PGISD 2025 Senior Perspective
Know Your Why
A Message from 2025 Pleasant Grove Valedictorian Kaylynn Sharp
Good evening, faculty, family, friends, and the Class of 2025. It’s an honor to stand before you as your valedictorian. As we gather here tonight, I keep coming back to one question the Class of 2025 has had to answer time and time again: Why?
Why is a simple question, but it carries infinite weight. Why can feel overwhelming, especially for a girl with senioritis when there’s an English forum due at 11:59 that says, “Write a response to the text and explain WHY you feel that way.” But beyond the late-night assignments, why has followed us in much bigger decisions. Why are you choosing this career path? For others, College Board asked, why are you interested in this college? Even the proud Razorbacks in my own family asked why I’d ever choose to be a Texas Longhorn. And no, Mom, it’s not just so I can introduce you to Matthew McConaughey—though I do hope we meet him. And Dad, I’ll have you saying “Hook ‘Em” at my next graduation.
Even as high school students, we often asked our classmates why. Why is the Pride in Motion band already practicing in the parking lot at 7 a.m.? Why is cheer practicing for ten hours? Why is the robotics team wearing matching outfits, and why is student council planning another event? Why are the baseball seniors still practicing? My personal favorite: why is theatre rehearsing past my bedtime? And of course, why did we have to get gates during our senior year?
And then… we see the why when our band goes to state for the first time in fourteen years. We see why when our cheerleaders are declared the National Champions. We see why when robotics wins State Skills Champion, when StuCo wins Sweepstakes Student Council, and when baseball wins the Regional Championship. I remember why theatre keeps rehearsing when I put on glass slippers and perform my senior musical for thousands. And yes, we know the gates had purpose and probably weren’t as bad as we said. And there are so many other school wins and personal wins that have happened in the past four years that have reflected someone’s why.
In life, your why is defined as who you are, what you value, what you’re passionate about, and where you want to go. Your why is the reason you started and is intertwined in the dreams that you have. Without a why, what’s the point? How do you find purpose?
We spend much of high school believing that our successes and our failures are our defining characteristics. Great news: your failures do not define you. But I have some harder news: your successes don’t necessarily define you either. Why you do what you do is more important. When you fail, because it is inevitable, your why is what keeps you going. Your why is what makes success so much sweeter.
I am reminded of the words of one of my greatest inspirations. This individual holds a total of 118 Guinness World Records, was named *Time* Magazine’s Person of the Year twice, and happens to be my birthday twin. She also writes some pretty catchy songs. In the hit song “Daylight,” Dr. Taylor Alison Swift writes, “I want to be defined by the things that I love. Not the things I hate. Not the things I'm afraid of. Not the things that haunt me in the middle of the night. I just think that you are what you love.”
When you think of high school, think of Taylor Swift. And then, think of your why. Were you defined by what you love? Are you honestly happy with what is coming next? Does your why extend beyond who you think you have to be?
Before I wrap up, I want to take a moment to thank a few people who have played a major role in shaping my why. Note: When helping edit this speech, Mrs. Harris reminded me to keep the thank-yous short and sweet—and save the long ones for my future Oscar speech. So be sure to put my Oscar win on your calendar for sometime in the near future.
First of all, I owe all of my thanks and gratitude to God. My ultimate “why” has always been defined by God’s two greatest commandments: love God and love people. The opportunity that I have to stand here and all other blessings are from God, and I know that He has guided my path in high school and will continue to guide me in college.
To the entire Pleasant Grove staff, thank you for educating students, but mostly, thank you for prioritizing our ability to be good human beings.
To Curtain Call Productions, Mrs. Newton, and Mrs. Beck, thank you for being the biggest reason I couldn’t wait to go to school each day.
To Owen and Trae, thank you for always keeping me humble.
To Abs, Rho, and Kaylee, thank you for being the best friends a girl could ask for.
To the Bass fam, thank you for being my honorary second family, and Tate, thank you for your constant encouragement and daily phone calls.
To my entire family, thank you for always, wholeheartedly believing in my dreams.
Dad and Mom, your sacrifice has made this possible.
Dad, thank you for being the ultimate theatre dad and for being my study buddy. So long, DC Bio.
And Mom, you are my biggest role model. Just by being yourself, you’ve taught me exactly who I want to be. You are the Lorelai to my Rory.
Graduates, I encourage you to also thank the people who have made your “why” possible. Look back on your high school memories with gratitude and reflect on your answer to why you have been who you have been. And then, look forward with a new “why” in mind.
And now, to conclude my speech like I began… by quoting Taylor Swift. Hey high school, “we are NEVER getting back together… like ever.”
