[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 9]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 12297]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



         GRADUATION SPEECH OF LAUREN SECATOVE ON RESPONSIBILITY

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. LOUISE McINTOSH SLAUGHTER

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 8, 1999

  Ms. SLAUGHTER. Mr. Speaker, all Americans, including members of 
Congress have been saddened and frightened by the violence occurring in 
our schools. Just yesterday, a bomb was found in a school in rural 
upstate New York.
  On June 6, I had the marvelous experience of hearing a graduation 
speech given at Apponequet Regional High School in Freetown, MA, by 
Lauren Secatove, my granddaughter.
  Her thoughts on responsibility were so moving that I should like to 
share them.

  Speech by Lauren Secatove, June 6, 1999, Apponequet, Maine Regional 
                              High School

       Good afternoon, friends, family, teachers, and members of 
     the class of 1999. Welcome to the last day of our childhood 
     and the first day of the rest of our lives. Needless to say, 
     June 6th, 1999 will forever be a turning point for each of 
     us. It seems trite to refer to a day as a point of turning, 
     and the mere concept evokes confusion. To where, to whom, 
     into what do we turn? We have come to an intersection with no 
     signs, our pasts beeping loudly at us, and a foggy road 
     ahead. Some of us are struggling wildly to go into reverse, 
     which in life is utterly impossible. We are hesitantly facing 
     our future, an unnerving task for we know not what the future 
     holds. But take comfort; the beauty of the future lies not in 
     its planning, but in its spontaneous creation.
       Do not look feverishly ahead, as if you were trying to turn 
     to the last page of a book, for each one of us has the same 
     ending, the same last sentence. And actually our beginnings 
     are quite similar. Today we find ourselves all at the same 
     point, in the same place, even wearing the same thing.
       So if our endings are the same, and our beginnings similar, 
     it must be somewhere in the middle where we form ourselves. 
     It must be this time where we define who we truly are, and 
     what we are going to accomplish. This is no easy task. It is 
     also a task that we must perform alone. As we work to 
     complete this goal, we must always be conscious of three 
     things; the responsibilities we hold to each other, to the 
     world and to ourselves.
       First; our responsibility to each other--
       To live solely for oneself is not truly living. We must 
     each make a commitment to do for others. We have lead a 
     somewhat sheltered life up to this point. The world is very 
     different from our small towns. Our differences are minute 
     compared to the diversity we will soon encounter. While our 
     small community gives us the opportunity to form close bonds, 
     it also secludes us from the world. There are many different 
     ways of living, feeling and thinking, no one better than 
     another. Be proud of who you are, where you come from, and 
     what you believe, but grant others that same pride. Also 
     remember that equality is not a reality. There are 
     millions of people who suffer daily, millions who need our 
     help. Go through life with an open mind and outstretched 
     arms. Learn how to tolerate and how to heal.
       Next, our responsibility towards the world;
       Today when we are handed our diplomas, we are also being 
     handed the responsibility of the world. The burden and the 
     glory of future events lie upon us. It is up to us to lead 
     civilization forward. It is up to us to raise loving human 
     beings. It is up to us to improve the lives of others on this 
     earth. It is up to us to create our own individual happiness. 
     It is up to us to encourage peace. It is up to us to prevent 
     the students from Colorado from becoming the most infamous 
     members of the class of 99. We can do better by doing good.
       Each generation has had their own problems to solve and 
     overcome. We are charged with carrying the world into the 
     next millennium. Perhaps the coming millennium has given 
     everyone an apocalyptic spirit, for many people do not 
     believe that we are a capable or qualified generation. We are 
     inundated with stories everyday covering the ``troubled youth 
     of America'', a generation that is portrayed to be aimless 
     and unproductive.


                            Prove them wrong

       Every single one of us sitting here today has the ability 
     to improve the world. Your diploma is your ticket, and your 
     personal integrity your tool. Use them wisely and for 
     benevolent purposes.
       Face the challenge, accept it and exceed it.
       Finally, regarding ourselves;
       Although many people have aided us on our journeys, it is 
     due to our self-determination that we are here today. It was 
     of our own volition that we woke ourselves up each morning, 
     excruciatingly early, to go to school. It was our personal 
     fortitude that kept us up late at night to finish our English 
     paper or to comfort our crying friend, both equally important 
     duties. It was our own kindness that earned us the 
     friendships that we made, and our own faults for letting go 
     of the friendships we lost. It was our own courage that moved 
     us to try out for the team, audition for a part, and to say 
     those three words; I love you.
       While many of our high school days seemed focused on mere 
     survival, our goal for the future is now much higher; 
     success. Potential means nothing in the real world. History 
     books are not filled with people who had potential. Only the 
     driven and determined people are remembered, only those who 
     never compromised themselves, and those who stood up to 
     opposition have changed the world.
       Please be careful to not equate success to a paycheck. 
     Success is not professional advancement, or the price of your 
     car. Success is going to bed content and waking up happy. 
     Success is living with your soul mate. Success is looking 
     into the eyes of your child. Success is accepting yourself 
     unconditionally. Success is having an ambition to become 
     something great.
       In closing, I would like to extend my congratulations to 
     each member of the class of 1999, and wish you luck as you 
     work to achieve success, and define yourselves.
       May we all sleep contently. Sweet Dreams.





                          ____________________