Please, move your tassles to the left...

Yep, I'm officially a graduate.

I'm also officially exhausted, so I leave you with the speech I made at graduation. Enjoy.

Well guys, we made it. We’ve succeeded in completing what many set out to do but not all accomplish. For the past four years, we’ve worked our way through countless courses. We’ve built new friendships and strengthened old ones. We’ve faced good times and bad, we’ve learned, and we’ve moved on. High school has been quite an experience, one that we won’t soon forget.

 Truthfully, your high school experiences are all made up of personal choices. You chose whether to show up for school or sleep in. You chose whether to study for the big test or to just wing it. You even chose most of your classes. But to quote Coach Howard, the biggest choice you’ve made over these past four years is the quality of the education you will take away from South Doyle High school. Whether you worked hard and challenged yourself or barely slid by, where you are now is a factor that you determined for yourself. And this reigns true for life beyond high school as well. While other people may attempt to determine your life for you, in the end, you make the final decision.

Granted, the majority of us haven’t made it this far on our own. We’ve all stood on a lot of shoulders to get us to where we are now. Personally, I couldn’t have survived these past four years without the amazing support system I’ve been blessed with. I wanted to personally thank a few people who have been particularly prominent in my life.

First off, I’d like to thank my loving parents and family. Through the years, you’ve always been a source of encouragement as well as guidance. You’ve all stuck with me through thick and thin, and I couldn’t have asked for better people to raise me. I love each of you dearly, and I’m so grateful that you never gave up on me. Second, to my church family, I want to thank you for the years of love, prayer, and support you’ve always given me. You’re often the ones I depend on or turn to when I need support or encouragement, and I am truly grateful for that.

Also, to my teachers and counselors at South-Doyle, I want to thank you for putting up with me and always doing your best to help me succeed. You’ve all had an impact on my life in one way or another, and I will never forget all you’ve done for me. You guys are what make our school tick, so thank you for that.

And last but not least, I give thanks and praise to my Heavenly Father who has given me confidence through the good times and coached me through the tough ones. Without His love and His guidance, I wouldn’t be standing here speaking to you today, but as Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Well, that’s all I’ve got. Congratulations, class of 2010. It’s been a long journey, but we made it. Good luck to everyone, and I wish you happiness and success in whatever you set out to do in the future. Thank you for an exciting four years, and God bless all of you.

He's going to get shot one day...

So, my dad told me this story about his work, and usually, you'd want to avert your eyes. Because usually, his work stories are a hot mess of geek speak. But rarely, something utterly hilarious arises from his cubicle. Like this:

Dad: My friend and I got in an argument at work today.

Me: Oh yeah? How come?

Dad: Eh, we were just messing around.

Me: What did he say?

Dad: Well, we were going back and forth, and he said he'd eaten a sandwich bigger than me before.

Me: (laughing) He is a pretty big guy.

Dad: Yeah...I told him I'd never buried someone as fat as him, but I can always dig a bigger hole.


Good Lord, I love my dad.

Change.

Regardless of how much effort I put into maintaining this blog, this month seems to prevent me from doing so. I've managed to pry a few precious moments from the taloned clutches of May, however, so I'll use those to the best of my ability.

Today marks the final week of my days as a high schooler. Graduation is, all at once, hitting me. Hitting me like a very, very forceful slap across my naive face. Suddenly, I'm realizing that it's not just another bland award ceremony. It's not just another unrealistically embellished school event.

It's the commencement of another phase of my life.

Upon discovering the seriousness of this day, I am, once again, questioning my readiness. I don't feel any different than I did last year, and I doubt moving a silky tassle from one side of my head to the other will change that. Being a senior hasn't granted me some philisophical epiphany into my future, nor has it granted me any vast knowledge or maturity. It was just another year.

This week is no different. It's simply another seven days that happen to fall at the end of my final semester of high school.

But something is different.

Something has changed, and is changing, inside me. Almost as if God is showing me who I am, and who He wants me to be outside the walls of that high school.

For the past few months, doors have opened left and right. Too many doors, in my opinion. I'm being forced to make monumental decisions in moments when I feel like I need years. I'm planning out each day as if it were worlds more important than the last. I'm having to put more faith in God than I have ever felt compelled to.

Things are different, things are changing, and I only hope I can keep up.

Oh, Washington.

A couple days ago, I recieved a letter from the Tennessee state represenative, John J. Duncan.

After finding out who he was and why I should give a crap about his letter, I actually sat down and considered what he wrote to me. Truthfully, I think he wrote it because someone forced him to. Why else would someone who holds a seat in the House of Representatives write me? Shouldn't he be playing golf or wooing his secretary or something?

Regardless of his true reasoning however, I reserve the right to deduct whatever I want from it. Here's what it said:

Dear David:

I was pleased to learn that you have been recognized as a News-Sentinel Academic Achiever.

(Oh, I'm sure you were, and how many names have you typed into that blank, Johnny?)

I am a big sports fan, but I also have long felt that we do not give enough recognition to those who do well in their studies as opposed to those who do well in athletics.

(I actually laughed aloud at this. Basically, he needed to find something nice to say while informing all the recipients of this letter that we're just a bunch of nerds.)

It is always pleasant to see a person recognized for scholastic ability and hard work. I am sure you have spent many long hours studying to attain this honor.

(You swear this was like my life goal. I didn't know it even existed until today.)

Congratulations on this accomplishment, and best wishes for every success in the future. If I may be of assistance to you in any way, please do not hesitate to let me know.

(Assistance, huh? A couple hundred thousand bucks couldn't hurt...)

With kindest regards, I am

Yours truly,

*FANCY ILLEGIBLE SIGNATURE*

John J. Duncan, Jr.
Member of Congress

(Love you too, man.)

Yes, I know. I know. I'm horribly cynical.

But can you blame me? Afterall, I am dealing with a politician.

Character.

I recently discovered this entertaining (and hysterical) game called, "Who am I?" It's the same premise as 20 questions, but with a twist. Each person writes the name of a cartoon character on a piece of paper and tapes it to someone else's head. Then, everyone takes turns asking yes or no questions and trying to guess who they are.

Today, my family decided we were going to try the game using Disney characters. Shocking, right? My dad got "Captain Barbosa" from the Pirates of the Carribean series. This is how it went down...

Dad:  Am I a male?

Mom:  Yes.

Dad:  Am I a main character?

Mom:  Eh. Not really.

Dad:  Hmmm...am I important in the film?

Mom:  Yeah, pretty important.

Dad:  Am I Mrs. Potts?

Mom:  Um...no, you're a guy. Remember?

Dad:  Well, I know, but have you SEEN Mrs. Potts? She's pretty manly.

This is why our family doesn't play games.