It’s not good bye, it’s see you later
To my graduating class of 2014, my teachers, my aides, my administrators, bus drivers
and mostly my friends, who are all of you.
Hi, it’s me Jake!
You remember, I’m the guy you cared enough about to be my friends.
My dad told me what the dictionary said “friend” meant:
“Friend”, it’s a noun; here are a few things the dictionary said:
1. a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard.
2. a person who gives assistance; patron; supporter.
3. a person who is on good terms with another; a person who is not hostile.
I told my dad, “I already knew that!” I live with them every day, that’s all of you guys!
You never told me I was handicapped or couldn’t do something, you didn’t do it for me
you helped me do it myself, you helped me realize my potential and beyond.
You sacrificed your free time to spend time with me.
We walked together, we ate lunch together, and we played and studied together.
We danced like Leprechauns, laughed and enjoyed just being together in the time we
had.
You voted Holly and me your Homecoming King and Queen!
I was never so happy in my life, not for me, but for all of you!
It was so great to see you all happy for doing this special thing, to show how much you
care.
The winners were all of us, not just Holly and me.
We are friends!
The first definition really says what I feel, “attached” to you all, part of this class and you
individually.
My feelings of love and affection are beyond words, and for those of you who really
know me, you know I’m a guy of few words, but I hope my eyes and smile express how
much I truly care for you all, how much I love you all.
So it’s my turn to share some wisdom with you that I’m pretty sure you already know.
Stay the way you are, it’s cool to be you, nonjudgmental, caring, giving, selfless.
The world will try and tell or show you how these qualities are not important or relevant
to your success, but they are.
You see those of you who were closest to me day to day, know you made me better,
those who I didn’t get as much time with, helped support those closest to me by
supporting (or not downplaying) their efforts, very important.
I call you all friends! You made a difference in my life, which will impact me all my life.
You need to continue to make that difference in the lives of those that surround you as
we leave this place to the next.
…..Yes I know they won’t all be “SPECIAL” like me, but do the best you can to keep
doing what you have done and our world will be better, much better because of your
actions.
I believe this because you’re my friends and you have never let me down and my
friends can do anything they put their minds’ to.
In closing, this is not good bye, it’s I’ll see you later.
I’ll see you in the way you impact the world you live in by doing what you do…….caring.
Thank you all for listening my friends, I love you all and wish you all the very best, today
and every day.
Oh yeah the pool’s open, grille’s on and all are welcome!
GO WESTLAKE!
Jacob Cox
Class of 2014