Latest / Inside the OSD / S2 E19 - Graduation Speakers Ft. Jada Anderson, Aaron Dieter, and Ada Marcin

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S2 E19 - Graduation Speakers Ft. Jada Anderson, Aaron Dieter, and Ada Marcin · Inside the OSD

• 0:00
  SPEAKER1: Class of 2024, we love you.
• 0:03
  For all of you who will be coming and following this group...
• 0:07
  '25, '26 and '27, they have set an incredibly high bar.
• 0:12
  High achieving students, but even better human beings.
• 0:17
  SPEAKER2: The culminating experience of a student's academic career in the Oregon School District is our commencement ceremony.
• 0:25
  This year, we have three students who will be addressing their class during the ceremony, and we are lucky enough to sit down and talk with them about their
• 0:33
  senior year, what's next, and of course, the important messages they'll share with their class.
• 0:43
  SPEAKER3: Welcome to this episode of Inside the OSD podcast, where it's all about the kids.
• 0:48
  Here is your host, lifelong educator, and our superintendent, Doctor Leslie Bergstrom.
• 0:56
  SPEAKER2: Welcome to Inside the OSD.
• 0:58
  I am here with our student commencement speakers.
• 1:01
  You are in the home stretch and this is a really busy time of year for you, so I appreciate all three of you taking a few minutes to talk with us today.
• 1:10
  So let's start by having you introduce yourself.
• 1:13
  SPEAKER4: Uh, I'm Aaron Dieter.
• 1:14
  SPEAKER5: I'm Jada Anderson, and I'm Ada Marcin.
• 1:17
  SPEAKER2: Thank you. Thank all three of you.
• 1:19
  So this is your last week of school and you've had lots, lots of last weeks of school.
• 1:24
  But this is the last week of senior year.
• 1:27
  So how does it feel different?
• 1:29
  Anybody can start.
• 1:31
  SPEAKER5: Um, well, personally, for me, I think that every last week of school I've ever had, I've been kind of like, sad, like in, in second grade, I'd
• 1:41
  cry on the last day of school.
• 1:43
  Um, but no, it's -- this last week is kind of like.
• 1:47
  It's just. I'm not sure it's -- i'm like, feeling it yet.
• 1:51
  Feeling -- like I was feeling it last week.
• 1:53
  Definitely like the whole, um.
• 1:55
  "Oh, my God, this is the last time we'll actually be all together." Yeah.
• 1:59
  Um, but no, this week I'm, like, just focusing on getting the school done.
• 2:04
  But I definitely felt it this morning when I walked into the, um, gym and saw all the chairs set up for graduation, I was like, oh, sure, sure.
• 2:14
  Now it's like us, because last year I went to graduation and I was like, "oh, this is gonna be sad next year." And now I'm like, "oh, it's it feels real."
• 2:21
  Yeah, that's what I think.
• 2:23
  Yes, I know, I'd have to agree.
• 2:25
  Me and Ada were talking about it this morning in the gym and how like, it's crazy how fast this year went by.
• 2:30
  Yeah. And yeah, I don't know.
• 2:31
  I for sure felt it last night.
• 2:34
  I feel like it kind of hit me last night that it's like these are our final days together.
• 2:38
  And so I was kind of sad, like a little like sad moment, but it's kind of like, happy knowing that we're about to, like, we're getting ready to, like, go into
• 2:45
  the real world and, like, do our own thing.
• 2:47
  You know?
• 2:48
  SPEAKER4: I think I've always been, like, the opposite of Ada.
• 2:51
  I've always been like, glad that school is over.
• 2:53
  But like, this week has been -- it's kind of felt more bittersweet because I definitely enjoy like a lot of aspects of high school.
• 3:02
  But there's also stuff that's like, I wouldn't like, but it's definitely, um, a little sad.
• 3:09
  But also, I'm glad to be moving on to bigger and better things.
• 3:13
  SPEAKER2: You got it. I love the use of the word "bittersweet," because I think that encapsulates a lot of what Jada and Ada were talking about.
• 3:21
  So as you're thinking about this next -- this last year and really your whole time in the school district, what is something that stands out to you?
