Mrs. Schramp's graduation advice: Seek things out
Excerpts from middle school Social Studies teacher, Mrs. Schramp's, speech to the SBCS Class of 2024:
"Seek out opportunities for personal growth: read a book or find a hobby that you are passionate about, challenge yourself by taking classes that you think might be a little too hard or learn a skill that you can use in the future, or try a new sport. I told you guys about how, after getting cut by the volleyball team in high school I decided to try out tennis. And as I’ve told you, tennis gave me a purpose at that point in my life; I was on the courts nearly every day, in-season and off-season, working on skills that I needed to get better. I learned so much about myself as a result of seeking out a different opportunity. I hope that you can find something that you could throw yourself into to learn about the benefits of perseverance and passion."
"Seek out other people. Put down your phones and have conversations with people sitting in front of you, make friends with people you probably wouldn’t imagine befriending, reach out to others and show them how much you care about them. You know, I just read this weekend about how Taylor Swift celebrated her 87th concert for her Eras tour by wearing a red and yellow Chiefs outfit, singing a song inspired by Travis Kelce and blowing him a kiss while he beamed from the audience. All because he sought her out by making her a friendship bracelet. Recently, I’ve been reflecting about how I became friends with my best friends, and all of those relationships involved me seeking out those people, intentionally deciding to get to know them and spending time with them, one-on-one; you need to show other people that you want to know them and that you are there for them. And I hope that these people push you to be better, encourage you to make good decisions, and appreciate you for who you are."
"Whatever you do, when you seek out these things, it may not be easy at the get-go; you may need to put in some effort but don’t be afraid to fail or get embarrassed or not get immediate results. Sure, moving past these roadblocks is easier said than done. But the rewards are glorious."
...
"And here we are. Look at you all, you look so awesome, behaving in church, listening intently, And we got here in part because I sought you out and actively worked to, hopefully, gain your respect and trust. And I think that I found your hearts: you are such amazing, talented, caring, fun, and wonderful people. I tell people all the time how much I love your class and each of you individually. Now as your teacher, I hope learned a lot over the years, a lot about the Old Testament and Church history, a lot about beauty through taking photos, a lot about ancient cultures, US government and history, and geography. I hope you leave here and can say, 'I learned SOMETHING from Mrs. Schramp.'"
"But even if you didn’t, the person who has gained the most from all of this is me. I’m a lot more patient, tolerant, and compassionate because of your class. I think I even have more fun teaching in part because of you all. I feel that I am a better teacher and a person because of each and every one of you sitting here. In the end, you found and touched my heart. See, the other thing about seeking things out is that you’re usually looking for some kind of treasure and attaining that treasure transforms you. Just like when you seek out the heart of Jesus, once you find Him, He will change you. So I hope that when you leave here, you will go and seek things out. And I hope that you go through those hard times and learn from them. And I hope that you will find your treasure. And I hope that once you find that treasure, it will transform you… just like you have transformed me."
