Allow a proud papa to indulge you for a minute

My oldest daughter graduates from eighth grade this weekend. As her very proud father, I would like to share a speech she wrote for the occasion. I hope readers of this column will indulge me for one week as I stray from the typical veterinary subjects. Even more, I hope you enjoy Emily’s remarks…

My experiences at Epiphany Catholic School will have a lasting effect on my life. I recognize how I have grown not only in my faith, but academically and personally. As a class, we have been influenced by our school in ways that have prepared us for this turning point in our lives. We have all been through a lot together and I speak on behalf of all of them in saying how lucky we are to have experienced the educational journey that is Epiphany.

This school has built a strong foundation in my faith. Religion classes since kindergarten have taught me about our church’s history and its basic beliefs. I know God as my Father, Jesus as my Savior, and the Holy Spirit as my Guide for life. This Truth will help me through the next four years as I leave Epiphany and travel through high school. My Catholic education will also help me throughout the rest of my life because I have a good understanding of what it means to be a Christian. I feel prepared to look for choices to lead me on the narrow path to Heaven. I trust that God will guide my decisions and continue to help me progress in my faith.

The education here at Epiphany Catholic School has been superb, not only in religion, but also in academics. Our teachers have worked their hardest to encompass each of our learning styles in their lesson planning. All of the faculty members have strived to help each student thoroughly understand the academic material. Over the past nine years, my teachers have helped me to discover how I learn best and they have taught me effective study habits to use through the remainder of my education. On my entire journey, I have been encouraged to pursue my dreams and to always do my best. I have learned to set meaningful goals and have worked hard to reach them.

I will carry the experiences I have had here for the rest of my life. I have learned the meaning of true friendship. My classmates have been with me through good times and bad. We are like a family. Although we have rough spots, we all support and care for one another. I have learned the importance of honesty and respect. Responsibility has also been a big part of my experience at Epiphany. We are allowed the freedom to do our own work and make the right choices. Most of the time we make correct decisions, but when we do not, there are fair consequences. My experiences here at Epiphany, along with my classmates, have opened my understanding on how to live a fruitful life.

I would like to thank all those who have helped me in my life here at Epiphany. Thank you, Father Leo, for guiding this school in faith and saying Mass for us every Friday. Thanks to my teachers who have often had sleepless nights in order to plan their lessons. I appreciate all my classmates who have helped me grow as an individual and have accepted me. I want to give special thanks to my family for supporting and encouraging me throughout my whole life, both at school and at home. I feel as if my Epiphany family has guided me through and a very important stage in my life.

Today is a bitter-sweet day. We are all glad to be starting a new chapter in our lives. However, at the same time, we are all sad to leave this place in which we have grown to be the young men and women you see today. We all are looking forward to our new schools and hope to show what a wonderful place Epiphany has been for us. Please keep us in your prayers as we open a new chapter in our lives.

Dr. Watts is a companion animal general practitioner and owner of Clevengers Corner Veterinary Care. He can be reached through ClevengersCorner.com or by calling 428-1000.