On Friday my closest family members gathered at mum’s house (same house I great up in) to join me at my old high school in Cambridge to speak to the graduating class. I was indicated to the Hall of Fame, joining the ranks of some of Preston High School‘s most esteemed graduates. So cool!  Two of my old classmates Scott Thorman (Atlanta Braves) and Nathan Brannen (3x Olympian) are also in the HOF and were in the same graduating class.

It was so weird/cool bring back there. I think the last time I walked those halls it was my very own commencement. My sister reminded me that the kids graduating in 2018 were born the year I graduated. Omg wtf, where did the time go! 

I remember being in high school and a teacher asking what I want to be when I grow up, I said “Casie Stewart” and they said ‘that’s not a job‘. Well, well there teacher dear, I am here to prove you wrong!

I spoke for about 5 minutes and then we went home and had Chinese food takeout. It was perfect. Lots of laughs. I was so grateful to have my parents, sister, fairy godmother, and the rest of the gang there. 

3 Things for the Graduating Class

Don’t worry about what you want to be when you grow up. 

• You’re probably going to work in a job that doesn’t exist yet with technology that’s not invented yet. 
• Don’t stress. 

Find what you love and GO FOR IT. 

• You have so many tools and talents at your fingertips, you can do anything. 
• Don’t wait, start today, do something every single day that brings you closer to your goal. 
• When I started my blog I would stay home and work on it every day, my friends made fun of me. I didn’t listen to them, I saw a new thing emerging and I needed to be part of it. 

Life is about building relationships.

• This is the most valuable piece of information I learned from a friend when I was about to graduate university in Australia.
• The person beside you, behind you, your teacher, you never know when you might cross paths with them again so be kind and help people where you can. 

My photo will be up in the hallway near the gym for the rest of time. Thank you PHS Faculty for picking me as the 2018 inductee. It’s an honour! 

In November I’ll be back in the Tri-City area to receive an Alumni Award from Conestoga College and address the graduating class.  In my wildest dreams, I never thought I would be experiencing this. 

Goes to show, don’t listen to people who doubt you, follow your dreams, work hard, and you truly can do anything.