Well here we are, “Life moves pretty fast…” The daily hassles we face may at times prevent us from really grasping the important moments that make the greatest memories. We have all heard the clichés about challenges in life; “it’s an up hill battle”, “when you fall down get back up”, “there are many hurdles in life”… but the truth of the matter is that it is the challenges that make and shape us as individuals. We have been meeting them head on from the very beginning and will continue to do when we leave this chapter of our lives. But we must not become too wrapped up in the challenges of life that we miss the important moments that make the best long-lasting memories.

Life started throwing challenges at us as babies when we needed to learn how to crawl, walk, and talk. Then we moved on to elementary school. When nap time came in kindergarten, I would have never guessed that something I dreaded daily, I would only wish for in high school. We moved on to learning spelling, the multiplication tables, and cursive writing, and after some struggle got through those challenges just fine. Fourth grade came and so Sand Lake Elementary and we had to cope with friends moving due to a change in elementary school boundaries. And finally, some of us faced losing a teacher as Ms. Bareford’s fifth graders at Viking elementary did. These challenges however did not keep us from enjoying recess and milk break, or remembering the good times watching Power Ranges, riding a bike without training wheels for the first time, and having sleep-overs with our best buds.

After our elementary school days came to an end we hit the big bad middle school. Sixth grade was a challenging year, having old friends and mixing with new friends, but we succeeded and have made friendships that will last a life time. It was difficult to choose between lunch tables to sit or which people to hang out with to find ourselves. Memories made in middle school still can put smiles on some of our faces: trips to the Eagle Bluff and the Brewer Game, or spending that cold, windy day at Valley Fair.

The middle school years came and went at the snap of a finger. Before we knew it, we started high school. Friday night football games, homecoming weeks, assemblies, concerts, academic achievements, quiz bowl, NHS, awards or just working really hard to get out school worth while experience. The time being spent at home became less and less with each extra activity we became involved in. Our schedules were sometimes so hectic it was hard to handle but for the most part well worth every minute of missed sleep.

Life moves pretty fast…We stuck by our friends as they faced more personal challenges: losing parents or siblings, and when we lost our classmate Conor McLaughlin on that April day of our sophomore year. We know we have beaten the odds and over come the challenges of losing loved ones as so many of us had to face when we can look back and smile at all the good times. When we can laugh at all the crazy Conor and Bean or Conor and Buckles stories so many of us love to listen too. You know you are winning the challenge when the tears of sadness of losing Conor and others are replaced with the tears of joy for having the opportunity to be touched by those people and having them in our hearts as we move on. And we have to move on at some point because life moves too fast to not experience and enjoy everything while we still have the shot to.

“Life moves pretty fast…”We are not invincible. It is okay to fall and cry as long as you get back up, and as long as we remember our past challenges while we continue on our own to face new ones. We will have to decide on a career, if we want to settle down and get married and start a family of our own, or live the single life; make the choice of continuing education, going straight into the work force, or joining the military. Everything is worth it in the end if you take the time to truly savor the moments now that will make the future worth all the hard times faced previously.

I would like to take the time now to thank those people who have helped us along the way with our challenges; teachers, administrators, faculty, families, and friends, but most of all our parents. They have been there for us through each major turning point. They held our hands while we walked across the street, and will now let us go to continue on our own paths. I would like to thank my parents for all of their support throughout the years. Dad, mom, Jim and Bug thank you for everything, I would not be standing up here today without the help from you all.

My challenge to you (as the class of 2008) is to be kind to those you cross paths with throughout your life’s journey, because you do not know the challenges they face. When you feel close to the breaking point look around at all of the good things happening, remember great moments you have seen and realize many more are on the way. Strive for success and settle for nothing less. Dream big and keep dreaming. If you want something enough and work for it, you can have it.

A very wise young man once took a day off. His name is Ferris Bueller. He gave us a piece of advice to make it though everyday life…

“Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around every once in a while, you could miss it.”

I am honored and thank you all, to be standing here today in front such a unique, friendly, dedicated, talented group of individuals. Congratulations Holmen High School Class of 2008 and best wishes for the future. Thank you.