RHS Valedictorian, Salutatorian, Deliver Passionate Grad Speeches

VERNON, CT — The top two students in the Rockville High School Class of 2022 delivered passionate speeches at Thursday's commencement ceremonies.

Here are the transcripts:

Valedictorian: My Kim Lai Huyen

"I am honored to be here, delivering this speech as valedictorian. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to speak.

"The Vietnamese respect their elders as a sign of appreciation. My ancestors lived in a country unstabilized by centuries of colonialism and war, yet they still managed to provide for their families, trying their best to prevent their children’s suffering. Our elders have high expectations with no ill intent. They want to see their children and grandchildren succeed and not have to repeat the traumatic events they endured. While in Vietnam, my grandfather was consistently harassed by the police after the Vietnam war. He was in reeducation camps for years and was forced to do hard labor. When he was released, he was still under scrutiny. My grandfather realized that this was not the life he wanted for his future generations to be born into, so he made the decision for our family to immigrate to the United States. He had managed to find a sponsor: St. Bernard Church here in Vernon. He left his familiar life in Vietnam for a new one in the United States. My grandpa’s decision completely shaped my life and my future.

"I do not remember exactly what I expected from my first year in school as a kindergartener. I was probably excited to make friends and to learn English as an ESL student. Maybe I looked forward to playing on the playscape that I saw while my bus drove into the school. Even though I came to class unprepared, I was definitely excited. However, being born into a Vietnamese immigrant household, and being raised by Vietnamese immigrants has taught me many things. But most importantly, Vietnamese culture values respect for your elders. And it is not just giving up your seat to an old man or helping an old woman cross the road. The opinion of an elderly stranger has more meaning than the opinion of your own father. I knew that the words of my teacher would hold far greater value than any of my limited English would.

"I silently participated in class as best I could and quietly nodded as my teacher spoke to me. Whenever she asked me a question, I could never give her a proper answer due to my limited English. This fear made me hate school and dread going to class everyday. I missed a week of school because I couldn’t overcome my fear that week. My fear was different from the one that I had at home. At home, I didn’t want to come off as disrespecting my elders, but at school, I thought that my mere existence annoyed my teacher. My fear made me quiet and reserved, so instead of socializing, I resorted to observing others.

"Elementary and middle school passed quickly. I went to school, did my work, and kept to myself most of the time. In those years, I found a passion for learning and became confident in my academics, specifically the STEM classes. This confidence built up my courage to participate. Even though I participated, I would not call this using my voice. The listener doesn’t learn anything about me when I answer a math question on the board. But, as I answered more and more of these questions correctly, I realized that I had something worth saying and my teachers and classmates began to see that I was someone to listen to.

"In my sophomore year, I would overhear insensitive comments about social issues. I heard students making fun of serious advocates from history, diminishing the social change they had created. To them, these advocates are just a name, but for me and many Americans, they are our heroes because if it weren’t for them, we would not be graduating today. Due to the comments I overheard, I became invested in social issues. With the rise of protests against police brutality and the oppression of women, I started to feel a passion for dismantling systemic oppression. However, even when I heard similar disparaging comments made, I didn’t yet have the courage to speak up and challenge the speaker.

"Taking American Studies my junior year helped shape my voice. Writing essays in that class gave me an outlet to express my opinions and political beliefs without judgment. I was even praised for my writing ability, something that I was never complimented on. I usually received compliments about my math skills or my quick understanding of scientific concepts, but this was different. I wrote more passionately about injustice in my essays. I still didn’t participate in discussions, but being able to write so openly about my opinions was a step for me.

"In my senior year, I continued to write about social issues and was still quiet in class discussions, but I was content with that. I used my voice in writing and as motivation for the projects that I pursued. I joined the school’s Youth Equity Squad and completed my Senior Demonstration Project on racial disparities in healthcare. I finally found my voice through my work and writing, but I still feared speaking out … until now.

"I know that this is the first time that many of you have heard my voice. Maybe this is the first I’ve ever truly heard it. My younger self could not have imagined that I would be here today, being given permission to share my authentic self to everyone. It feels strange and almost against my nature to have this opportunity, but I am grateful. I have been told that I am quiet, but today, I am breaking this perception of me. Our generation has the opportunity to change the world. This won’t happen by posting memes or wearing t-shirts. This will happen when you raise your voice loud enough.

"As I spent my school days in classes where I was typically one of two students of color, I noticed the lack of awareness in my school community about social issues. Most had a surface-level understanding of these topics and did not acknowledge how they contributed to the flawed system. It was fashionable to post aesthetic infographics about the most recent world tragedy on Instagram stories, but provide no useful information on ways to help or places to donate. My generation is told that we are responsible for our future. And honestly, I am a little worried.

