Our life is made of moments.
Looking back, we all have moments we remember- first day of kindergarten, first day of middle school, first time we tried out for school sports/band/theater, first dates, etc. We think of these moments and smile, we remember the impact they had on us.
The College Station High School Class of 2015, there are some pretty unique memories you may have. The first time you stepped through those doors and OPENED College Station High School. The first time you put on that CSHS uniform and practiced as a Cougar Athlete/Band Member/Team member. Your first competition. The first time you sat in a class and realized how important that teacher was not just to your education, but to you personally. We've got a lot of great teachers here who truly care about you. The first time you succeeded in a class when you didn't think you could.
There are other moments that CSHS has now become known for. The moment you experienced victory on the field, the court, the stage, or the classroom. Triumphs over rivals. Reaching deep into the playoffs. Getting to State. Winning State. These moments are moments that have defined CSHS.
But this is a moment now. You are all gathered here together at your Senior Sunset. What comes now? Tonight the sun sets on you as a high school student for the last time. Tomorrow when it sets, you will be a graduate.
Those of you who had me in class know how much I love Theodore Roosevelt. It wouldn't be a Lehrmann moment if I didn't mention him at least once. This quote is the first of two from him:
"Be practical as well as generous in your ideas. Keep your eyes on the stars but remember to keep your feet on the ground.
Courage, hard work, self mastery, and intelligent effort are all essential to successful to life.
Character, in the long run, is the decisive factor in the life of an individual and the nations alike."
Character and integrity. Two qualities that are taught to and expected of you as CSHS Cougars. Wherever you go from here- Texas A&M, University of Texas, BYU, NYU, the military, the workforce or any number of other possible destination- carry those qualities with you.
There are many moments to come when you will get to display these qualities again. Meeting your first college roommate- which could go well or poorly for you. Sitting in your first college class. in four years- or more likely these days six or seven- you will walk across another stage (or the same stage for some of you) and get another diploma. The first time you meet that special someone you want to spend the rest of your life with. Becoming a parent. Starting your career and that moment you realize you are GOOD at what you do and want to do it for the rest of your life.
These moments are coming. And in them, you will have a choice. At College Station High School, you have consistently made the right choice. I believe you will continue in that pattern. But you will have the chance to choose, in your moments to come, the good thing or the great thing. College Station High School has seen you choose the great thing, to excel time and again. Continue in that choice. Choose to make a difference in your world. I believe you can.
As I close, I have just one more Theodore Roosevelt quote:
"It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat. "
Class of 2015: Dare greatly. Dare greatly.
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