I am here to tell you that you are so lucky to be in this auditorium today. If you are here today, it means that you are part of a community that is dedicated to your success. I stand here today as a personal testimony to the dedication and commitment the teachers and faculty have to their students. I graduated from Glenbrook South in 2008, and am now a senior at Elmhurst College. When I was a student here, I bonded with the staff. Although countless people and experiences helped me grow as an individual here, there are three specific moments that shaped me into a successful college student.
The first moment was when I realized Miss Susan Flickinger along with our outstanding special education department really thought I could attend college. With my circumstances, the thought of college was very abstract, never impossible, but very abstract. I didn’t know how it was going to look like. Miss Flickinger, Mrs. Kelly Lowery and Miss Julie Manning started talking about me going to college as if it was inevitable. Together, they shifted the gears in my brain to thinking “maybe I will go to college”, to “I will definitely go to college”, it’s just a matter of how. Just to give you an insight of how far that idea has taken me, I am on the Dean's list, in two academic honor societies, and am having the time of my life. Glenbrook South teachers are brilliant. Don’t just go to class, learn from them.
The second moment was when I made the speech team. Now, let’s be real when you think of a student on the speech team, you do not picture a student in a wheelchair using a computer to talk. Mr. Scott McDermott and Mr. Mark Maranto somehow saw a speaker. I am eternally grateful for their insight. I won at several tournaments and now my major is communication studies. I want to become a motivational speaker with my degree. I am here to tell you that this would not be a reality if Mr. McDermott and Mr. Maranto had not believed in me. They had to go out of their way to have a student like me on the speech team. Let your coaches be your inspiration to be better people. Mr. McDermott always said, “be brilliant”, I use that phrase every day now and it’s been four years since I was on the team.
The third moment was when Mr. Wegley personally e-mailed me and said I want your feedback on how we can integrate students in special education with the students who are in regular education. That e-mail said a whole lot more to me as a student. It said I value your opinion, I value what talents you possess, and I value you as a person. We had one meeting; it turned into two which turned into regular meetings. That relationship which was not necessary at all turned into a relationship with Dr. Shellard. My relationship with Dr. Shellard would be best summed up by him stalking me in the hallways asking me to do the Variety Show. Good times and very late nights! These two incredible men showed me how to be a good and effective leader, That is an invaluable lesson.
Reflecting on my time here, I stand in incredible gratitude for what GBS did for me. They are genuinely here for the students. Take advantage of that. Take advantage of a community who wakes up every morning just to serve you. Glenbrook South, thank you for the past, the present, and future.
I was incredibly humbled by this experience. The local newspaper wrote an article about this event and they were all too kind to me! You can see it by clicking on this link: http://glenview.suntimes.com/7904761-417/gbs-alumni-return-friday-for-50th-year-event.html. I finally understood the benefits and privileges of being an alumnae. I want to keep being considered a "distinguished alumnae" of my high school. To me, that means making choices that coincide with the values of Glenbrook South.I have had a busy yet wonderful month. My speech for the American Pediatrics Association said Glenbrook South were definitely amazing highlights and I am deeply thankful for the opportunities.
Your Glenbrook South Alumnae,
Hannah!
