates of 2010, today is our day, no one can stop our shine. As one chapter of our lives close, another will be written, we are classmates, we are friends, and we are unstoppable! No matter where we end up we are forever immortalized in each others hearts and on a picture hanging in the halls of Meadowridge reading grad Class 2010. You guys simply put are the greatest friends anyone could ever ask for. This is not the end, far from, it is the beginning of a life that has stemmed from Meadowridge School and will eventually blossom into individual accomplishments.

Students of Meadowridge from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 11, from this day forth, you will become the new leaders and the future of Meadowridge School. As a graduating class leaves we pass on to you the leadership responsibilities and our high hopes as we have received from graduates before us. I know one day it will be you up here on this stage.

There are few moments in life that we truly remember for the rest of our lives. Today Friday, June 18th, 2010, is one of those moments. Graduating with the people that matter the most, at the school that provided us with the best, we have truly reached a milestone.

Congratulations Meadowridge Graduating class of 2010, congratulations on graduating and looking so good as we do it. (Shades BAM!)


- Jason Chai, Valedictorian, Class of 2010