• 3:28
  What's something that you'll really carry forward in a positive way?
• 3:32
  SPEAKER5: Um, for me, definitely like the friends I've made along the way, just throughout the entire school district, um, and the memories and,
• 3:42
  like, I don't know, when we did our, um, our elementary walk the other day on the bus, we were all, like, talking about all the memories we remember, and
• 3:52
  "oh, remember four square?" And yeah, it's that type of stuff I definitely remember.
• 3:57
  And, um, I also remember like my teachers that mean a lot to me.
• 4:02
  And um, my like my music studies as well.
• 4:07
  I really -- that has definitely grown me as a person.
• 4:11
  Yes, I've really found myself in that area of my school, and it's kind of propelled me forward in my other aspects of schooling as
• 4:21
  well. Thanks, Ada. Yeah, yeah, I would have to agree with Ada.
• 4:24
  I think like one thing I'll like remember is like, you know, going on our elementary school walks or like, like the homecoming assemblies or like
• 4:31
  whenever, like we're all like together and just like being able to, like, make all those fun memories that are going to, like, last forever.
• 4:37
  Like. And I feel like like that's so fun.
• 4:39
  Like the homecoming pep rally or the football game and like, you're all there together, dressed up, you know, I don't know, I feel like that's like, one thing
• 4:46
  I really take out is just like the community and like the spirit Oregon has and like how we all come together.
• 4:51
  It can make, like, memories that last forever.
• 4:53
  Yeah. Thanks, Jada.
• 4:54
  SPEAKER4: I think high school, I've learned to appreciate the -- the fact that we can have, like, such close relationships with lots of
• 5:04
  people because, like, in college, it's definitely a lot different.
• 5:08
  You're going to have, like, I don't know, like 200 people lectures.
• 5:12
  So it's going to be a lot different.
• 5:15
  But that's just made me appreciate like high school a lot more because there's a lot, a lot of differences between high school and college.
• 5:22
  And so, um, yeah, I'm just excited for both.
• 5:27
  SPEAKER2: Yeah, yeah, yeah.
• 5:28
  And that's exactly it.
• 5:30
  You can appreciate what you just experienced and be excited for what's next.
• 5:34
  Right? You can hold both things at the same time.
• 5:37
  So what's something you've learned that you want to carry forward?
• 5:42
  Oh I know. That one's -- That one's a little harder, right?
• 5:46
  SPEAKER5: I, I think I know exactly what I would say because like, I always think back to our I was just having a conversation with my mom about this,
• 5:55
  like I think back to, um, Covid and how we didn't really, like, have each other.
• 6:02
  We weren't really -- had like a set foundation with our class.
• 6:06
  Right. Um, and that, you know, over the past, like just this year and the past, like our junior year as well, I feel like we all have, like, a better
• 6:16
  understanding of, like, I don't know, we're just, like, taking in everything and, like, actually, like, living in the moment, um, and like, being
• 6:26
  grateful for what you do have.
• 6:28
  Um. Even if like you do, have hard times in your life, like, I don't know, everything happens for a reason.
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  And like Covid made me really realize, like I need to really be grateful and like, live in the moment and not think about, like, the hard things and just
• 6:41
  appreciate what I have at the time.
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  And I think I will use that forever.
• 6:46
  Like, wow.
• 6:48
  SPEAKER2: That's that's a big takeaway.
• 6:49
  SPEAKER5: Yeah.
• 6:50
  SPEAKER2: Anybody want to add their own or add to Ada's?
• 6:53
  SPEAKER4: I mean, I'd say I totally agree with that.
• 6:56
  Um, I also think I learned a lot about how to interact with others and how to lead other people, especially just like this year.
• 7:05
  But I've just I've always been, like, very introverted.
• 7:09
  And so it's exciting to see that I've been able to kind of branch out and be more
• 7:18
  open, I don't know.
• 7:20
  SPEAKER2: Well, I really appreciate the fact that someone who describes themselves as an introvert is willing to give a graduation speech.
• 7:27
  I mean, I think that's pretty awesome.
• 7:30
  Yeah. Anything to add, Jada?
