Latest / Inside the OSD / S4 E18 - Graduation Speakers Ft. Tim Grice, Maya Jadhav, & Matthew Schultz

Transcript

S4 E18 - Graduation Speakers Ft. Tim Grice, Maya Jadhav, & Matthew Schultz · Inside the OSD

• 0:09
  SPEAKER 1: Today we are taking some time to talk with our students who will be addressing their class during the graduation ceremony.
• 0:15
  We are excited to hear about what has led them to this point, and get a sneak peek into the words of wisdom they're planning on sharing with
• 0:21
  the class of 2026.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER 2: Welcome to this episode of Inside the OSD podcast, where it's all about the kids.
• 0:31
  Here is your host, lifelong educator in our superintendent, Doctor Leslie Bergstrom.
• 0:40
  SPEAKER 1: Welcome to Inside the OSD. This is one of our favorite episodes of the year, so let's get started.
• 0:46
  And we'll begin by having you introduce yourselves to our listeners.
• 0:50
  SPEAKER 3: Hi, I'm Maya.
• 0:52
  SPEAKER 4: Hi, I'm Tim and I'm Matthew.
• 0:54
  SPEAKER 1: Wonderful. Thank you for being here. And you are in the home stretch.
• 0:58
  I just walked by a lot of graduation paraphernalia in the main office.
• 1:03
  It looks like we are ready to go. There's only a few weeks of school left, and your time as students in the Oregon School District is winding down.
• 1:11
  How does it feel?
• 1:13
  SPEAKER 3: Definitely mixed feelings. It's definitely bittersweet because there's so little time left with friends and classmates.
• 1:19
  But also, I gotta say, the senioritis is very real.
• 1:22
  So we're ready to be done.
• 1:24
  SPEAKER 5: Okay. Thank you.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER 4: I agree with Maya here. Very bittersweet.
• 1:28
  Um, first, it's very good to reflect on the memories that I've made with all my classmates and my peers and,
• 1:34
  and my friends over the last 12 something years.
• 1:37
  But on the other hand, it's good to go out and get into life and start becoming a person on my own.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER 6: Nice. Yeah. No, it feels exciting to me.
• 1:45
  Um, you know, I've been reflecting a lot lately and just kind of the growth that I've seen for myself and my peers around me.
• 1:52
  Um, and yeah, you know, I've had a little bit of senioritis.
• 1:56
  Um, I think everyone does, but--A
• 1:58
  SPEAKER 7: little bit is expected, right? A little bit, but I think overall.
• 2:02
  SPEAKER 6: Well just kind of happy I made it.
• 2:04
  SPEAKER 1: Oh that's wonderful. Now as the three of you reflect on your time at Oregon High School,
• 2:10
  what is your most memorable or defining moment?
• 2:13
  Or maybe I should make that a little different.
• 2:15
  What is one of your most memorable or defining moments?
• 2:19
  And whomever wants to share can just go ahead and start.
• 2:24
  SPEAKER 4: I think for me personally, um, being a football player, um, going out on the field and seeing all of our classmates and our community
• 2:31
  there, supporting each other and coming together as a group of one is really memorable to me because it just shows the level of community and dedication we
• 2:39
  have to each other here at Oregon.
• 2:41
  SPEAKER 1: That's a great example, Tim, because what--how crowded the football stands are the number of people who show up to watch.
• 2:50
  I bet it does have an incredible impact on you when you're on the field, looking out at all of these people who are here to watch you do that.
• 2:58
  That's really cool.
• 3:01
  SPEAKER 3: Going along with that, just like, all of our homecoming pep rallies and those kind of events where we get like,
• 3:06
  the whole school in one location, like the energy is just so good.
• 3:11
  SPEAKER 1: I can feel it on those days. You go into the gym and it's almost enough to make me start dancing,
• 3:16
  but not quite enough. So now we're going to move on to graduation speeches, right?
• 3:21
  There's an application for being a class speaker.
• 3:24
  So this is a really big honor. Um, why was it important to you to be a part of this process?
• 3:32
  SPEAKER 6: Um, it was important to me to be a part of it because my, my cousin was also a graduation speaker,
• 3:39
  um, in the class of 2020 and she never really got to fully experience it.
• 3:44
  And I feel like, you know, I have an opportunity to really fully experience giving a speech and I like and enjoy giving speeches.
• 3:51
  Um, yeah.
• 3:52
  SPEAKER 1: Thanks, Matthew.
• 3:55
  SPEAKER 4: I think that the application process was important because I think it--it grabs a cast of well-rounded characters.
• 4:02
  I know Maya and Matthew don't necessarily have the same life experiences that I have,
• 4:08
  uh, or that each other have. And I think that's great because it really encompasses the entire class and what makes us here in the class of 2026.
• 4:16
  So impressive.
• 4:18
  SPEAKER 3: Thank you. Yeah, I agree with that. And also, just like reflection in general is a really important part of the growth
• 4:23
  process, right? Um, and so I wanted to inspire others to reflect as well on their high school experience.
• 4:29
  SPEAKER 1: Thank you. All right, so think back to the moment you found out you were selected to be a speaker.
