SOAPBOX: Marion senior denies ‘stench of decay’ at her high school

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN ERIN SLATTERY
Editor’s note: We received many requests to publish the speech senior Erin Slattery presented at the Marion High School graduation May 20. With her permission, we are pleased to do so.




I welcome you here today on behalf of the graduating class of 2001. From preschool to Saturday school, our class has been through a lot together.


We entered high school as a scared bunch of freshmen, and since then, we have had first kisses, found first loves, new friends have come, others have moved away, and we’ve forever lost a parent and a classmate-all of this has only drawn us closer together as a class.


Through the support of our families, teachers and community, these experiences have helped us grow to be strong young adults.


It wasn’t until I opened my time capsule from my freshmen year that I realized a few things. First, I was not as cool as I thought I was my freshman year. Second, the reason Mrs. Killough assigned the project was so we would appreciate how much we have grown, matured and changed in four years.


My time capsule also reminded me about how, six short years ago, I was crying because my family was moving to Marion-but how quickly I felt like I was home. When my classmates ask if I remember something from Mary Anne’s preschool, or Mrs. Becker’s first-grade class, I smile-not only because my friends have bad short-term memories, but also because I know that I truly belong to this close-knit group.


Some may say that we, the youth of Marion, are the “stench of decay,” but I find it hard to smell anything rotten when I think of all of our accomplishments: the choir’s first year to get a “I” rating at state in 19 years, the eighth year in a row for the band to get a “I” rating, steady improvement on state assessments, advanced classes such as Physics and Calculus actually full, more Regents’ Curriculum Completers this year than any other, eight pieces of art selected to be shown at the Gary Neustrom Art Show, more than ever before, and out of six special awards given, two were awarded to students from Marion High School.


We are also Cottonwood Valley League champions in forensics, boys’ track, boys’ and girls’ cross country, and for the first time in many years, champs in boys’ basketball. For the first time in a long time, both the baseball and softball teams had winning seasons, and we took more wrestlers to state than ever before. Our class was also the first to have students get first place in state for forensics.


You know what? I think our school smells great.


I would like to thank our community for always being supportive. Year after year, the community graciously donates food, gifts, time and much more-going above and beyond what is asked-to reward our achievements and express support.


After all, how many other towns will shut down Main Street for the afternoon to do bed races or a pep rally?


You’ve been there for us through it all and we thank you.


This is our day to remember what we’ve done, think about who we’ve become, look forward to who we will be, and to thank you for being there every step of the way.




Erin Slattery, daughter of Mike and Terry Slattery, is planning to attend Kansas State University next fall and major in communications.

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