GROW pulls mayor from graduation keynote

Mayor's planned remarks to GROW graduates

Here is the speech Mayor Chad Givens had prepared for GROW Academy’s 8th grade graduation ceremony:

Class of 2024, Congratulations!!! I am honored to be here with you all tonight, and have the ability to stand on this stage with such distinguished young men and women from GROW Academy. As was stated, my name is Chad Givens, and I serve as mayor for the great City of Shafter!

Graduation is not about completion, but about starting. This is your moment to shine in your success in what you’ve accomplished, and grow from that, giving you the opportunity to have a new start, a new perspective, a new opportunity in this race called life. Yet, in every race there are obstacles that we face, some greater than the others, but nothing that cannot be conquered. The Bible tells us to say to this mountain to move, and it will move. Now as crazy as that sounds, it’s true. But one of the most overlooked facts of that scripture is simply this: The mountain does not go away, it just moves. It merely allows you to conquer it through other means, but is meant to indeed be conquered.

You cannot run from your circumstances, your obstacles, your mountains, but you can be creative and find ways to move the mountain to get to the next step. We grow from these moments that are carved into our person, and they give us the ability to be better for it, but always keep that moment in our hearts and minds so we never forget where we came from, but always remember there is more to us when we can see past our mountains.

You, Class of 2024, you have done just that. You have proven to your teachers, your parents, and most importantly, yourself, that you CAN accomplish what you set out to do, you can overcome adversity, you can grow when you put your heart and mind into it. Remember, it is only impossible if you don’t do it.

Now parents and family, I hope you are listening to this next piece. As you move into your next phase of life know this, there will be distractions, there will be obstacles, and they will be in front of you, of your opportunity for success. Don’t give up, don’t give in, don’t run, but stand and stand tall. Know that this staff and your family has trained you and taught you for this moment. Remember that you can accomplish all things that you set out to do, you just have to TRY! Don’t lose yourself for the bad days, but know they exist, and know that you can move past them, shrugging them off to get to the next.

I have watched my own daughter doing her studies time after time into the late hours of the evening and morning, I have listened to her complaints about teachers and subjects. We have pushed her to her limit, seen her breakdown with the “it’s just too hard” moments. Those times come, they exist; don’t for one minute think it doesn’t, it does.

We have changed career paths a couple times; thank goodness it stayed in the same industry! We have vetted colleges and locations, we have seen heartbreak with boys and memories created with friends. But if I could give any advice at this moment I would give this. Do it all! Be a part of everything you want to be a part of.

You have now graduated junior high, only to move into the next phase of your life; don’t miss the opportunity that you will regret not having later in life, you don’t get a second chance. Be connected with everything high school gives you and all the many things that will happen over the course of these next four years. And if you think I am talking to the graduate you are mistaken.

rParents, that message was for you! You child will come home wanting to be a part of so many things. It is your responsibility to stop and listen. Listen to the stories that are told, and the moments that are felt. Engage in the conversation, add to it. Don’t let them back out of it, but push them to pursue those moments, it’s their one chance. Take the time to go to the event with them. If they’re in sports, be there. Arts, theater and music, be there. Support them with your time. These are not only memories for them, they are memories for you.

The next thing you know you will look up and they will be graduating high school. That memory, that long-term memory, will be but a blip on a radar that if you don’t push them to take it, you will not have either. You will want to hear about the dance, the classroom experience, the bus trip to the track meet or the football game. You will want to sit around the room, and just talk about what went right and what went wrong. And you will want to be just as strong for them as you can be, pushing them to never give up.

Lastly, for all of you who are going to Shafter High School, know this: You will be one of only a few. Yes, you are the GROW graduating class of 2024, BUT you will become the graduating class of 2028 of Shafter High School, the 100-year anniversary class of Shafter High School. So get involved, get connected and enjoy making memories that will last for the rest of your life! So with all that said, graduating Class of 2024, congratulations on your achievement, on not just making it this far, but setting the bar high and being ready to go far into the future.

You are an amazing group of young people, with the ability to conquer all that you set out to do. Dream big and stand tall, and in the famous words of Dr. Seuss – oh the places you’ll go, and the things you’ll see.