• 4:34
  What was your immediate reaction?
• 4:38
  SPEAKER 6: I called my mom.
• 4:40
  SPEAKER 7: And that was--that
• 4:41
  SPEAKER 6: was my first reaction.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER 7: That's great. Um, I
• 4:44
  SPEAKER 6: was just calling my mom, you know, getting the congrats and, you know, feeling a little bit of pride there.
• 4:50
  SPEAKER 7: Yeah.
• 4:51
  SPEAKER 3: I love that. I actually called my friends because I had a couple of very close friends who also submitted speeches,
• 4:57
  so we were kind of in it together, and I was just really intensely grateful for the opportunity because I know how many well-written speeches there were.
• 5:05
  SPEAKER 4: I bet. I didn't call anybody. I think I was on the sidelines of a lacrosse game or something like that,
• 5:12
  but I remember texting a picture to my parents, and obviously they were so happy.
• 5:16
  And then I texted Matthew to check his email because I think I was the one who told you that these came out,
• 5:21
  right? So I texted Matthew, check his email because I looked and on the bcc list or the carbon copy list on the email chain.
• 5:29
  And I saw that Matthew and Maya got it. So I wanted to share this important moment with them as well.
• 5:33
  SPEAKER 1: Oh, that's so nice. Without giving anything away, what will you be focusing on in your class address and why was that?
• 5:43
  Or why is it an important message to share with your classmates?
• 5:48
  SPEAKER 4: I know me personally, I'm focusing on community and giving back.
• 5:52
  And I think that's very important to share with my classmates, because if you think about legacy,
• 5:57
  you think about what matters after your time.
• 6:01
  It's about community. It's about impact as a--as a community, we're stronger when we're together as one,
• 6:06
  and each individual person within that community can never be as strong as one as they are together.
• 6:13
  SPEAKER 8: Nice. Thank you.
• 6:15
  SPEAKER 3: I think mine is definitely a good complement to that.
• 6:17
  Um, because Tim's and Matthew's are a little bit more community oriented, but mine is quite introspective and focuses a lot on gratitude and personal
• 6:25
  growth. Um, so it's definitely hard to share without giving anything away, but I just think this is a huge deal and we should give ourselves and the people
• 6:35
  around us credit where it's due.
• 6:37
  SPEAKER 8: Thank you.
• 6:38
  SPEAKER 6: Yeah, it's kind of hard to not give anything away, but, um, I was trying to really focus in on the fact that,
• 6:44
  um, we've persevered through a lot of hard things as young people.
• 6:48
  Um, and I wanted to share that with the classmates because, you know, I feel like sometimes,
• 6:54
  a lot of times kids don't realize that, you know, we've gone through a lot of hard things already.
• 6:59
  And I think that's really an important message to resonate with my classmates.
• 7:03
  SPEAKER 8: Nice.
• 7:04
  SPEAKER 1: All right. So what is the single most important piece of advice you would give to an OHS student who still has a few years left?
• 7:12
  What would you tell them?
• 7:14
  SPEAKER 3: I've got something for this. I would say, um, take advantage of your resources because we have such an amazing community
• 7:21
  around us and all these people and resources at school.
• 7:26
  Um, they are integral to you growing as a human and, um, it's just such an amazing opportunity.
• 7:32
  So take advantage of them.
• 7:33
  SPEAKER 8: Wonderful.
• 7:35
  SPEAKER 4: My senior quote actually kind of ties into the piece of advice I'd give.
• 7:39
  Uh, I used a Nick Saban quote and it goes kind of along the lines of, you know,
• 7:43
  "it's nice to be important, but it's also important to be nice." It's important to respect and treat everybody with kindness that you meet not only in high
• 7:51
  school, but as you mature into an adult.
• 7:55
  And I think a lot of young people, it's very easy to get caught up in social media and individual petty things,
• 7:59
  you know? Tale as old as time. I think that looking in a retrospective lens or looking at a greater lens,
• 8:06
  it's important to realize how special a community here is in Oregon and how special each and all of your peers are,
• 8:12
  and to treat them with respect and kindness.
• 8:15
  SPEAKER 8: Wow.
• 8:16
  SPEAKER 6: I would say, um, probably trusting your abilities that you have and the belief in yourself.
• 8:21
  I think that's something that really got me through high school, was just believing in the fact that I am capable of things and that,
• 8:31
  you know, others are capable of things too.
• 8:33
  SPEAKER 8: All right.
• 8:35
  SPEAKER 1: You're making me very excited to hear your speeches, by the way.
• 8:37
  This is going to be great. Um, what's next for you and what are you most excited about as you move on to your next chapter?
• 8:45
  SPEAKER 6: Uh, well, I'm going to play baseball in northern Minnesota at Minnesota North Vermillion Community College,
• 8:52
  um, with the doing a business transfer pathway, but I really want to be more of a sports marketer.
• 8:58
  SPEAKER 7: Okay.
• 8:59
  SPEAKER 6: So yeah, that's currently my plan.
• 9:00
  SPEAKER 8: Wonderful.