"The first step to improvement is to allow others to use their voice. There are people who don’t feel listened to and if you give them the chance to voice their thoughts uninterrupted and listen to them, they’ll appreciate it and would feel inclined to listen to you too. As someone who struggles to find a voice, it’s difficult to share my opinion if you’re not open to it. Educate yourself on all sides of the issues even if you don’t agree. You can’t engage in meaningful discourse and create an impact if you don’t know the full story. You can’t base your opinion about a political issue from a single misleading news headline. Once we leave Vernon and start our own lives, we can begin to learn who we are. This is your chance to find what you care about and what you’d like to change.

"To the people of color in my class and in the audience, I hope you have found your authentic voice, not letting preconceived notions affect you. Your voice does not have to be dedicated towards injustice; it can be used for anything. Even though I chose to use and will continue to use my voice for fighting for equality, you do not have to. Just existing is an act of activism alone. If you haven’t found yourself yet, you will get there.

"This summer my family will return to Vietnam to visit my elders. They are all very proud of my accomplishments. The highest form of education they completed was high school, so seeing that I am pursuing a medical degree makes them ecstatic. My parents and grandmother will struggle to understand the English in this speech, but I know that they are proud of me for using my voice. Me being here today shows my grandparents that everything that they did paid off. I would not be where I am today if it weren’t for the sacrifices they made. Cảm ơn ba, mẹ, bà nội, và ông nói.

"Our elders have been selfless throughout their lives to create a better future for their families. Now that we are adults, it is our turn to continue their legacy. We respect elders by making the future a better place for their descendants. If that means speaking out about an issue, then that is what I will continue to do."

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Salutatorian: Kaylin Elizabeth Maher

"When I was little, a plump, rosy-cheeked elementary school student, I despised the color pink. Even at such a young age, I hated that gender was attached to the color. After WWII, Rosie the Riveter traded her factory blues for June Cleaver’s pink apron, and suddenly femininity came wrapped in pink. Products ranging from shampoo to dolls to fashion were all pink. Social justice and “Me Too” were not necessarily a part of my elementary school vocabulary, so rather than recognizing women’s distinct challenges, I attributed my frustration to this color. I knew that many of us girls had a natural desire to learn and grow, just the same as boys. Young female students are inquisitive, smart, and opinionated and many of us are tired of hearing that our pursuits are unconventional and unlady-like.

"As I got older, I developed a passion for science and social justice. I delved into a wide range of subjects, including medicine. The more I read, the more I explored and broadened my horizons. I grew up with a single father, who endowed many of these feminist ideals for me and challenged the notion that women are strictly “nurterers.” I learned about female scientists and their extraordinary discoveries, which became a catalyst for my own self-reflection. I was in awe of the young female scientists on social media who weren’t afraid to wear pink lab coats in male-dominanted spaces. I now realize that I once equated this color to an image of weakness and incapability that was often tagged to my gender. I soon revised my view of femininity as delicate and fragile and created an empowering narrative in which being feminine was strong, inspiring and uplifting. Now, I perceive pink as a beautiful and powerful color. It is the color of peonies, the sunset, and rubies. Pink, in all of its glory, is one-of-a-kind for all that it signifies.

"Society’s natural tendency is to confine individuals to stereotypes. Although the media’s social scaffolding tends to orient youth towards specific styles and behaviors, that does not necessarily mean we have to abide by those standards. For example, while the color blue typically has masculine connotations, it is also the color of the deepest oceans, the hottest flames, and the celestial sky. Blue represents so much more than masculinity, it is a symbol of confidence and introspection, providing a sense of peace and hope. Similarly, we often see ourselves through the lens of broken stereotypes and limit ourselves to fragments of our true identity. In doing so, we are missing the keystone of what it means to be individualistic. Our words, fascinations, and ideals undeniably describe who we are.

"Thinking back, imagine the shades of our childhood, the tones of our adolescence, and the hues we miss most. We see the indigo sky, the wet green grass, and the orange glow of the sun. We see the soft, yellow radiance of our bedside lamp as our parents read us children’s stories, our classmates' red cheeks as they stumble into class tracking in summer dust and sweat, and orange pencils gliding across each page of our journals. Our memories come suffused in an array of colors, none of which are attached to any predisposition that we may associate ourselves with. Now, we can reclaim these colors and embody each of their best characteristics. Wear a pink lab coat to your science class if you so choose! Don’t be afraid to embolden yourself and take up space.

"Today, I am encouraging you to embrace and express yourself unapologetically. Rewrite your own narrative into something beautiful, something powerful, something that belongs to you. Whether you are as warm, fiery, and passionate as red, or as tranquil, sincere, and resilient as blue, leave here a better version of yourself. Know that being strong and smart is just as feminine as wearing pink. You can still be bold and courageous if you wear bubblegum pink dresses laced with glitter and faux gems or if you wear all black. No matter where your future may take you, remember that it is powerful to be independent and unique in a society that expects us all to fulfill the same role."