Each year, graduation contains three speeches all encompassing a symbolic theme about graduation and life after. This year the graduation theme is “beach” and the three speakers will be Ansa Khan, Clara North and Hadassah Innocent.
Khan is involved in Black Student Union (BSU) and is an Ultimate Fighting Championship taekwondo martial artist. Post-graduation, she will be attending the University of Pittsburgh for biological studies on a pre-med track. Khan will be speaking first on the topic of sand on the beach.
“It’s not an ordinary topic, however I think it carries a lot of weight symbolically,” Khan said. “Sand so seamlessly stays with us even after we leave the beach and it’s interesting to see how our experiences together in high school also stay with us in a way.”
Khan is excited to lead the class in reflecting on their time at Township and how much growth and relations have been built.
Speaking next will be North, who is involved in MTPA and sings in various music ensembles. They enjoy spending time exploring a wide range of creative hobbies such as working on projects for IB Art and crocheting. North will be attending Bryn Mawr for English education.
“I’m the second speaker, and will be talking about entering the water— learning to adjust to your new territory and stay afloat amidst the waves of life,” said North.
They also explained that they heard some negativity about the theme when it was first announced due to misunderstanding the metaphor. The beach is used as a metaphor for the challenges of life through the discussion of sand on the beach, entering new waters, and the deep waters.
The final speech will be on the topic of going into the deep waters, presented by Innocent. Innocent is involved in Aevidum and the National Technical Honors Society at CTC. After graduation, she will be attending Millersville for animal behavior biology, in the hopes to further her studies to become a veterinarian.
The deep waters will symbolize entering a new journey after high school.
“Since we are all venturing into our own paths after high school, I felt like it was important to address, and connect with the emotions everyone is feeling at this moment in time; getting closer to the big day…graduation,” she said.
Innocent also explained that her true love for public speaking that was ignited in Mrs. Kennedy’s public speaking class.
“I’ve found that public speaking truly has let me connect with people: by sharing my experiences and giving them a safe place of comfort, knowing that they aren’t the only ones who feel or have felt this way. This is why I’m so glad I was chosen as one of the speakers for graduation, and I’m hoping to connect with all of you,” she said.
Graduation will be taking place at 6:45 on June 6 at Calvary Church.
