Girdlestone praises perseverance in CHS salutatorian speech

"Good evening. I am honored to represent the Class of 2026 as the salutatorian.

First, I would like to thank teachers, principals, office staff, janitors and everyone else at the school for their commitment to CHS. It is people like you who not only helped us walk across the stage today, but also helped prepare us for what comes after.

Next, I would like to thank everyone who showed up for me, whether it be today at this ceremony, watching the stream from home or supporting me at any point in my life. I would not be speaking up here today without all of you.

There is one person I would especially like to thank — my mom, Kelly Ossler. Seven years ago, my family was uncertain about our future and where we would live. After my first year here, I could not see myself being anywhere else. My mom took it upon herself and made a promise to me that we would stay in Carrollton until I graduated. She could have chosen somewhere closer to her job or somewhere more convenient to her friends and family. Instead, she invested in me, allowing me to stay in this town and end up on this very stage. I could not have done any of this without you.

I’ve made a lot of new friends here in Carrollton since I moved here in 2019. So, to each and every one of my friends, whether you are sitting to my left or right or somewhere in the crowd, thank you.

Thank you for shaping me into who I am today; for being the decision-makers at some points in my life; for coming down to the field to play flag football and to Fifth Street to play basketball; for staying up late at night and creating memories we still talk about today. I will cherish my friendship with each and every one of you for the rest of my life.

I also want to thank every person who came to watch commencement tonight. You, too, made it possible for each one of us to walk across this stage.

I’d like to speak today about the hardships faced by the Class of 2026. This graduating class, like most, has been through its fair share of hardships. Whether it was COVID-19 shutting down our first year of middle school or the increasing cost of college tuition, we have shared struggles. We also each have our own hardships we deal with in our personal lives.

I’d like to tell a personal story. A few months ago, I attended a virtual interview for a $6,000 scholarship. I was doing well with my answers, and I felt like the scholarship was as good as mine. Then the interviewer asked me how I had overcome hardship in my life.

You know what I did? I stared into the camera with a blank face, and the only word that escaped my mouth was “uhh.”

She had asked such a difficult question to answer on the spot, and I panicked. I started talking about overcoming the stress and difficulty of college courses in high school. But the truth is, hardship doesn’t always come with a clear answer. It is not usually one dramatic moment you can explain in a few sentences. Most of the time, it shows up quietly. In this instance, it came with uncertainty and pressure. Ironically, the greatest obstacle I faced in that moment was the moment itself.

Eventually, I overcame the problem. And no, in case you’re wondering, I did not get the scholarship.

But that situation and her question stayed with me in the weeks that followed. Then I realized something: The answer she was looking for was not simply to name an obstacle I had overcome. Rather, she was trying to get me to recognize growth.

We rarely take a moment to realize how much we adapt when we overcome setbacks. Think about your own hardships — hardships the students sitting around you know nothing about. But as you think about those hardships, realize where you are.

Despite the world trying to bring you down and create new problems in your life, you are wearing your cap and gown, ready to receive your diploma. You have adapted to everything life has thrown your way, and that growth — not the hardships themselves — is what truly defines you.

I believe NFL quarterback Russell Wilson said it best when he said, “Remember that the moments when life tells you yes aren’t the ones that define you,” but rather, “the moments that really matter are the moments when life tells you no.”

The future is probably scary for most of us. I know it is for me. But that’s what we thought at the beginning of our freshman year, or even at the beginning of sixth grade. These feelings are another hardship of life — one we all experience. So if you get nervous, anxious or afraid of what you’re going to do with your life once you walk out of this building tonight, lean into it.

The challenge of life is one we all share, and one I hope we can all use to tackle our future. Because moments like these, when life is forcing you to step out of your comfort zone farther than you ever have before, are moments that help define who you are.

I’d like to end my speech by once again congratulating the Class of 2026. I believe each and every one of us has worked hard for this moment, and we all deserve recognition. Tonight is about all of us.

The people sitting to my left and right are going to contribute something of great value to the world. Class of 2026, remember that anything is possible, and do not let hardships limit your potential — let them prove your potential.

As Dave Davis always says, 'Thank you, and go Warriors.'”