At the beginning of her 2014 school year, Hailey Dickson had a lifetime 4.0 GPA. Everything was looking bright. But then, she was plagued by mysterious illnesses and missed five weeks of that first semester. Incredibly, she forged on and maintained her 4.0 GPA. When that semester ended, so too did Hailey’s days as a high school senior. She fell ill the entire final semester, suffering from vertigo, vomiting, tremors and even a severe stutter. When it became obvious that it would be impossible to pass all of her classes, Hailey went to the school office and personally signed the papers to withdraw from any classes which were unnecessary for graduation. Then, she turned to friends and family to help her read and write—which she was no longer capable of doing herself—so that she could complete the classes she needed for graduation online. Amazingly, she finished on time with a 4.0 GPA and was allowed to graduate with her classmates. The last few weeks, Hailey’s health improved greatly, allowing her to present this inspirational Valedictorian speech at her graduation ceremony. At its conclusion, the faculty and graduating class rewarded her with a standing ovation. My hat is off to you, Hailey. Your strength and perseverance in the face of adversity, and your indomitable optimism will not soon be forgotten. Congratulations on your graduation, and best of luck as a Flinn Scholar and U of A Wildcat in the Fall! All my love, Dad youtu.be/OPh3_-cJtvo
Posted on: Thu, 29 May 2014 06:35:19 +0000
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