OK, due to popular demand (which means one person showed a hint of interest. Thanks, Sam) I will print my valedictory speech in its entirety. Upon re-reading it, I was a bit appalled at how random it was, but pleasantly surprised at my attempt at humor. Of course, the unintentional humor drew the big laughs. So for all of you who never heard the last lines anyway, here it is:
The Way We Were- Salutatorian Tammy Ratzlaff and I cool off in the cafeteria after the commencement exercises.
"Fellow graduates, students, teachers, administration, parents, relatives, and to whom it may concern: as we, the class of 1987, take this major step in our lives, let us pause for a minute and reflect on the changes that have occurred.
Let me take you back to the year 1968. During this turbulent period both Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Senator Robert Kennedy were assassinated. The Beatles surpassed Bing Crosby in record sales by gaining their twelfth gold record. Johnson stepped down and Nixon became President.
However, to many of the people here, I'm sure the very most important event was the arrival of a child. Perhaps it is somehow fitting that the class of '87 first made its appearance when the movie "Planet of the Apes" was released.
As we were learning to walk, Neil Armstrong was taking the first steps on the moon. In August before we started kindergarten the nation was shocked as Nixon resigned under the cloud of Watergate. This was a big year for us, to finally go to school. Twenty-four of the 48 in our class were together from Mrs. Wohlgemuth's kindergarten clear through this year.
In the spring of '75 wheat prices soared to $6 per bushel. 1976 brought celebrations of our nation's 200th birthday. It also brought the challenges of learning to read with readers like "Magic Rings and Funny Things" and "C.A. Zoo and Kangaroo." This was also the year the high school broke tradition and held the first school dance. A popular style at that time was flare leg jeans.
In second grade the boys seemed mostly concerned with their daily soccer game at recess.
The year 1978 was saddened by the death of Elvis Presley and the mass suicides at Jonestown. "Star Wars" was the number one movie in the nation and quite a hit with us, too. While in 3rd grade we learned cursive writing and struggled through weekly timed tests on the multiplication tables.
For fifth grade we attended school in Durham. Aside from a few broken windows and a substitute teacher throwing containers at us, we managed to survive the year pretty well. Gas prices shot from 60 cents to over a dollar a gallon.
In sixth grade we kept up on the national news with Mrs. Friesen's current event class. We avidly watched the Iran hostage situation and reported on the three major shootings of the year: John Lennon, the attempt on President Reagan's life, and "Who shot J.R.?"
Changes were also happening at the high school as Mr. Born settled in as the new principal and Mr. Sextro grew a beard.
1982 was the year of the royal wedding between Prince Charles and Lady Diana. We also enjoyed finally being able to participate in sports as 7th graders and had an undefeated football team our 8th grade year. By this time some of the guys had hit their growth spurts and I was relieved to no longer be the tallest in the class. Land in Kansas reached a high of $800 an acre.
Finally we started high school. We had fun in freshmen exploratory learning to cut copper, galvanized, and plastic pape, making very blue blueberry muffins, and drawing cabinets in three dimensions. As sophomores the highlight for many of us who took biology was the trip to the prairie and seeing P.J. in his khaki safari suit. In January of 1986 came the tragic explosion of the Challenger space shuttle which killed six astronauts and one teacher.
As juniors we had many fun times during the late nights we spent decorating the gym for prom. As our senior year rolled around we learned to work together and help each other out. On test days someone would type up a study sheet of the government questions on a computer and distribute 10 or 15 printed copies to other seniors. Speaking of computers, this was the first year that they were used for a typing class.
As seniors we were often eager to share our new discoveries with other classmates. For example, in English one day while looking out of the second story window, Kendall Heide noticed that the UPS truck's roof was never painted. After he announced his observation we, of course, had to go see. Despite Mrs. Hill's protests, we ran to the window. Sure enough, the roof had a brown painted strip all along the edges but in the middle it had only primer. Before going back to our seats we all waved at Randy, who waved back.
This year we have also gotten to know our teachers better. At least, I certainly have. We have grown closer as a class, become even better friends.
Hold onto these moments, remember them, because things will change. Prices, politics, and people have changed drastically in the last 18 years, and things will certainly be different for us next year. Moving out, getting a job, going to college or even getting married are just some of the major changes that will take place.
In this rapidly changing world a person almost wonders if there is anything to depend on to stay the same. The farmers in the early '80s who felt land was a solid, dependable investment are now going bankrupt because of the swiftly changing land values.
However, there is one place in which we can put our trust. In Malachi 3:6 it says, "For I, the Lord, do not change," and in Hebrews 13:8, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, and yes, forever." So as we face the many changes up ahead, let us remember to put our trust in God, who will always be there no matter what the future holds."
HHS' class of 1987, directed by Dave Clark and accompanied by Dwayne Helmer, sings "Encore."