• 9:01
  SPEAKER 4: I'm going to the University of Wisconsin-Madison to study civil engineering.
• 9:05
  Uh, the thing I'm most excited about is probably meeting lots of new people and,
• 9:09
  and getting out of my comfort zone for the first time.
• 9:13
  That transition to college is something that can be exciting, but can also be a little scary.
• 9:17
  Not that I'm not scared for it, but I think the opportunities that I can be given in the years to come and the things that can make the most out of are very
• 9:25
  special.
• 9:26
  SPEAKER 8: Thank you.
• 9:27
  SPEAKER 3: I will be joining Tim at UW Madison as an econ and a business major.
• 9:31
  I'm hoping to go into quant finance. Um, I'm also really excited about branching out and just more experiences in
• 9:38
  general, whether they're professional social traveling.
• 9:41
  I love traveling. Um, yeah, just the experiences.
• 9:45
  SPEAKER 8: Oh, I'm excited for you.
• 9:47
  SPEAKER 1: You're all going to have a great time. So five years from now, when you look back on this time in your life,
• 9:53
  what do you think you're going to remember most?
• 9:56
  SPEAKER 3: I think me personally, I'm going to remember all the characters around me, all the people who just kind of touched me.
• 10:03
  All the teachers, the friends, the classmates, even the classmates I didn't interact with much,
• 10:07
  just all the role models and the people who kind of made this time at the high school memorable.
• 10:13
  SPEAKER 8: Thank you.
• 10:14
  SPEAKER 4: I really agree with you, Maya. Just all the friends and all the members of our community here that have had such a big impact on me.
• 10:22
  Um, and also the people I may have had an impact on.
• 10:25
  I think that the characters, like Maya said around us in our high school, is who I'll remember most and what I look back on most fondly in five years.
• 10:35
  SPEAKER 6: Yeah, I agree with that. I think for me, I would just remember just going through the motions of high school.
• 10:41
  I think that, you know, getting up, going to class, seeing my teachers, seeing my friends in the hallways,
• 10:47
  you know, you don't really get that opportunity further on in life and I think that's really something I'm just going to cherish.
• 10:53
  SPEAKER 1: All right. So finally, is there a specific teacher or mentor or staff member in the school district you would like to recognize for helping you reach this
• 11:02
  moment?
• 11:05
  SPEAKER 4: I think I'd like to shout out all of my wonderful English teachers for giving me the skills needed to write this speech,
• 11:11
  especially Miss Greiner. She gave me a lot of feedback and a lot of resources that I use to,
• 11:15
  to make my speech as best, as best as possible.
• 11:18
  Also, Miss Zywicki, I mean, we have these meetings every Thursday morning where we go over,
• 11:22
  we practice our speeches, and it's a really good time.
• 11:25
  And I'm very thankful for all the opportunities I was given on behalf of them.
• 11:30
  SPEAKER 8: Thanks, Tim.
• 11:32
  SPEAKER 3: Um, I also would agree with that. I shout out actually a bunch of people in my speech.
• 11:37
  Do you? Yes.
• 11:38
  SPEAKER 1: Oh, so you don't want to give that away? I don't want to give it away. Okay. You don't have to. Yes.
• 11:42
  SPEAKER 3: I am very grateful to all the people in the school district.
• 11:44
  Of course, Miss Zywicki and all the people who gave me this opportunity.
• 11:48
  Also, I really want to shout out my mom.
• 11:50
  Um, she's my role model--model, my biggest supporter.
• 11:53
  She's never failed me. Um, definitely the person I look up to the most.
• 11:57
  So that's
• 11:58
  SPEAKER 1: very nice.
• 11:59
  SPEAKER 6: I would have to say, um, within the school district, just all the counselors I've had,
• 12:04
  um, coming up from BKE specifically, uh, Miss Donners, she was great.
• 12:10
  SPEAKER 7: Of course. Yeah. She--
• 12:12
  SPEAKER 6: She was the one that realized I had some mental issues and that I needed to reach out to get help.
• 12:17
  And I did, and I had a great relationship with my counselors, and they've helped me with college decisions and life decisions and just really
• 12:25
  overall great experience.
• 12:27
  SPEAKER 1: That's wonderful. So thank you very much.
• 12:30
  And on behalf of the entire district, I want you to know how proud we are of you and your classmates.
• 12:37
  Very true. We'll be cheering you along from Oregon as you move forward.
• 12:41
  You'll always have a cheering section here.
• 12:44
  And we're excited to hear about your amazing adventures to come.
• 12:48
  So the class of 2026 commencement ceremony will be held this Sunday, June 14th at 1 p.m.
• 12:56
  in the Oregon High School Main Gym. The event will be live streamed courtesy of OCA Media.
• 13:03
  Congratulations, class of 2026! Remember that you can find links to all episodes of Inside the OSD and submit topic
• 13:13
  ideas on our website at Oregonsd.org/podcast.
• 13:19
  You can find this podcast anywhere you can find podcasts.
• 13:22
  Make sure to subscribe if you're listening on one of these apps to get notifications on the most recent episodes.
• 13:29
  We'll see you next time on Inside the OSD, where it's all about the kids.