{"id":5089,"date":"2025-05-15T11:45:18","date_gmt":"2025-05-15T16:45:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adc.d211.info\/forms\/?page_id=5089"},"modified":"2026-05-15T07:32:20","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T12:32:20","slug":"hoffman-estates-commencement-speeches","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/adc.d211.info\/forms\/hoffman-estates-commencement-speeches\/","title":{"rendered":"Hoffman Estates Commencement Speeches"},"content":{"rendered":"

Welcome to Hoffman Estates High School’s graduation ceremony! Below, we’ve provided copies of the graduation speeches. If you need to change the language on this page, click the drop down menu in the top right corner of this page to select a language from the list. *Note, some speeches may not be available.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Change<\/p>\n

Congratulations District 211 Graduates<\/h3>\n
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Translation provided by GTranslate<\/em><\/p>\n

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National Anthem<\/strong><\/em>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

WELCOMING REMARKS
\n<\/b>Michael Alther
\n<\/span>\u00a0Principal<\/i><\/p>\n

Again, Welcome to all on this very special occasion where we honor and celebrate the 51st graduating class from Hoffman Estates High School…the Class of 2026. At this time I would like to welcome Township High School District 211 Board of Education Secretary – Michelle Barron and Board of Education President Steven Rosenblum.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A heartfelt thank you to the parents, families, and loved ones joining us tonight. On behalf of your graduate, I want to express deep gratitude for the unconditional love, encouragement, and support you have provided throughout their journey at Hoffman Estates High School. I know tonight brings a mix of pride and wonder\u2026how quickly the years have passed. It feels like just yesterday they were learning to ride a bike, losing their first tooth, heading off to their first day of school with a backpack twice their size, or nervously attending their first high school dance. And now, here we are\u2026recognizing the culmination of four years of academic achievement and personal growth.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In just a few moments, we will recognize each graduate by name as they receive their diploma. In honor of every student\u2019s achievement, the Class of 2026 has asked that we hold our applause and celebrations until the final name is read, allowing each student to be recognized with the dignity and attention they deserve. Thank you in advance for helping us uphold this tradition.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I would also like to extend my sincere appreciation to the faculty, support staff, maintenance team, and administration of Hoffman Estates High School. Together, you have created a learning environment unlike any other\u2026one that not only values academic excellence, but also understands that the journey is just as important as the destination. Over these four years, you have helped lay a strong, supportive foundation for the Class of 2026, focusing on achievement, growth, and positive learning experiences. Tonight, as we gather here as one family, one community, we recognize these collective efforts alongside the incredible accomplishments of our graduates.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Class of 2026 has never just been about getting to this moment\u2026it\u2019s been about how you\u2019ve grown to earn it.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Because four years ago, as freshmen, you were challenged to do something important\u2026as I visited your freshmen foundations class for the first time, you were asked to visualize this very moment. As you closed your eyes those short 4 years ago\u2026I challenged you: to see yourselves crossing this stage and to feel the pride of accomplishing something meaningful.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And now you\u2019re here.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But let\u2019s be clear\u2026you didn\u2019t get here by chance but rather by a series of your choices.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You\u2019re not sitting here because you hoped this day would come.
\nYou\u2019re here because you set a goal\u2026and you did the work required to achieve it.<\/strong><\/p>\n

People often talk about luck playing a role in success.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But I don\u2019t believe luck just happens. I believe you create it through determination, hard work, and the choices you make every single day.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Throughout your high school years and your life so far; you\u2019ve learned something powerful: you always have a choice.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Author James Clear put it this way: \u201cEvery action you take is a vote for the type of person you wish to become.\u201d<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

Think about that.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Every time you showed up.
\nEvery time you pushed through when it wasn\u2019t easy.
\nEvery time you chose to keep going instead of giving up\u2026You were casting a vote for your future. And those votes added up to this moment.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Now, you are graduating into a world that looks very different than it did four years ago. The world is changing faster than any generation before you has experienced. You have access to tools powered by artificial intelligence that can generate answers, write papers, solve problems\u2026instantly. Where the path ahead isn\u2019t always clear, and where adaptability, resilience, and character matter just as much as knowledge.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And back to those AI tools:<\/strong><\/p>\n

