Senior Speech: Srijay Bandi

Class of 2026, family, friends, teachers, it is an incredible honor to stand before you this afternoon. And not to sound like a broken record, but what a wild ride these past four years have been. For some of us, high school brought about unforgettable memories, friendships, and moments we’ll carry forever. For others, it brought challenges, pressure, fear, uncertainty, and days that felt impossible to get through. For myself, and most of us, it was a healthy mix of both. 

I’ll never forget one of the first moments I was face-to-face with that struggle. I was a small, awkward freshman with one big dream: becoming captain of our Raiders Basketball Team someday. During a game on the freshman team, I went up for a block, landed, and before I knew it I was looking at my shattered left wrist. My mind was racing for what felt like forever, but a few days later, sitting on the edge of my bed with a fresh bright green cast on my arm, I remember asking myself the same question over and over again. “Why me?” 

And I think all of us, at some point, have asked that same question. Why this challenge? Why does my life have to be so much harder? Why now? 

But after asking myself these same questions many times over many frustrating moments, Class of 2026, I’m here to tell you that asking that question is not a weakness. It’s proof that you cared deeply enough to risk failure. It’s proof that you were chasing something meaningful. Fear, risk, and uncertainty are a part of all of us as we move forward on our journeys. We ask ourselves, why it has to happen to us, and without knowing the answer to that question, we all have moved forward, moved forward some more, put one foot in front of the other, no matter the fear, risk, or uncertainty, and we have ended up here today. The courage to keep going has defined us and allowed us to be here today. 

Class of 2026, I leave you with the fact that we are built for the lives we fight for. The hardest moments shape us into stronger, kinder, and more resilient people. So as we step into this next chapter, there will be many more moments where you feel lost and wonder, “Why does this have to happen to me?” When that moment comes, I hope you remember all of the faces around you and how we are all strong enough to grow through it. Thank you.