“We dreamed about changing the world, but over time, it became easy to be complacent, easy to limit ourselves,” Ajani said. “It’s not our fault though. It’s the fault of society. We were taught to fear failure. We were told to dream big, but not too big. But what I’m truly afraid of, and what you should be afraid of too, is waking up one day being 30 years old, 40 years old, 50, 60, being on my deathbed, and having the realization that I allowed my dream to be pushed away.”
He continued though to talk about how each and every one of the seniors have limited time in this life to make things happen.
As a result, he reminded his peers to not listen to the doubters and to go be the king of the skies.
“Forget what the chickens say,” Ajani said. “Find your dream, find your passion and chase it. Chase it with all your might. You’ve only got one life, don’t spend it being a chicken.”
Shivika Kumar, another valedictorian, discussed how her classmates will have to make their impact through a time of change that they all are set to endure.
However, she emphasized that nobody was made to go through this world by themselves. Together, her peers can do anything.
“Whether you are an eight-mile drive away or you’re going to be taking a 1,000-mile flight to get to college, you are facing big change,” Kumar said. “Just know, that change will lead to your growth and the realization that you are not alone, and I mean that mentally… I realized through the people that I met that you don’t take on the world by yourself, and coming out on top isn’t possible or even important without seeing the people around you, and recognizing the work that the people have done before you that give you that platform to use your voice.”
Kumar said though that the legacy her classmates leave on this world will not just stop when they are gone, but instead affect the future generations.
That carryover is why the class of 2026 must not be afraid to shoot for the stars.
“Work towards the legacy you will build even beyond your physical presence, and remember that the success that you gain must be shared,” Kumar said. “Don’t be afraid to take chances even if you’ll be knocked down. But always leave it better than when you came.”
Esslinger finished things before the seniors received their diplomas by quoting the great German polymath Johann Wolfgang von Goethe.
She tied him into say that being from Spain Park is setting the seniors up to accomplish great things in this world, and that all they have to do is reach for it.
“’There are only two lasting requests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings,’” Esslinger said. “Your roots are as a Spain Park Jag. Spread your wings and go and do the big, big things. Thank you for the last four years, and congratulations to each one of you.”
Esslinger sent the class off with a big congratulations knowing it completed a big part of its story. However, she knows that the seniors played a monumental part in her story, as well.