• 7:31
  SPEAKER5: Um, I think I've really learned, like throughout my time here, like the like what it feels like to be a part of a really strong community.
• 7:38
  Like, I feel like, you know, through the teachers, staff and like friends that I've met here, like, I always have a person I can fall back on and it's like,
• 7:45
  it's nice knowing it's like you have all these people here to support you and they want you to succeed.
• 7:50
  And I feel like, like the community at Oregon, like it really showed me that, like, all the people here want you to succeed.
• 7:54
  They want to show you to success.
• 7:56
  And like, I don't know, I feel like that was something I really learned as.
• 7:59
  SPEAKER2: Thank you.
• 8:00
  All right. So now we're going to move on to these graduation speaker --speeches, right?
• 8:04
  So I know Mr.
• 8:05
  Pliner has a process, and he invites senior class members to apply to be a speaker, which I think is -- is really awesome.
• 8:13
  So why was it important to each of you to be a part of this process?
• 8:16
  Why did you want to do this?
• 8:19
  SPEAKER4: I think I really just wanted to do something that, like, my past self would never do.
• 8:26
  SPEAKER2: Oh, I love that.
• 8:27
  Okay.
• 8:27
  SPEAKER4: It's like because it's -- I like don't generally give speeches.
• 8:31
  And so I think it was just like an opportunity for me to get outside my comfort zone and like, what better way to do that than like something crazy, like giving
• 8:41
  a graduation speech?
• 8:42
  SPEAKER2: Well, you are ready for college.
• 8:44
  If that's your thing, that's terrific.
• 8:47
  How about one of you?
• 8:49
  Um.
• 8:50
  SPEAKER5: I didn't really like, I don't know, I -- before we started recording, I told you the process, but now thinking about it, like giving the speech is
• 8:59
  such a great honor.
• 9:02
  Um, I never would have seen myself giving a speech.
• 9:05
  I would be like, "oh, yeah, that would be cool.
• 9:08
  Um, but I I'm not doing it." Um, but being asked to, I really made me think about it.
• 9:16
  And I was like, "you know, this is -- this will be something I will remember.
• 9:21
  And I want to, like, make other people remember things as well.
• 9:27
  And I want to, like, leave an impact as well with my family and my peers and my graduating class." And, you know, I
• 9:36
  also agree with you like branching out.
• 9:38
  I don't think I would ever give a speech, um, personally, but I think, like actually thinking about it and being like, this is a great honor to do.
• 9:48
  And I don't know, I think that after being asked, I, if I said no, I would be missing out.
• 9:53
  You'd regret it. Yeah.
• 9:55
  SPEAKER2: How about you, Jada?
• 9:56
  SPEAKER5: Yeah, I would, I don't know, I feel like, well, when I wrote my speech and like, decided I actually wanted to do it, I kind of thought it was just like a good
• 10:02
  opportunity for me to, like, go explore, like, different things.
• 10:05
  Like, I don't mind speaking in front of small groups, but I was like, I've never really spoken in front of, like, such a big group.
• 10:11
  And I was like, "you know, it would be a fun, like opportunity to expand my speaking skills," but also like, I just feel like it was just something like I
• 10:19
  wanted to do. And I was like, you know, I'm like.
• 10:21
  And then when I got chosen, I was like, you know, it's like honored.
• 10:23
  I'm honored to do it. And now like Ada said, like, I'll remember it forever.
• 10:27
  You will. And I feel like it'll be like once, like I'm nervous now and stuff, but like, once it's over, like, I'm going to feel like.
• 10:32
  I feel like I'm going to feel like, really happy that I did it.
• 10:34
  And glad and like, be able to look back and like, remember that my high school graduation, like, I spoke and, you know.
• 10:41
  Yeah.
• 10:41
  SPEAKER2: Yeah, I respect the way all three of you are framing this.
• 10:45
  It's -- it's really awesome.
• 10:47
  And you're right. Not many people have an opportunity to speak in front of 2000 people, right?
• 10:53
  Like this is a unique opportunity.
