Bad at Love // Brikey

25

Mikey's POV

"HURRY UP MIKEY!!!!!" I heard Bryce yell from downstairs

Today's our graduation day and I couldn't be more excited. I'm practicing my speech one more time. I'm so ready to go out there and wow everyone. It's gonna be great. I look one more time in the mirror and head downstairs.

"Took you long enough" Bryce said

"Haha whatever. Now let's get going"

We head to the car and begin our drive.

"You ready for this Mikey?"

"The day I've been waiting for"

"How's your speech?"

"I got it all remembered so I won't stutter or anything like that while I'm up there"

"After today our lives start a new chapter. We start a new chapter together"

"And I couldn't be anymore excited"

I leaned over to Bryce and kiss the side of his cheek. He now has a huge smile on his face. We drive for about 2 more minutes until we make it to our school. We step out of the car and begin walking to our auditorium.

Bryce grabs my hand. "Well this it it Mikey. I'm gonna go get spot. I'll see you afterwards" Bryce's leans down and kisses my lips and then we're off our separate ways

I walk down the rows of students and onto the platform. I'm greeted by the principal and all the students who will make there speeches but mine being the most important. We practice what will be said and done and how students should walk across the platform and what they should do when off.

It's been about half and hour and parents start coming. I see mine and Bryce's come in and they are front and center for the occasion. The principals go on first giving a run down on this year and to please silent phones but pictures are fine. Then the students who go before me make there little speeches before it's my time. Then I hear the principal say.

"And now for our Valedictorian, Michael Barone."

I stand and make my way to the podium. I'm so nervous and excited. I look into the crowd and my eyes meet Bryce's. He sitting there smiling at me and then he blows a kiss at me. I smile and begin my speech.

"Good evening, everyone. The past four years here at Maryland High have been very interesting to say the least. To give you an idea of what it was like, I'm going to take this time to tell you all a bit about what my Maryland High experience was like and the people who were a part of it.

I would like to start off by thanking my mom who has raised me since the day I was born and has helped me become the person I am today. Every one of us graduating have those special people in our lives that care for us every day, and love us unconditionally. And to all of you here today, we cannot thank you enough for everything you've done for us.

The plethora of achievements of this class would not have been possible without the help, support, and guidance of our parents and teachers, counselors and coaches, and the overall inspiration from the entire school community. To these mentors, I say: Our success is your success, for you have given us the courage to dare, the knowledge to excel, and the belief that we can succeed. You have been there for us with encouragement and care; you have had faith when we doubted ourselves. You have instilled in us the self-confidence needed to reach for our dreams. For all of these things, we, the Class of 2018, thank every single one of you.

As graduates, we face many uncertainties in both the immediate and distant future. However, uncertainty is another word for opportunity. I said at the beginning of this speech that I was not going to give advice. We don't need it. Thank you all for coming to witness this very special day. Congratulations, happy graduation, and best of luck to the Maryland High School class of 2018!"