Jesse Sidloski was chosen to be the 2013 Weyburn Comp graduating class's valedictorian.
Sidloski was very active in school life, participating in STARS Show choir and Guys choir; he played the lead role in the musical production of "Urinetown", and was skip of the WCS curling team.
He began his speech by greeting his fellow grads, the school staff and teachers and family and friends in the audience in five languages, plus a casual "what up?"
"As I stand up here in front of the class of 2013, I realize I have many mixed feelings. I am excited. I'm dumbfounded. I'm scared. I'm nervous. How can you tell? Because my hands and kneed are shaking and I'm blinking really fast," he said with a grin.
Sidloski expressed his gratitude at being honoured and privileged to be chosen to give the valedictorian speech. He found out he was to be valedictorian when it was announced over the loudspeaker while he was sitting in the computer lab writing a paper for his physics class.
"I was like 'woo hoo!'," said Sidloski pumping his fist in the air. "But then the realization hit me: I have to write a speech and deliver it to you guys."
Sidloski's speech maintained the tongue-in-cheek humour, but he also thanked many people and mentioned many milestones shared by him and his fellow grads. First he told the grads to take a deep breath, in and out, "we did it!", and celebrate the fact they made it through 13 years of school.
"After years of enduring many years of snotty noses, growth spurts, acne, puberty, dating and surviving the agonizing sounds of school construction, we finally made it to this final high school moment."
He spoke about all the time spent in classes and highlights such as participating in sports, going on school music tours and other special events. "And of course, three years of the annual rainy Sunstock day."
Sidloski said his graduating class was very supportive towards each other and that they had come a long way together. He reminded them of coming to the Comp from junior high and being scared of the large hallways and new people and teachers.
"But look at where we are now. Notice who you're sitting beside!" Sidloski said his classmates were future doctors, lawyers, bankers and maybe even senators.
"Because we all know they've got it good right now," said Sidloski of senators to loud audience laughter.
"Every successful person out there has grown up just like us; Bill Gates, Steven Harper, Mrs. Weimer, Hercules," said Sidloski to more laughter. "They all started out being that kid who soiled his pants in Grade 2, except maybe Mrs. Weimer.
"They all chased their dreams all their lives until they achieved what they wanted. That's why I believe many of you graduates will reach your dreams if you never lose sight of what you're chasing."
Sidloski reminded his fellow grads to always show respect and kindness and that they all had so much to achieve ahead of them, whether it was entering the work force, going onto higher education or starting their own families and raising children, before quoting Dr. Seuss's famous "you have brains in your head. You have Feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose".
To round out his speech, Sidloski thanked many people, including his parents, brothers, sister Andrea and buddy, Frank.
"Without them, I definitely wouldn't be as good-looking, spectacular, amazing, intelligent and ridiculously funny as I am today," said Sidloski with a grin.
Getting in one last joke, Sidloski thanked the sidewalks, "for keeping me off the streets".
Sidloski thanked his teachers and told his parents that he loved them before saying goodbye in every language he greeted the audience with, including a "peace out".