• 10:55
  And you've all worked really hard for it, because I know you've been working with Mister Pliner for a while to make sure that your speeches are unique to
• 11:05
  you as individuals, but there are also some ways that it's all connected.
• 11:09
  So I don't want you to to tell anybody who's listening what's going to be in the speech, because they should come and find out.
• 11:15
  But what are some of the high level things that you could share that you see as big picture pieces of each of your speeches or
• 11:24
  together, you know?
• 11:26
  Yeah. What's what's the message?
• 11:28
  SPEAKER5: I feel like mine's really about change.
• 11:30
  I speak on like.
• 11:32
  Like the changes we've encountered and how we've had to change as individuals.
• 11:35
  And I talk a little bit about me and, um, like how I deal with change and like, because it's not like my most favorite thing and it's pretty
• 11:45
  intimidating. And so I kind of talk about change and like how we've been prepared to.
• 11:50
  No. Great.
• 11:52
  I building off of that.
• 11:53
  Like I think that a like main theme of my speech as well is change and the way that we can like, grasp it, um,
• 12:03
  and that, you know, there are so many things out there and there's so many opportunities that the future holds.
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  And we are not bound to like a certain thing we don't -- like, some people don't know what they want to do yet.
• 12:19
  Some people have a very clear idea, and it's all right to be in the middle.
• 12:24
  Either one. Either way, you know, it's we -- we do have time.
• 12:29
  That's a big thing as well.
• 12:32
  Um, change and time.
• 12:36
  Um, and just growing with it all.
• 12:39
  SPEAKER4: Mhm. Um, I think my speech plays a little bit, a little bit into change, but I also talk about, um, how to be happy and just, uh, what we
• 12:49
  can do as humans to be happier because that's what makes the world better.
• 12:54
  SPEAKER2: That's what many of us are striving for, right?
• 12:56
  Mhm. Well I certainly uh, and respect the message and the fact that you're putting yourselves out there to make it, it's really cool.
• 13:05
  So what advice would you give to next year seniors and/or next year's incoming freshmen?
• 13:14
  SPEAKER5: Oh, I would just tell them.
• 13:16
  I would say it goes fast.
• 13:19
  I and everyone says that like when we did our -- I don't know, we -- I've just heard from so many people that high school is like a really
• 13:28
  important four years of your life, and it goes by in a blink of an eye.
• 13:32
  And I was always like, "yeah, whatever, I don't.
• 13:35
  Yeah, you can say that.
• 13:36
  I don't think so." But but I'm now looking back, I'm like, "oh my gosh, you're telling me that was four years?
• 13:43
  Four years?
• 13:44
  No, that was probably one." I would -- I would tell them, you know, just hold on to what you have and make a lot of memories.
• 13:53
  Um, and, you know, branch out of your comfort zone.
• 13:56
  That is one thing. Senior year for me is, like, I did the musical this year for the first time, and it's.
• 14:05
  That was your first musical?
• 14:06
  Yeah. And I like I regret it a lot that, like, I didn't step out of my comfort zone beforehand and that, you know, this is a safe
• 14:16
  space. Like it's not like moving on is probably like when you graduate, you're not always going to be in a comfortable position to, like, branch
• 14:26
  out. And you might not always have somebody to, like, have a shoulder, um, to like, lean on.
• 14:33
  So doing something now and finding out what you do like, and being with the people you love.
• 14:38
  And really just like holding on to that is great.
• 14:43
  That's what I would say.
• 14:44
  Nice. Yeah, I'd probably say like, have fun and like, don't worry.
• 14:49
  Because like, you know, I feel like especially like my freshman and sophomore year, I was super worried about like, grades and like, I'm not saying to not be
• 14:55
  like, don't care.
• 14:56
  Like.
• 14:57
  SPEAKER2: That's not your advice.
• 14:58
  SPEAKER5: But, um, I'm just saying, like, you know, okay.
• 15:01
  Like you got, like, you got maybe a grade that you didn't really want, but you really tried to get that, you know, where you are and like, don't let that like,
• 15:07
  be like overcome you and like, you know, and stress about it too much and like, have fun and like, spend time with your friends and, you know, do the things
• 15:16
  that you maybe would be scared to do because like, at the end of the day, like even like here, like I was kind of scared to give this speech, but like, now,
• 15:23
  like, you know, I know I'm going to be happy that I did it.
