"Now let's welcome our Valedictorian, Maya Matlin."
Maya Matlin sat in one of the last rows of the graduate seats, next to her best friend, Tristan Milligan. It was June 14th, and the sticky air of the Toronto sun shining in on the graduating seniors made Maya unusually nervous. She was graduating today, saying goodbye to the high school years forever. Saying hello to the next four years of Maya's life meant four more years of change, adaptation, and, (quite possibly) failure. But, before that, she had to master a graduation speech.
Reluctantly, Maya rose from her seat, walking hurredly to the stage. As she climbed the stairs in her red heels, she could hear the hoots from her sister in the front row. She tried to hide a blush of embarrassment with a curtain of blonde hair, but she was sure everyone saw it anyway. Quicker than she would've liked, she was at the microphone, which was placed on a leaning desk tall enough for Maya to stand at. As the applause died down, Maya realized she was transitioning into a panic induced state, which included a lot of stuttering and stammering.
"Uh, hello parents, teachers, and students. My name is Maya Matlin, but you probably already knew that." Maya resisted the urge to cringe at the cliché statement, and sighed in relief when the audience laughed. "For many of us, today means saying goodbye, and walking away from these so-called amazing high school years, and saying hello to college. To some it might mean saying hello to a new challenge, and welcoming it with open arms. To me, it's neither. Today is the chance for a new beginning. One chapter of our lives is over, and another is just starting. It scares me, to be perfectly honest. I'm not sure if I'm ready to re-do this all. After such eventful, harrowing years in high school, dealing with college makes me want to cry." The audience laughed in unison. "However, there's always the light at the end of the tunnel, and that is what motivates me. So, as we say goodbye, hello, welcome, whatever, find what motivates you, that light at the end of the tunnel, and let that push you forward. Congrats, class of 2017, welcome to your new beginning."
Maya ended the speech with happiest smile she could muster, and hurried off the stage. Not five minutes later, Maya, who now stood in front of the stage with her classmates, yelled, "Is everyone ready?" At encouraging cheers, Maya counted down from three, cap held tightly between her nimble fingers. "Three, two, one!" Maya tossed her yellow cap in the air, joining a sea of yellow and blue hats, in the sky. Teachers and parents rose from their seats to clap, while students embraced one another, couples kissed, and Maya escaped. She ran to her family, becoming one with the rest of the Matlins, including Katie, her dad, her mom, and her brother.