������Ƶ

I’m honored to speak to you this evening. As we gather here tonight to celebrate twelve (for some of us, thirteen) years of hard work, I think we would do well to be mindful of the past, but also to keep an eye on the future. But before I discuss some possibilities and ideas for the years to come, I’d like to share a personal anecdote from one of my first experiences with our class.

I transferred to Kaiser last August. When I first came to the school, I had no idea what to expect. I had no idea that I would be welcomed into the Kaiser community by an incredibly diverse group of peers that share one trait in common — kindness. As I think back on my experiences with this class, I have to say that I’ve been extremely fortunate to know a group of such exceptional individuals. Indeed, my experiences with the Kaiser Class of 2011 have made me wonder, “What if other people around the world were all as accepting, as kind, and as thoughtful as the students at Kaiser?”

There is a lot that the rest of the world can learn from us, the Class of 2011. During our time here, we’ve shown discipline, honesty, and humility. As a class, we’ve also shown kindness to everyone, even to those who may be radically different than ourselves. But above all, we’ve been risk-takers, and I mean this in the best possible way. For only by taking risks can we create meaningful change in society.

Our generation is faced with some of the most complex problems that mankind has ever faced. Environmental degradation, energy crises, international security, unemployment, and poverty are just a few of these. The solutions to these problems will require a team effort from a variety of professionals. We can and should be the policymakers, the entrepreneurs, the researchers, the intellectuals who solve these problems. Because if we don’t, who will?

As we look towards the future, there are a few ideas that we should always try to remember. Remember that we should never take this country for granted. The United States is unique in the world in terms of the opportunities it offers its citizens. We need to take advantage of these opportunities and find a way to contribute to the public good in some capacity.

Remember to always strive to raise the bar in whatever you do. Everything we do is preparing for something, and we can ensure that we’re as well-prepared as possible. By challenging ourselves and by promoting excellence, we can inspire others and help move our community, our country, and our world in the right direction.

Remember to stay involved in the community here in Hawaii. I know that some of us are planning on attending schools on the mainland. However, I would encourage everyone in this class to return to Hawaii and use our skills and knowledge to effect positive change here. It is, I believe, our responsibility to give back to the community that helped us get to where we are today.

Finally, remember to say “please” and “thank you,” and remember to treat others with kindness. Because a little bit of kindness goes a long way.

It’s been a pleasure knowing all of you, Class of 2011. Let’s make our parents, teachers, and community proud by leading lives of purpose, integrity, and responsibility. With this goal in mind, we can truly be the most inspirational class in Kaiser’s history. Thank you.

About the author: Kevin Hirata is the valedictorian for Kaiser High School.