奥巴马伍斯特技术高中毕业典礼演讲.doc

Thank you! (Applause.) Thank you so much. Please, everybody, be seated. Good afternoon. (Applause.) It is great to be back in Massachusetts, and it is great to be here at Worcester Tech. (Applause.) I want to thank Reggie for that outstanding introduction. (Applause.) I want to thank Naomi for those inspiring words. (Applause.) I want to thank your outstanding, fabulous principal, Sheila Harrity, who has done so much to make this school a success. (Applause.) Let me just say, when you’re the National High School Principal of the Year, you’re doing something right. There are a lot of principals out there, and we could not be prouder of what she’s doing. I want to thank your Mayor, Joseph Petty; your outstanding Governor and a great friend of mine, Deval Patrick; wonderful Congressman, Jim McGovern. (Applause.) And most of all, I want to thank the class of 2014. (Applause.) Thank you for allowing me to be part of your special day. And you all look great. And I want to thank all the parents and all the grandparents, and the family and the friends -- this is your day, too. Part of the reason I’m here is because I’ve got to practice, because Malia is graduating in two years. So I’m trying to get used to not choking up and crying and embarrassing her. So this is sort of my trial run here. I have to say, I do not remember my high school graduation speaker. I have no idea who it was. (Laughter.) I’m sure I was thinking about the party after graduation. (Applause.) I don’t remember the party either. (Laughter.) I’m just telling the truth here. You will remember the speaker at this graduation because there’s a lot of Secret Service around, not because of anything that I say that’s so inspiring. But I know this day has been a long time coming. Together, you made it through freshman initiation. You survived Mr. O’Connor’s English class, which I understand is pretty tough. (Applause.) Everybody has got to have, like, a Mr. O’Connor in their