A/N: Next chapter! I hope you like it. Quinn is done with high school, its time to move on, but of course we have to have graduation. I appreciate everyone who continues to review it means so much to me. Disclaimer: I do not own Glee or any of its characters. Glee belongs to its creators and FOX.

Ch. 24

The light knock on her office door alerted Sue and she glanced up from her journal where she'd been outlining next year's efforts to end the glee club. Now that her three Chreeios were graduating she no longer felt a smidgen of guilt ending the clubs existence. "Come in and this had better be good."

The door opened and the squeaking of wheels on tile told Sue who it was before she even looked up. Quinn was rolled up to the desk a red back on her lap. She was dressed in a pair of light green jeans and a flowing loose blouse. Her hair was free and framing her face. She smiled and her hazel eyes sparkled, "Sorry to disturb you coach, I just came to return this." She slid the box over. Sue didn't open it, she didn't have to, she knew it contained the uniform Sue had bestowed upon Quinn the day of the accident. It was horribly ironic that the day Quinn pledged to help Sue win another National Championship, the day Quinn had downed the uniform of Cheerio, she would have an accident that would irrevocably prevent her for physically ever keeping that promise.

Sue moved her gaze from the what if in the box and back to her favorite student, she slid it back to the blonde, "Keep it. If anyone deserves to keep that uniform it is you." Sue stood up, "I'll be retiring it."

Quinn's mouth fell open in a rare demonstration of shock. "What? Why?"

"Because you are the best cheerleader I ever coached." Sue stated simply.

"The most inconsistent, you mean." Quinn amended.

Sue shrugged, "Perhaps but that was not your own fault. I never should have kicked you off the squad or forced you to choose between the Cheerios and your stupid singing club. I forced your hand. I maybe cold hearted and vicious when it comes to getting what I want, but I am the first to admit when I am wrong." Sue walked around her desk and leaned on it in front of her student. "Quinn I am not only retiring your uniform because you were a very talented cheerleader but because of your perseverance, for the strength you showed in the face of advisory, for showing that it is never to late to change and be who you truly are."

Tears leaked from Quinn's eyes as she desperately wiped them away, "I'm going to miss you Coach." Sue broke and pulled Quinn into a hug and felt herself begin to tear up too. "I'm so proud of you Quinn, you are so brave and I know you will do amazing things."

"I have you to thank for my strength. If you hadn't been so hard on me, if you hadn't held me to such a high standard I would have given up ages ago." The two pulled apart and for a moment just smiled at one another and understanding flowing between them. Eventually it got to be to much for Sue, "Alright now get out of here. It's our last day and I don't want to spend it with female wheels." Quinn just laughed, "Bye Coach, see you at graduation."

Once Quinn was gone Sue let herself relax. She really would miss Quinn.

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Will sat in his seat in the side section of the auditorium as the graduation ceremony began. Parents fill the back sections and the graduating seniors would be seated in the front middle after they walked in. The graduation march sounded and Will began searching for his kids. Yes they were his kids, he wasn't supposed to have favorites as a teacher, but it was so hard, sometimes students just connected with you, and this year's graduation class had more than ever with Will. He spotted Rachel first, she was waving frantically to her parents as she passed, she wore the sash of the National Honor Society denoting that she'd been a top student in the Nation. After her was Mike he too had the National Honor Society sash as well as the chords for the French Honor Society and Salutatorian. Will was so proud of him for graduating second in the class. After Mike was Finn and Kurt. Both boys smiled and waved at him before waving at their parents. There was a time when Will thought of himself as a father figure to Finn but he was so glad that Burt had taken over that place so effortlessly. Mercedes was also wearing sashes for the National Honor Society and the Spanish Honor Society. Santana entered throwing a kiss in the direction of where Brittany sat with Tina, Artie, Sam, and Blaine. Santana was also in the National Honor Society, Will was ashamed to admitted that he hadn't realized the girls was so smart. It was sad that Brittany was not able to graduate with her class but Will knew the extra year would really help out Brittany, no only academically but in the way of independence. Puck of course came in with his hands in the air with peace signs raised. He stopped halfway through this walk to hug his mom and sister and to place a kiss on little Beth's head, who was being held by Shelby. Finally the last person rolled into the auditorium, Quinn. She had on the most honor society sashes for the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society, and the Math Honor Society. Her shoulders were also adorned with the chords for Valedictorian, she'd beaten Mike for the top spot by 2 tenths of a point. Quinn beamed with pride and amazement; that Quinn could come out as top of the class after all she had been through was a testament to her intelligence, work ethic, and strength. She rolled by her family and waved happily to Judy, Shelby, and Beth. The little girl was yelling happily for Quinn with a smile identical to Puck's.