They can\u2019t choose for you.
\nThey can\u2019t build your character.
\nThey can\u2019t decide your effort, your integrity, or your work ethic.<\/strong><\/p>\n

That part is still on you and your choice is powerful.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And even in moments over the last four years when it may have felt like your choices were limited\u2026you never let circumstances define you. You adapted. You pushed forward.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And today, you are here not because things were easy\u2026but because you made the choice to keep moving forward.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You found a way. You stayed committed to your goals. And you proved something important: Your future isn\u2019t determined by what happens to you\u2026but by the choices you make.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You are the Hoffman Estates High School Class of 2026.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before I introduce our student speaker, I want to leave you with one final thought: As you move forward, don\u2019t lose sight of something that will always matter\u2026human connection. The tools around you will continue to evolve. The world will continue to change. But your ability to build relationships, to show empathy, and to truly connect with others\u2026that will always set you apart.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Take the time to listen. To understand. To build trust. Invest in those relationships. Because your greatest opportunities, your strongest support systems, and your most meaningful moments in life\u2026will come through the people you choose to connect with.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Class of 2026, tonight you reach a major milestone. You have SOARED<\/i> during your time at Hoffman Estates High School, and you leave this place even better than you found it. We are proud of all you have accomplished and even more excited for all that lies ahead.<\/strong><\/p>\n

On behalf of your HEHS family, I wish you the very best. Remember\u2026no matter where life takes you, you will always have a home at Hoffman Estates High School. Once a Hawk…Always a HAWK!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

REFLECTIONS ON COMMENCEMENT
\nBratindra Reddy Thati
\n<\/i>Class of 2026<\/i><\/p>\n

Good afternoon, everyone,<\/strong><\/p>\n

Before anything else, I just want to say\u2014congratulations to the Class of 2026. We actually made<\/strong>
\nit to graduation. Somehow, even you, Hamza.<\/strong>
\nTo the teachers and faculty, thank you for everything you put into us over these years. To our<\/strong>
\nparents and families, thank you for the support that made this whole journey possible. And to all<\/strong>
\nthe students here\u2014this has been one heck of a journey, and you\u2019re the reason it was<\/strong>
\nmemorable in the first place.<\/strong>
\nIf everyone could give them a round of applause, they really deserve it.<\/strong><\/p>\n

I don\u2019t want to just talk about making it here.<\/strong>
\nI want to talk about what comes after this moment.<\/strong>
\nIt\u2019s that we should keep dreaming big.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And I don\u2019t mean that in a vague, inspirational, \u201cfollow your dreams\u201d kind of way that people say<\/strong>
\nand then forget about a couple of minutes later.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Because right now, we\u2019re at a point where it starts to feel normal to lower expectations. To<\/strong>
\nnarrow things down. To start thinking about what\u2019s realistic instead of what\u2019s possible.<\/strong>
\nAnd I get why. That pressure is everywhere. There\u2019s always someone asking what your plan is,<\/strong>
\nwhat you\u2019re going to do next, what you\u2019re going to become. And without even realizing it, you<\/strong>
\nstart to shrink your answers.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A lot of people say high school is about finding yourself. Although, I spent most of it trying to find<\/strong>
\nmy Ipad charger.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most of the people we look up to\u2014the people who actually do things that matter in the<\/strong>
\nworld\u2014were once exactly where we are right now.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Michael Jordan, Taylor Swift, and Barack Obama didn\u2019t know where they would end up. They<\/strong>
\ndidn\u2019t fully find themselves in high school.<\/strong><\/p>\n

They were just students. Sitting somewhere like this at their high school graduation. Wondering<\/strong>
\nwhat comes next. Trying things. Failing things. Not knowing if what they wanted was even<\/strong>
\npossible.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And I think we forget that part.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We look at people who are successful now and assume they always knew where they were<\/strong>
\ngoing. But almost nobody does. They just kept going anyway.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And that\u2019s the difference.<\/strong><\/p>\n

