06/07/2026
Good evening everyone- faculty, staff, family, friends, and most importantly the graduating class. My name is Nevarah Hollins and I am this year's salutatorian. As our 2026 school year comes to an end, I want to take a moment to reflect. I ask you all to join me while we look back on the past 12 years. For most of those years graduation felt like something hanging in the distance. A date on a calendar that some of us thought we’d never reach. But somehow, between the stress, sleepless nights, early mornings, assignments, classwork we just couldn’t wrap our heads around, Covid, and moments where we just didn’t know if we could push through…we made it. As I stand here on this stage, I can tell you it was all worth it.
And now we are here. Class of 2026.
Let’s take the time to thank all those who helped us along this journey; our teachers, classmates, parents, mentors, friends, and maybe..just maybe Chat GPT. Thank you for supporting us in the moments we doubted ourselves. Thank you for bringing the stars a little closer so that they were within our reach. One thing I've learned is that success is never achieved alone and today is a reflection of that. After this make sure to take the time to give flowers to those who watered your garden. Most of all bask in your own glory for keeping that garden alive.
To my classmates:
Now I know some of us just met, some of us have been friends for years, and some of us may have never interacted. One thing I'm sure we all can agree on is that we grew up in such a strange and unforgettable time. It’s like the last remains of our parents' era washed away while a new one was being born. Now It is up to us to leave the next generation something to believe in. Now I know the world is a scary place right now but each and every single one of us is part of a whole that can bring about change. It is up to us to stand up for our beliefs, for the people we love, for what is right, and to bring attention to the wrongs we’re subject to. In the end we are creating a better and safer space for our future selves. Our future families. Even the future we won’t be around for.
I think one of the biggest lessons you take away from high school is that success doesn’t always look how you imagined. Sometimes success is simply catching the bus on time. Or maybe it’s an attitude you carry through each day. Success comes in many forms and varies in length. It’s important to realize that no one's success looks the same. So in those moments you may feel so behind or lost, remind yourself that you are the only person who can mold the timeline of your success. We do not have to leave here tonight with the next 5 years figured out. Let’s simply start with tomorrow. What matters is that we continue growing, and continue trying.
Years from now we won’t remember every test score or every grade. But we will remember the moments understanding was shown:
That friend that gave you their shoulder to cry on
That teacher who made success worth trying for
That one subject that we couldn’t wait to learn more about
Class of 2026 this is not the end of our story. It's the beginning of a new one. No matter where your next door leads to, I hope you move forward with courage, ferocity, compassion, and love for others and most importantly yourself. Maybe go hug a tree or touch some grass once in a while. Talk about your hopes, dreams, and fears. Take risks no matter the size and Most of all, just keep swimming. Now I will leave you all with one last thing. One of my favorite quotes written by Lin Manuel Miranda that i want each of you (that means you too family and friends) to think about. That quote is “what is a legacy? It’s planting seeds in a garden we never get to see.”
So with all that being said and so much ahead…Congratulations class of 2026, This is Nevarah signing out.