• 15:25
  And so, like, you know, doing some things to branch out of your comfort zone like you might be scared of, but I think at the end, like, you can look back and
• 15:30
  be happy and you want to look back at your high school experience and be like, proud of what you did and like, look back and you want to be like, "I had a lot
• 15:36
  of fun here." And you know, it's just like a time to have fun and like, have fun at school and like, with your friends and you're all together.
• 15:44
  And I feel like I think in some moments I took that for granted.
• 15:47
  And I think I was a little too stressed and too hard on myself.
• 15:50
  But like, you know, I kind of wish, you know, if I could give advice to anyone else is like, just have fun and don't stress as much.
• 15:57
  SPEAKER2: Thank you.
• 15:58
  SPEAKER4: I'd say make sure you take advantage of everything that high school has, because there's like so many things that you can do here.
• 16:07
  And, um.
• 16:09
  Beyond that, also look at mistakes as just opportunities for growth because, um, failure is what like promotes
• 16:19
  growth. It's not, um, the mistakes you make.
• 16:22
  It's what what you do after that and how you look at your different mistakes.
• 16:28
  Um, and yeah, just make sure you're branching out.
• 16:31
  Uh, really just take advantage of everything.
• 16:35
  Um, look at everything.
• 16:38
  Um, yeah.
• 16:40
  SPEAKER2: And listening to the three of you and I just keep coming back to you are a portrait of a graduate, right?
• 16:46
  Like what we as a school system hope for.
• 16:50
  For the people, work toward.
• 16:51
  For the people who who leave us when they graduate.
• 16:54
  And it's like, oh my goodness, everything you're talking about I can point to in this portrait, like you're beautiful examples of what is possible when you
• 17:03
  know it's something.
• 17:05
  I think every one of us should be really, really proud of what all three of you were talking about today.
• 17:12
  So what's next?
• 17:14
  I want to know what's next for you.
• 17:15
  Okay, so what are what are you doing next and what are you most excited about?
• 17:20
  Who wants to start?
• 17:22
  SPEAKER4: I can start, okay.
• 17:23
  Um, I'm gonna go to UW Madison and I'll be studying data science and music performance.
• 17:31
  I'll be in the percussion studio.
• 17:34
  Um, and I'm hoping to do something related with math and also just keep music in my life because it's really great.
• 17:44
  SPEAKER2: Yes it is.
• 17:46
  SPEAKER5: Um, I'm thinking about going to MATC in Milwaukee and, um, doing their dental hygiene program.
• 17:53
  Oh, nice. And yeah, it's -- I wanted to be a dental hygienist since I was in eighth grade.
• 17:57
  And so I'm just like, I don't know, I think it'd be something fun to do.
• 18:01
  And. Yeah, so that's what's next for me.
• 18:03
  SPEAKER2: You're a lady with a plan.
• 18:04
  I like it. And how about you, Ada?
• 18:06
  SPEAKER5: Um, I will be attending UW La Crosse, um, in the fall, and I'm currently, uh, have an undecided major.
• 18:14
  Um, and I was leaning towards health sciences and, um, like that type of field.
• 18:21
  Right. Um, but also, I would probably now after my senior year, maybe double major in like something music or minor and
• 18:31
  something music, because I also can't go with that.
• 18:34
  And you shouldn't have to.
• 18:36
  That's that's my happiness.
• 18:37
  Like, I can't just let it be so.
• 18:40
  SPEAKER2: Well, before you three go, I want to make sure you know we're all super proud of you and we're super proud of your classmates.
• 18:46
  And I'm excited for all the adventures you still have coming.
• 18:50
  So thanks for being here today.
• 18:52
  Thank you. Remember that you can find links to all episodes of Inside the OSD and submit topic ideas on our website
• 19:02
  at OregonSD.Org/podcast.
• 19:06
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• 19:10
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• 19:16
  We'll see you next time on Inside the OSD where it's all about the kids.