So, I want you all to see something simple that I brought with me today\u2014a paper airplane.<\/strong><\/p>\n

At first, it doesn\u2019t look like much. Just a piece of paper, folded into a shape. Nothing special.<\/strong>
\nAnd if you think about it, it kind of represents how we often think about ourselves. Simple. Not<\/strong>
\nfully formed and still being shaped.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You could look at that plane and decide it\u2019s too small, too unimportant to matter. So you don\u2019t<\/strong>
\nthrow it very far. Or you don\u2019t throw it at all.<\/strong><\/p>\n

That\u2019s what happens when we start believing we\u2019re not capable of big things. We hold ourselves<\/strong>
\nback before we even give ourselves a chance to move.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But a paper airplane was never meant to stay still.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And more importantly, it was never meant to fly only one perfect way.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The potential of the plane doesn\u2019t come when it’s folded.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It comes from what you do with it.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The same plane can fly short or far depending on how you throw it. The same shape can fail or<\/strong>
\nsucceed depending on the force behind it, the direction, and the intention.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And I think that\u2019s a lot like us.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We\u2019re not going to go through life perfectly. We\u2019re going to get bent, changed, redirected,<\/strong>
\nsometimes in ways we don\u2019t expect. There are going to be moments that feel like they take<\/strong>
\nsomething away from us.<\/strong><\/p>\n

All of us got here differently. Some of us are graduating with honors. Some of us are graduating<\/strong>
\nwith prayers. Somehow some of us made it with both.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But none of that defines where we end up.<\/strong>
\nBecause what actually determines how far we go isn\u2019t whether we stayed perfect the whole<\/strong>
\ntime.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It\u2019s whether we keep choosing to throw ourselves forward anyway.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Because the worst thing we can do isn\u2019t fail.<\/strong>
\nIt\u2019s deciding beforehand that we don\u2019t even belong in the sky.<\/strong><\/p>\n

So maybe the point isn\u2019t to be flawless.<\/strong>
\nMaybe the point is just to keep going.<\/strong><\/p>\n

To keep aiming higher than what feels comfortable. To keep believing that what we are right now<\/strong>
\nis not the limit of what we can become.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Because even a simple paper airplane can still fly farther than you expect\u2014if it\u2019s thrown with the<\/strong>
\nintention to do so.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If the plane goes to the floor:<\/strong>
\nSometimes in life we will crash but we can always pick ourselves up and push ourselves to the<\/strong>
\nsky.<\/strong><\/p>\n

If the plane goes far:<\/strong>
\nIf a paper airplane can fly this far then maybe we can too.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

FACULTY COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS
\nNaz Ahmed
\n<\/b>English Department<\/i><\/p>\n

Principal Alther, Board Member _____, faculty, families, friends, and most importantly – the Class of<\/strong>
\n2026… welcome!<\/strong><\/p>\n

I want to start with a word you traditionally wouldn’t discuss at a graduation. A word that<\/strong>
\ntightens the chest, flushes the face, and sends us quietly retreating to safety before we’ve even<\/strong>
\nbegun. And I’ll be honest with you… this is your main character moment, so you might as well hear it.<\/strong><\/p>\n

