Letter to the (Opinion) Editor: Commending our commencement speaker

Let me preface this by saying that even though this is written by me, this is from The Rider News staff as a whole.
The student commencement speaker has been announced — and her name is Kristy Grinere.
This is something you and I have been talking about for a few weeks, Kristy, with just this past week being the time when you were selected as a finalist for commencement speaker and had to present your speech in front of the selection committee. Naturally, I asked you to read it in front of me and you refused.
So instead, you handed it to me and I read it — twice in fact. It was terrific, and it came as no surprise when you texted me a few days ago to tell me that you had been officially selected.
Without giving away too much of your speech, you harp on the theme of scaring yourself every now and then to make sure you’re really living your life to the fullest — and we also know that talking in front of crowds isn’t your favorite thing. Ultimately though, you’re scaring yourself and you’re doing something you’re never going to forget, and the message you will be sending out during graduation is one that will inspire everyone in attendance. Don’t be surprised to look out and see some glassy-eyed adults and students as they listen to you.
As you move on from graduation, all we can do is wait and see what is in store for you and the rest of the graduating class. However, with your intelligence, infectious laugh and writing ability, you will go far. No one from the staff of the newspaper will worry if you were able to succeed in your craft because we have already watched you do so in person. Now it is the real world’s turn to see what the newspaper saw.
So on behalf of The Rider News, don’t be nervous, take a deep breath and enjoy your moment. It couldn’t have happened to a better person. We love you and we are all tremendously proud of you.

– David Pavlak, Sports Editor, and the rest of The Rider News staff

Printed in the 4/26/13 edition.