My boy is a bundle of contradictions. He's the kid brimming with outbursts, jumping to his feet whenever a thought or idea tickles his fancy. But he's also the kid sitting alone in the corner listening to his iPod, lost in a haze of music. He'll seem disinterested in the topics discussed in Literature class, but later on he'll surprise me with his in-depth knowledge of Dante's Inferno, which he said he read on a whim during a particularly boring plane ride. He is equal parts sweet and sulky, animated and aloof, wary and trusting.
He struggled through most of the year. He lost most of these struggles – getting banned from prom for alleged inebriation, missing the RTV, the biggest school event of 2008, and committing this offense and that, which led to an end of school year suspension that made him ineligible to march. There is a sense of guilt at not having been able to do more for Ernest, and not being able to fight for him tooth and nail, a some other homeroom teachers would (Thea Sordan).
If there was any student in my homeroom class that has a lot to be pissed about, it would be him. Yet on the last day of classes, he stood up, asked permission to read a speech – a speech he had typed the night before. This was new to me, for he did not even make the same kind of effort for actual graded speeches in class.
Most of it might be lip service, especially the hyperbolic compliments, but there is a sentence or two that radiates truth.
Delivered with shaking hands and a voice that wavered from time to time, here is Ernest's speech, verbatim.
"First of all, I don't know why I decided to make this. I guess it's just tradition for me to make a farewell speech before every school year ends, for me to reminisce, realize, and to just say what I want in front of my class. To be frank, I'm really glad that I'm leaving Reedley, the only sad part about leaving Reedley is breaking out of this cycle, seeing the same faces, hearing the same voices, sitting in the same chairs, and studying in the same classroom.
I'm just sad right now because I am also leaving some of my friends like Boga and Enzo. I really regret leaving Xavier, it was where I grew up, where all my friends are. I only had a few friends before I got into Reedley, Rafa, JM, Matas and Enzo. It was hard for me to adjust to this new environment, I felt lost alone and mad at the world most of the time. Then days grew longer and I met and gained new friends, some came back home from the States, and I met one of my best friends. These friends meade my stay here in Reedley easier for me, especially Ms. Lady May Martinez, the prettiest, kindest and just simply the best class adviser in the world.
Days grew into weeks, weeks grew into months. Time just flew in a blink of an eye here in Reedley, everything just happened so fast. Instead of learning academics here, I mostly learned life-lessons, lessons you wouldn't be able to learn in any other school. I realized a lot of things about myself and my friends.
Yes, I regret leaving Xavier, but I can't do anything about it anymore. God has a plan for all of us and His plans for me is to study in this school, and now I realize going here wasn't so bad after all. I was able to meet new people, learn a new language and most of all, build everlasting friendships. I just want to say thank you to you Oxford, you made my senior year a good one. I'm glad this year is finally over and done.
Now we can all go back home bringing with us stories and memories of things you once did. To our classmates Sean Oh and Eric, To the Notorious Boys of Oxford! To our broken walls! To our lovely adviser Ms. Martinez! And most of all to Oxford! Thanks guys! That sure was one crazy roller coaster ride which I will gladly ride again. I'd like to end my speech with a quote my mentor told us last year before he left for the States. “Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened!” Smile guys"