That word is: FAILURE.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As an English teacher, I’ve spent years in classrooms full of books and stories, and I can tell<\/strong>
\nyou… literature is absolutely littered with failure. Atticus Finch walked into a courtroom and lost.<\/strong>
\nRomeo and Juliet reached for love in a world determined to deny it. Boxer poured every ounce of<\/strong>
\nhimself into the farm and was still carted away. Caesar trusted the wrong room. Gatsby stretched his<\/strong>
\narms toward that green light across the water and never reached it. And, Hamlet knew exactly what<\/strong>
\nneeded to be done and couldn’t make himself do it. We keep returning to these stories not because of<\/strong>
\nwhat the characters lost, but because of what they discovered when they dared to want something –<\/strong>
\nand what they chose to do next. That’s not a tragedy. That’s the blueprint.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In all my years of teaching, this is one of the conversations I\u2019ve had with students most often:<\/strong>
\nwhat if I try, and it’s not right?. And here’s what I’ve come to believe, standing at the front of a<\/strong>
\nclassroom for years, watching young people wrestle with ideas bigger than themselves: failure is not<\/strong>
\nthe opposite of success. It is the evidence of it. It means you aimed at something real. It means you<\/strong>
\nwere in the room. But let\u2019s be honest about what failure actually is, because I think we\u2019ve been using<\/strong>the wrong word. Underneath so much of what we call failure is fear: fear of not being enough, fear of<\/strong>
\ndisappointing the people we love, fear of a future that will not hold still long enough to plan it. Fear of<\/strong>
\nfailure has a way of shrinking us before we even begin: applications go unsubmitted, ideas go<\/strong>
\nunshared, dreams go unspoken. We call it failure because fear is harder to say out loud.<\/strong><\/p>\n

But here is the truth I hope you carry with you today: failure is not an end. Sometimes it is the<\/strong>
\nvery thing that clears the fog and shows you what comes next.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And Class of 2026, I know you understand that. Some of you came to school while working<\/strong>
\njobs, helping raise families, and carrying things the rest of us could not see. Some of you found your<\/strong>
\nvoice in classrooms where you had never felt heard before. Some of you changed your mind, changed<\/strong>
\nyour plans, and changed your entire vision of who you thought you were becoming. No single path is<\/strong>
\nrepresented here, and that is not a problem to be solved; it is a strength to be celebrated.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You are graduating into a world that will hand you both: failure and fear. There will be auditions<\/strong>
\nthat don’t go your way, applications that come back with a quiet no, plans that dissolve in your hands.<\/strong>
\nAnd every single time, you will have a choice: let the fear tell you what it means, or choose to look<\/strong>
\ncloser.<\/strong><\/p>\n

When that moment comes, and it will, I hope you don’t run or give up. Feel it, name it, and use<\/strong>
\nit. What sets people apart is not that they avoid failure; it is that they refuse to let it become final.<\/strong>
\nThey recalibrate, try again, and sometimes move in directions entirely different from what they<\/strong>
\noriginally planned<\/strong><\/p>\n

And I say that with every ounce of love I have for each of you, because I have watched so many<\/strong>
\nof you aim high inside Hoffman’s walls. I’ve watched you struggle with hard things, get it wrong, and<\/strong>
\ncome back anyway. And I\u2019ve watched you surprise yourselves – with the grade you earned, the role you<\/strong>
\nlanded, the speech you delivered, the apology you made, the confidence you built, the future you<\/strong>
\nfinally started to believe in. That, more than anything, is the whole point.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Be willing to take the leap, and equally willing to change your mind if you need to. And when<\/strong>
\nthings don’t work the first time, and sometimes they won’t, do it for the plot. Sit with the experience<\/strong>
\nlong enough to hear what it’s trying to teach you. Because more often than not, what feels like an<\/strong>
\nending is really the beginning of something you haven’t been able to see yet. Thank you for teaching<\/strong>
\nus as much as I hope we’ve taught you. We are so proud of who you are, and cannot wait to see who<\/strong>
\nyou become.<\/strong><\/p>\n

So here is your send-off – not a warning, not a checklist, but a dare. I dare you to want things<\/strong>
\nbadly enough to risk not getting them. The world out there does not need more people playing it safe.<\/strong>
\nIt needs exactly who you are… restless, curious, hungry, and audacious enough to begin.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Congratulations, Class of 2026!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

Dr. Judith Campbell
\n<\/span>Superintendent<\/i><\/p>\n

Greetings Hoffman Estates High School Class of 2026.While I am not able to be<\/strong>
\nwith you in person, please know that each of you is being carried in my heart as<\/strong>
\nwe celebrate this incredible milestone together.<\/strong><\/p>\n

