Michael Salazar
Valedictorian Address
June 4, 2004

Good evening. This is what you get when you do well in school; this is what they reward you, a five minute speech at your graduation in front of a lot of people. It is a reward none the less. This school year, for many of us has been a journey, a wild coaster ride with many ups and downs. For some, the drops came very early in the year, and for others came later in the year. With those aside I am glad that my journey, my ride has been climbing to the top and steady ever since the beginning.

          My trip to the top was made possible because I had so many wonderful people pushing me harder as I rose. First I would like to thank my family. Mom, Dad, ever since I was a little kid you have always taught me that school comes before play. I have always taken your advice and used it to the best of my advantage. I know that sometimes I would look the other way and sometimes I would disobey you, but hey let’s be realistic, no one is perfect. Even though I have never told you face to face, I really do appreciate what you have done. All your advice and knowledge has helped me become what I am today. You have always trusted me with what I do and what I chose to do. You are always very supportive when it comes to my personal activities whether it be my friends, my sports, or my school events.   As my parents I hear you tell me how much you are proud of me and how much you love me. But as your son, standing here before you tonight, I say to you, I am proud to have parents like you and I love you guys very much. Thank you for everything.

          Next, I would like to thank the faculty here at Quigley. Although some of you have never had me as a student, I’m sure you have heard nothing but good. (Hold for laughs). But seriously all those teachers that have been given the pleasure of teaching me played an important role in helping me through this journey. Those teachers have always been there to help me as well as others. They not only taught me textbook lessons and chapters, but they also taught virtues for life. Now I would like to take some time to thank and maybe embarrass one teacher that I looked up to the most. Mr. Mak. I met you first as a coach. I can remember talking to you for the first time at the orientation of my freshman year. I think you saw my second drive of the day and you told me “Wow, Michael, you are definitely playing on Thursday”. Even though you were a history teacher I never saw you as a teacher until my junior year. That was the year, remember? Cardinal Creek. Sectionals. An 85? Good Times. Mr. Mak, to me, you are not a teacher or a coach by any means. To me you are my friend and a confidant. No matter how many kids you coach, just remember I was the first one to bring us where we needed to be. I am going to miss you Mak.

          To my wrestling coaches. You are not faculty here so you guys get a whole other segment. What can I say about my wrestling career here at Quigley? I was young when I started, and was captain as a sophomore. From there I made a name for myself. Salazar. Salazar was a name that all the other coaches from other schools were familiar with. I was an underdog fighting his way to the top. 4 Years wrestling, 4 different coaches. It is hard to accept a different coach when you loose one. Coach Bill and Coach Cliff, you taught me that determination is the key to any victory. Coach Cliff, I admired you for your intelligence both on and off the mat. But the coach that I grew the most with was Coach Bill. Coach Bill, you taught me that hard work at practice and hard work on the mat would lead to triumph. Just to let you know I did not leave that idea on the mat. I took that mentality with me. I worked hard at all and everything that I do and it took me here. For that I thank you.

          Now to all my fellow soon to be graduates. We are finally here. We are wearing our gowns and you guys are waiting for me to finish. I am very proud to be part of a class that has many different faces. Behind those faces lie many different characters. Just look around. You guys will look at each other and remember the good times we had.  During the first couple years here I know for a fact we drove the teachers nuts. I am not going to lie. We were not all angels. We were loud, obnoxious, and wild. Little has changed.  With any school, the students are split into groups. There are jocks, nerds, outcasts and the like. But deep down inside, when we look at each other, we see no nerd, or outcast, we see what we see. A friend. You guys have all been friends to me. We came together first as strangers, now we leave this place together as friends. Thank You.