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    A private Christian School produced this wonderful young value driven woman. Her parents had the foresight and moral values to reject the public government indoctrination centers called School. With this caliber of Christian upbringing Dixie will never go wrong. The Future of this young lady looks very bright. TDR

Grace Christian School

Landrum, South Carolina

Jennifer Ann Keefe

Valedictorian Speech

In our yearbook, Melissa recorded one of her memories as, “Jennifer and Aaron – the smart kids.” For years we competed to have the highest grades in the class. And look where it got us – having to make speeches. But having good grades and being smart are different things. And I want to start out by saying that the class of 2008 is full of smart kids. Some of us just didn’t have that burning passion for conjugation sheets or balancing redox reactions.

“Today we graduate from high school, leaving the wonderful, carefree years of childhood behind and being shoved into adulthood.” However, the sun will still come up tomorrow, the news broadcast will be filled with death and destruction, and the price of gas will still be high. The world isn’t changed by the fact that you graduated. But in the end I hope it was changed by the fact that you lived. Today, tomorrow, and the next day we will still have the responsibility to glorify God with our lives, and that doesn’t go away.

One of my youth leaders drilled a verse into us every week, and I’d like to share it with you: “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11. Our hope and future comes from God, and believing that we have the power to go and achieve our dreams only matters if those dreams are part of His will. I’d love to stand here and tell you that your whole lives are ahead of you, but I don’t know that. So while thinking about the future and being prepared is important, our main focus should be staying faithful to Christ each and every day. “If you live each day as if it were your last, one day you’ll most certainly be right.”  Life is too short to live the same day twice.  

As any adult will tell you, it only gets harder from here. More and more responsibility and problems come and there are fewer people to clean it up for you. If you’re not going through a trial right now, just wait. The key is knowing who to turn to. “Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” And having good Christian friends is almost as important.

As a class, we’ve been through a lot together. I came to Grace in sixth grade; some of you have been here your whole lives. And unfortunately, some of our friends aren’t with us tonight. But here we are, the class of 2008, all seven of us. And as hard as it is to face, tonight may be the last time we see each other on earth. So I don’t want to leave anything unspoken. Leshay, I hate to tell you this, but we have reached the last “last.” However, that only opens up a world of firsts, and I know you can handle it. Cory, you’ve kept life interesting. And I am sorry about that whole Purell incident. If it had succeeded, I would have missed out on a lot of memories and a good friendship.  Aaron, I hope you know I always thought of you as more than just competition. I thought of you as a friend, too. Tiffany, you have a drive and determination that I know will take you far. Zach, you always found the small things in each day that made people laugh, and you weren’t afraid to throw your head back and laugh until you cried. Never lose that, for the ability to enjoy the little things often disappears with time. Melissa, you have a gift for connecting with people and a strong confidence that doesn’t care what people think about you. Never lose your sweet and spunky spirit.

Mrs. Vanover, you’ve been with us through it all, and were always ready to give advice. Some might say a little too ready, but we always knew you cared. Mr. Caple, you had tons of spiritual insight to give us, if only we would listen. Thank you. Mrs. Bridges, you had a way of explaining things that always made sense. For that and for hooking us on Sudoku, I will always be grateful. Mr. Pittman, you were always full of stories and left us with plenty to talk about after geometry. Mr. Schenkel, I didn’t get the chance to get to know you very well, but I hope you have many happy years at Grace, with students just as challenging as us. And Mrs. McGarity, you’ve left us with lots of memories, especially this year since we were around you for most of the day. Yet for all the hurdles you have helped us jump, it is that quiet spirit in which you gave devotions every morning that I will remember. You weren’t just a teacher; you were willing to be a friend and to some of us, a second mom. And believe it or not, I am going to miss hearing you say, “Good morning!!” every day.

And to all of you who came to support us, thank you. It is having friends and family like you that made us who we are to day. The love and support I have received from my family and church family is overwhelming. I love you all so much.

So this is it, high school graduation. It’s not what we thought it would be as kids, is it? No more school! Then I can do what I want! Now we realize that not only is school not over, it never ends. Life is all about learning, whether from your own experiences or those of others. And getting to make your own decisions isn’t as easy or fun as it sounds. But as the future looms ahead of you, remember that you don’t have to have it all figured out as long as you know the One who already knows what’s ahead for you. Stay in His will, wait for His timing, and never let fear hold you back. Congratulations, class of 2008. We did it!