"Today, we are going to walk out those gates.
We will have our own lives to live, our own decisions to make, and our own dreams to strive for.
And what will we live for? What will you strive for? Many of us SCPA-ians will strive for fame, for glory, for remembrance. Most of us will strive our whole lives for a good job, to earn good money, to own a large home, quality clothes, and an impressive car.
But, where are you going with this job? Where are you going with all this money?
Where are you going with this false sense of happiness?
Where are you going in this brand new car… that runs off the very thing that started a war;
In these brand new clothes… that are the products of overworked and underprivileged children in foreign lands;
Listening to this music… that represents the hatred and murdering of our brothers and sisters.
Where are you going?
Sometimes, you can look around, and say we live in a messed up world.
But.
You and I all know, in the deepest chambers of our hearts, with the most thankless and stubborn faith, how beautiful life can be.
How magnificent a simple good day is, with good friends, good food, and good vibes;
How astonishing the harmonies are of strangers and friends of all colors and cultures, working together for one cause;
How enlightening even the smile of a mere passerby can be.
From the sight of a newborn baby, angelic in glow; to the sight of a single mother and her son saying, "Love you," as they go their separate ways to get an education and put a roof over their heads.
You and I all know, far too well, what a beautiful life we live in.
Past the material items, past the social status, past the inconsequential stresses and setbacks that are so big in our minds but are so small in reality.
And at the end of the road… what is the one thing you want to see prevalent in your life?
I'm asking you a question.
Looking back on the times you spent on this Earth, what is the one thing you would hope to have in your life.
This is why I ask you, where are we going?
I'll tell you where we are going.
Today, we are going to walk out those gates.
With these shoes, protecting us from the rubble of hatred, violence, and negativity.
With this skin, that breathes the love and passion for our brothers and sisters.
And with this mind and mouth, that blow the very same gusts of wind that your parents, your teachers, and your friends swept you off your feet with, and into these chairs.
Today, we are going to walk out those gates, know, and never forget, no matter which direction you may take in your lives, whichever path you decide to tread, shed away your negativity, your judgments, and your sorrow, and live your lives, burning with the love that SCPA has instilled in us… for ourselves… and for everyone around us."