novelraw Chapter 369: Graduation (5)
Chapter 369: Graduation (5)
Ari’s speech decision was simple.
Let’s keep it short and sweet.
He was sure that people would rather spend the day with their friends and family than listen to me reiterate advice they could find online, so it was better to just simplify everything rather than waste their time.
Clearing his throat, then checking the watch on his wrist, Ari began speaking to the overarching points he had briefly jotted down.
"Firstly, Happy graduation to everyone. I’d like to give a big shout-out to the friends, family, and other loved ones who are attending the graduation today. People say it takes a village, so feel free to give yourselves a round of applause for being the foundation and providing support, whether emotionally, physically, time-wise, or financially, that you’ve devoted towards the graduates today."
As Ari leaned back to clap, thankfully, the audience followed along, and a few people even whistled.
"Next, I’d like to give a shout-out to the students. We’ve all survived four years of suffering and torture without giving up and dropping out, and that is truly an amazing accomplishment. I know I considered dropping out many, many times, so the fact that we’re all here at the end, crossing the finish line together, is huge. So seriously, big round of applause to us for surviving four years of mandatory prison. Today is the day of our jailbreak, and we’re finally free!"
As he began clapping again, his fellow classmates dressed in burgundy and red began shouting and cheering enthusiastically.
"Finally, a big shout-out to the principal, our teachers, coaches, lunch ladies, cleaning staff, librarians, and even substitute teachers. They’re also part of the village, and even though they’re getting paid and only have to do the bare minimum, most of them go above and beyond. So thank you to them as well."
Ari stepped back, gesturing to the teachers and principals in their college caps and gowns behind him, and the loudest cheers sounded out.
When it was finally quiet, he leaned back into the microphone and began speaking again.
"As you heard before, I’m the valedictorian, which, contrary to popular belief, doesn’t mean I’m the smartest person in the school; I just figured out how to hack the system for good grades. But as part of the whole schtick, I’m being forced to give a speech of at least five minutes. Thanks to your help, it’s going swimmingly, and now I only have-"
He quickly checked the time on his watch before continuing, "2 minutes left. Thankfully, I didn’t write too much, and while I don’t think I’ve accomplished enough in life to advise anyone, I would like to share what I consider the most important piece of advice that has helped me get to where I am today.
It’s something my parents told me when I was little, and something I try to follow throughout my life, in any situation that comes my way.
Pretty simply, it’s to always bet on yourself and block out external noise. Whether you’re going to college, trade school, pursuing a different career path, or don’t even know what you want to do yet, whether you’re learning a skill or trying something new, what you need to remember is that it’s your life: you know yourself, how much work you put in, and what your intentions are when striving for something.
You should always have confidence in yourself and do your best not to let others’ opinions affect what you want to achieve in your life. And you shouldn’t let others bring you down when you tell them what you’re working towards or hope to achieve.
Even if people call you cocky, even if they call you stupid, even if they want to humble you or hope that you fail, I think making sure you have confidence or fake having confidence, making sure to bet on yourself, to have your own back if needed, and having the grit to pursue what you want, regardless of the obstacles thrown at you.
I know it sounds easier than it is, and it’s probably generic advice that motivational speakers and life coaches give, but that’s how I try to live my life, and who knows, maybe it can help someone in the crowd. That’s it for the life advice. Uhm..."
Ari paused, feeling a bit awkward, before taking a deep breath and continuing, "Uh, a quick shout out to the people who came to support me. Specifically to my friends and teammates from Popstar Academy, Jamie, Ben, Carlos, Levi, and Mathew, I know I can be prickly and difficult, and originally didn’t want you to come, but I appreciate you all being here. I hope to pay you all back someday.
To Grandma Lisa and Grandma Kim, who took care of me when I was homeless, thank you for coming as well. There were plenty of days when the reason I had a tent to come back to or even a meal to eat after school and working was because of them.
To Granny Choi and her family, who have gone above and beyond. They took me in and gave me a safe, comfortable place to stay when they didn’t know me and didn’t have to. And to everyone else who came to support me today. Even though I still think it’s weird you all wanted to come to a stranger’s graduation, thank you to my fans. I think the current name is Ari’s Angels.
You’re all truly like my guardian angels, and I don’t know what I would do without you all, seriously. Uh... a few of you might know that my parents are no longer with me, so you’re all kind of part of my village, and I appreciate your influence and support of my life. So once again, thank you to you all. I love you all."
Taking a step back, Ari bowed to the audience while pretending not to hear the sniffling behind him.
After holding the deep bow for several seconds, he went back to the microphone with a brighter expression, "Now that the mushy stuff is out of the way, once again, shout out to the graduates. Let’s live it up today before real life starts to kick our asses. Happy graduation to you all! It’s lit!"
Without waiting for the approval of the principal, Ari quickly hopped down from the stage and jogged down to where his classmates were sitting, and snagged a chair at the very back.
According to the schedule, it was now time for their names to be called so they could get their diplomas on stage, and once that was done, they flipped their tassels, tossed their hats, and were free to go.
Glad that his speech went as well as it could, Ari made himself comfortable.
Since there were over 900 students and he was already scheduled to be called last, there was a long way to go.
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"Sniff snifff, his speech was so sad! But my heart feels so warm at being mentioned. Even though he said I was weird for coming, he still loves me, and that’s enough." Justine sobbed even as she made sure to focus her phone camera on Ari, who was sitting calmly at the very back of all the graduates.
Even though all she could see was his back, his decorated hat, which had Ari’s Angels written with white feathers arranged like wings, immediately caught the eye.
"We’re part of his village, sniff sniff. Ari, I’ll love and support you forever so that the next time you give a speech, you’ll call me by first and last name. Also, please let me have your graduation cap as a family heirloom," Rachel echoed while also recording Ari.
The two weren’t the only ones; many of Ari’s fans attending the graduation had shed tears as Ari thanked everyone who had influenced his life.
They were all sniffling and posting about it while trying to capture his every moment, even though a camera was tracking him and broadcasting it on the Jumbotron and online.
On the other hand, Grace was staring at Ari with a judgmental expression.
This...this nonchalant criminal punk!!!!!!
He really did what he said he would do!!!
After enlisting her help to review his original speech, Grace poured her years of experience running a blog, writing articles, and taking advanced creative writing classes into suggesting edits for the perfect valedictorian speech that was sure to touch the hearts of his fans.
Then Ari, in his usual casual way, had taken one look at the edits that she made and decided that he was going to freestyle with bullet points since he had no interest in memorizing something else in an already busy week.
Grace had fought him, telling Ari that he couldn’t possibly deliver something impactful from freestyling, and had received a mischievous smile and wink before he left to practice.
She refused to believe it, but now, here she was, watching her friends and the rest of Ari’s fans sob as if he were Franz Kafka himself.
Life truly wasn’t fair for handsome people with charisma.
Feeling a bit bitter but proud, she watched as, row by row, the graduates walked onto the stage to collect their diplomas.
When Ari’s row finally stood up and began walking on stage, the whispers around her got louder as the fans got ready for what they had prepared.
When Ari was finally at the edge of the stage, waiting for his name to be called, the arena was so silent that you could hear a pin drop.
Then the principal’s voice rang out.
"Now calling up Ariel Bada Matisse. Graduating summa cum laude and as the valedictorian of the class."
The moment Ari stepped on the stage and began walking towards the principal, a roar shook the arena.