Once everyone was seated Principal Figgins started the ceremony. He introduced the commencement speaker, the Mayor of Lima. Next Mike got up and gave his speech. It was short and funny and perfect for the occasion. Then Figgins stood up, "Our next speaker is a remarkable young lady. In her four years here she has lead the Cheerios to a National Championship as Head Cheerleader and won the Show Choir National Championship. She is a member of the National Honor Society, the Spanish Honor Society, and The Math Honor Society. Despite great advisory, including an accident that left her severely injured at the beginning of this year, she managed to complete all her missed schoolwork and still remain at the top of the class. She was accepted early admission to Yale University, the only student in this graduating class attending and Ivy League University. We are all so proud of her and her many achievements. So please give a hand to you 2012 Valedictorian Quinn Fabray."

Will stood with the rest of the crowd and applauded as Quinn made her was to the stage. Figgins handed her the microphone and then all eyes were on her. "Thank you so much for the kid words, Principal Figgins." Quinn said gently before turning her attention to her fellow classmates. Will could she her take a deep breath before continuing.

"Survival of the fittest." Quinn paused, "the daily struggle to make it through this life. It is a long war with many little battles. High school is one of the earliest but perhaps one of the hardest. When I entered McKinely High as a freshman my only goal had been to be popular, so that the torment that I had endured in middle school would not follow me here. In my attempt to protect myself, I became what I had feared once, a bully. You see I thought to be the fittest, to survive in the ruthless world that high school can be I had to be the strongest, the smartest, the most popular, the meanest, the most vicious and unrelenting. I thought I had to step on others to get to the top, that I had to hurt before being hurt. I succeed spectacularly. I was the most popular girl in school, I was a straight A student, president of the Celibacy club, first freshman head cheerleader in school history, national champion." She shook her head, "I let my sudden popularity that came with being the first freshman captain of the Cheerios sweep me away and before I knew it I was no longer the tormented but the tormentor." She paused and looked over the crowd. This may or may not be the first time that many of these parents were hearing that Quinn had been a bully. "And for this I am truly sorry. To those of you who were subjected to my wicked words and quick judgment I apologize. That year in which I was at my worst I will live with forever and forever regret. I was lucky though, in a way, because I came crashing to reality hard sophomore year, as many you all already know. I went from the top of the social ladder to the bottom rung with one mistake. For those of you who don't know, I became pregnant. Once again I was just trying to survive. This time though, I received help, help from those I least expected from, the people I had tormented the most came to my side when the rest of the school turned their backs on me, and they help me up. Survival of the fittest. With small kind gesture after gesture I was shown that what I had been taught and experienced in my short life, to be perfect and beat all below me, was wrong: suddenly the stepping stones I'd originally walked all over without a thought or care were lifting me again but this time by choice. I learned so much since my preverbal fall from grace. I've learned about true friendship, love, and selflessness."

Will felt his chest tighten as Quinn admitted her flaws and weaknesses in public, how she tried to teach by sharing what she had learned in the harshest of ways. "I admittedly stumbled and fell many more times over the last two years after giving my daughter up for adoption. I forgot the lessons my friends had taught me. Then, well a truck reminded me." Will winced at the reference to the accident. "Another battle to overcome; this one however; wasn't an emotional, societal, or moral battle but rather a very serious physical one. Once again I found myself surrounded by friends and family. The same people that I had ignored and cast aside during a dark time of depression came to me. They lifted me on their shoulders and began to carry me forward. I began getting better, as you can see I am still fighting, but now I don't need to rely on my rocks as much, I let them help when I need it but the fight is mine and I use their strength to spur me on."

Quinn smiled as she switched hands the microphone was in. "Now I bet your wondering why I have told you my story, why I keep talking about survival of the fittest." She paused for effect, "I've mentioned it because all of us are engaged in this eternal war, the situations change, the battles morph. As we graduate here today we leave the battle that was high school and we enter one known as college and young adulthood. For the first times in our lives we will be away from or parents, away from safety and security. You will be tempted as I had been to use power to climb to the top, to gain your dreams whatever they may be. I am here to tell you that the fittest, it isn't the person who is the smartest, the strongest, the most charming, the meanest, the most vicious. No these people only succeed in the short term, not the long term. The fittest is the person who recognizes their strengths and uses them but also relies on others for help and offers their help to others. You can't climb Mount Everest alone and you can't navigate this life alone. You need help, you need friends and family, you need internal strength, you need understanding and compassion."

Will was amazed at the wisdom in Quinn's words. She was wise beyond her years, a result of the hard life she'd lived. "I have so many dreams now beyond just the will to survive. I strive to walk again, to graduate Yale at the top of my class, to become an actress, to be a good daughter, friend, wife, and mother, to be the best person I can be. I still want to be successful, I still want to protect myself as I had back as a foolish freshman, to be the fittest and survive, but now I know the only way to do that is achieve my goals with my loved ones by my side and not by taking the road alone. So as you go out there my fellow graduates remember that you can achieve anything with hard work and discipline but also with a little bit of help. A man knows not but loneliness; and a friend will never know loneliness." Quinn finished with a warm smiled and the whole auditorium stood and cheered. It had been a heartfelt, meaningful speech that Will hoped all the graduates would hear and take in. Over the past year Will had been proud and an in awe of Quinn over and over again but here and now he had never been more so. This was the Quinn that had always been and finally all could see her and it was so beautiful.

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