Wisconsin School for the Deaf - The Wisconsin Times Vol. 133 No. 4 Summer 2012 | Page 9

Valedictorian Speech 2012
By Taylor Koss
The day has finally come for the Class of 2012 to depart from the Wisconsin School for the Deaf High School
and start a new life. Guess what? It is our turn to graduate! It seems like only yesterday that we met each other
on our first day of school together. Now, the focus is which college should we attend and what career is best for
each of us. It is hard to believe that high school is over. High school is now behind us and we are well prepared
to attempt any challenge while working to achieve our goals. Twelve years of education and are we done? We
have only just begun!
I joined WSD three years ago because of the many
opportunities WSD could provide to me. We’ve made
so many memories at WSD, like traveling out of state
for competitions in sports and academics, meeting
the larger deaf community, making many friends, and
winning many championships during our high school
years. My neck is sore from all the medals!
As classmates, we rode on the same huge helicopter
through both calm and turbulent weather, but we still
worked together…teamwork! We learned to navigate
through high school challenges. No one became a
quitter or leapt from the helicopter. I’m so glad we
made it, the ride is over. Our helicopter has landed us
here today at our graduation ceremony.

Did you know that Wisconsin is like a beautiful tree
with many branches. One special branch grows a
leaf that represents WSD. As drops of water, we have
fallen upon this leaf for only a moment falling into the
vast stream of life below. As with all the drops before
us, we leave as ripples in the stream of life as we
follow our own paths. We will depart for college, or
join the world of work. However, through the stream
of life, our ripples will meet again and reconnect us
with each other.
I want to say congratulations not only to my fellow
graduates for their excellence in academics, athletics,
and experiences both in and out of school, but also
congratulations to our parents, families, friends,
teachers, administrators and other WSD staff. You
have given us the freedom to dare, the courage to
excel and the belief that we can achieve our best. You
have been there for us with support and caring. You
had faith when we doubted ourselves. For all these
things, the WSD Class of 2012 thanks you! The WSD
Class of 2012 also gives thanks and appreciation to
our honored guests. You have held the Wisconsin
School for the Deaf to high standards and recognized
the value of our school community. Blessings to all the
WSD staff, our families, friends, honored guests and
alumni for your support. Our bonds will last forever.

Finally, a word to you my fellow graduates. Go forward from today and make your ripples in the stream of life!
The world awaits for us!
Summer 2012 - 9