[William Rooney is one of the six honor graduates in the Goshen Central High School Class of 2009. The following is the text of the commencement address he delivered on June 26, 2009.]

Let me begin by telling you all that it is an honor to stand before you with the opportunity to say my last few words to Goshen.

Fellow students, parents, teachers, faculty, administration, friends and mentors alike: what a miraculous four years it’s been. For most of us students, it would take some thought to realize how we’ve changed, in all the ways we’ve become different people and the ways we’ve stayed the same. But for the rest of you, I’d imagine it puts a smile on your face to see how we’ve grown and matured into the young adults here today.

I know when I was in middle school, and we’d have to go to the high school to take our after school bus, I used to marvel at the high school; the one time I went inside to buy a drink I felt as though I’d get lost in the halls, which looking back is a little silly considering the simple layout. Leaving it now, even though I know how many students have walked the same halls over the years, how many have graduated from this very high school, I can’t help but feel as though the class of 2009 is the class that owns it. And I think that’s reasonable. This is our high school; this is where our foundation for the rest of our lives was laid. We learned here and we taught each other here; we made each other laugh and we annoyed each other quite a bit at times; we had the best of times and we had the worst of times and because of it all we are who we are.

Now, no one can tell for certain where they’ll end up from here or how well things are going to work out. But we leave with the power to make our own decisions, to choose where we’re heading and to maintain that course or try elsewhere if we want. Come the end of summer, we’re going to be scattered pretty far, but we all have what it takes to go on, to achieve and accomplish no matter the obstacle. Whether you attribute it to our education or the diverse relationships we’ve formed, the world is ours, setting as stage for us to dream and bring to reality our ambitions. Always remember that it started here, not necessarily today or this year, but during this time of your life that you changed and began to move forward. And occasionally take a moment to stop and remember what’s happened to you and see what you’re doing in life, because it’s the sum of where you’ve been, where you are, and where you’re going that defines you.

Let me finally thank everyone; our teachers and administrators, who have opened to us a world of knowledge and possibilities; all of my friends, who made this time truly memorable, especially the crew, and my family, for their unconditional love and support. Mom, I can never know what is was like to raise three sons on your own all these years, but I’d like to tell you I’ll always appreciate the amazing job you did.

Congratulations, Class of 2009, and good luck to you all.