SPEECH: Class President, Stephanie Tom

Good morning everyone! I'd like to welcome family, friends, guests, members of the Board of Education & Town Council, the NBTHS teachers, counselors, nurses, and administrators to our graduation ceremony. Specifically, thank you to my mom, sister, and wonderful friends and teachers, who have been my biggest support system here at NBTHS. My name is Stephanie Tom, and I am unbelievably honored to be standing in front of you all today as your senior class president.

Before I begin my speech, I'd like to draw your attention to the chair on the floor to my left [gesture towards it]. On it, you'll see a single rose. This rose represents anyone special to us who could not be here today. I ask for us to please take a brief moment to reflect upon those individuals. Thank you. 

For me, the one person I would like to pay tribute to is my father–Gene Tom–who passed away from brain cancer in my freshmen year. He was the type of person who loved Facebook video calls, playing ping pong, making the corniest jokes, and blasting old 80s music (without headphones). But he was also one of the most inspiring people I knew, and constantly encouraged me to create the best future for myself. As a child, I asked him what he thought I should be when I grew up. He told me “I don’t care what you do, as long you’re stinking rich.” In other words, work to find the job that makes the most money. A very Dad response, that many of us have heard in some form or another, and have taken to heart as we’ve journeyed through high school–aiming for success that can hopefully land us a wealthy lifestyle. Maybe we pulled all-nighters studying for tests in AP and Honors classes, pushed our bodies to their limits in sports, or worked endless hours at our after-school jobs.

During my father’s battle with cancer, I thought about money a lot, seeing the hospital bills pile up and my mother start working full time to support my family. At the same time, I saw everything that my father had worked for fall apart. Yet the things that never left him were the ones that he earned not through money. His family, his friends, his perseverance, and his silly personality. That’s when I realized that I had taken what my father said about my future completely wrong. When he told me he wanted me to be rich, he wasn’t talking about money, he was talking about living a rich life. Full of love, purpose, memories, passion, and excitement.

NBTHS may have been a place of learning, but I hope it was also a community where we found all these riches of life. Although in ten years, we may be able to feel our high school career through the gold stole and multi-colored cords we wear around our neck, our lives will have been shaped by the people we met and the experiences we had. After today, once our caps have been tossed, and our gowns have been hung up, continue to enrich your life. Enjoy the simple pleasures. Find what invigorates you–whether it’s practicing medicine or singing show tunes onstage. Build connections, jump at every opportunity you have, fight for what you believe in, and keep digging for more riches! Truly heed my father’s words, and be “stinking rich.” And for right now, live in the moment, and take in all the beauty that you have found so far. 

Welcome to graduation!