Hello, hello and welcome to the Class of 2012 Graduation. I've been waiting to hear these words for 5 years - and d After the looks of all my fellow graduates, I am not alone. Think with me for a moment about the process we followed that brought us here today. Our stories in recent years are not very different. Whether you went to a community college, transferred here from another four-year school, or started your freshman year in the dorms near the entrance to this campus, we finally end up together. My brother asked me how I was able to finish college. I told him it was because I love learning and I always finish. Even if I unplug my computer and lose all my work, I stay awake until the end. In my opinion, the joy of learning and the gift of finishing are not things you learn in college. These are skills that we bring with us and apply to our studies. And no matter where or how you learn them, you never forget them. I can thank my mother for giving me the joy of learning. I spent my first five years of life growing up in a small town called Plain. Given the name Plain, I'm sure I won't waste your time explaining the ins and outs of this little community. The only colorful part of Plain were the people who lived there. Since an elementary school was so far away, the community set up a home school system and my mother was one of the teachers. Having my mother as a kindergarten teacher was like having recess all day. However, she could always involve me with her incredible imagination. When our family had to move to North Fork, Colorado to follow my father's job, my mother continued to teach me and my brother Andy. His creativity never stopped... middle of paper ... it's a job, I graduated from college and I'm going to work smarter from now on. As the speaker at our graduation, I am supposed to represent the entire class. from the State University but I don't see the relevance there. I am just one story in this diverse group of experiences. However, we all did well growing up, we did well in college and we will make a difference in the future and that is something I am proud to represent. Let me speak for all of us when I say thank you to this school for giving us our academic experiences, to the teachers in our departments for opening our minds to the world, and to all those who have shaped our lives to this day. present by giving us the will to learn and the ability to achieve this monumental goal. We will make it up to each of you in the future through our positive influence on the world. THANKS…