As I reflect on my first year serving as D211\u2019s superintendent, I can honestly say<\/strong>
\nit has been both an honor and a privilege to witness the incredible talent,<\/strong>
\ndetermination, and spirit represented by you, the Hoffman Estates High School<\/strong>
\ngraduating Class of 2026, proud home of the Hawks.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This year\u2019s theme, \u201cUnited in Purpose, Powered by Passion,\u201d is more than just a<\/strong>
\nphrase. It is something I have watched each of you model throughout the school<\/strong>
\nyear. Whether in the classroom, on the stage, on the field, in competitions,<\/strong>
\nperformances, service projects, or daily interactions with one another, you have<\/strong>
\ndemonstrated what it means to move forward together with commitment, pride,<\/strong>
\nand heart.<\/strong><\/p>\n

You have distinguished yourselves in so many ways. Beyond the awards,<\/strong>
\nperformances, competitions, and accomplishments, what stands out most is the<\/strong>
\nway each of you has contributed to the spirit and culture of this school<\/strong>
\ncommunity. Your collective impact reaches far beyond any single title or<\/strong>
\nachievement.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let me also give a special shout-out to the Hoffman Superintendent Advisory<\/strong>
\nCommittee. Thank you for being a voice for your class and for helping strengthen<\/strong>
\nthe connection between students, school leadership, and the future of this school<\/strong>
\ncommunity.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your story is not defined by one path or one success, but by the many unique<\/strong>
\nways each of you chose to grow, contribute, and leave your mark. Thank you for<\/strong>
\nshowing up every day, as your journey has brought you to this amazing space in<\/strong>
\nwhich we celebrate you today.<\/strong><\/p>\n

At this time, it is my pleasure to welcome District 211 Board Member, Ms.<\/strong>
\nMichelle Barron, to the podium to accept and provide remarks, as I am one of<\/strong>
\nmany to say, Congratulations Class of 2026!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

COMMENCEMENT REFLECTIONS
\n<\/b>Michelle Barron
\nBoard of Education Secretary<\/i><\/p>\n

I want to thank you for the opportunity to speak with you all tonight. Tonight, we celebrate an incredible milestone in your lives.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

It feels a little surreal to stand here tonight as a member of the Board of Education because just a little more than 10 years ago, I was sitting where you are today. I walked these same hallways, sat in these same classrooms, and wondered what my future would look like after graduation. At the time, I never imagined I would one day return to this stage in this role,\u00a0so\u00a0dream big and work hard toward those dreams.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Over the past four years, as you made your way through the halls of Hoffman Estates High School from class to class, you were doing so much more than learning skills, facts, and statistics. You were discovering yourselves.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Some of you discovered passions you never expected. Some of you\u00a0have discovered\u00a0how resilient you are through challenges and setbacks. And some of you may still be figuring out exactly who you want to become, and that is okay. Life is a journey of continual learning and growth.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

From here, each of you will continue along different paths and in many different directions.\u00a0For some, that path will lead to college, while for others it will lead directly into careers, military service, or new opportunities. No matter where life takes you, always remember the foundation you built here at HEHS and never stop learning.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

To the families who have gathered here tonight, thank you for the support, encouragement, and guidance you have given these graduates throughout their journey.\u00a0This accomplishment belongs to you as well.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Students, once again, congratulations. Be proud of all you have\u00a0accomplished\u00a0and excited for all that lies ahead.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

On behalf of the Board of Education, I hereby accept the Hoffman Estates High School Class of 2026.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Welcome to Hoffman Estates High School’s graduation ceremony! Below, we’ve provided copies of the graduation speeches. If you need to change the language on this page, click the drop down menu in the top right corner of this page to select a language from the list. *Note, some speeches may not be available. Congratulations District … Continue reading “Hoffman Estates Commencement Speeches”<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-5089","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/adc.d211.info\/forms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5089","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/adc.d211.info\/forms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/adc.d211.info\/forms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adc.d211.info\/forms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/adc.d211.info\/forms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5089"}],"version-history":[{"count":47,"href":"https:\/\/adc.d211.info\/forms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5089\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7092,"href":"https:\/\/adc.d211.info\/forms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/5089\/revisions\/7092"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/adc.d211.info\/forms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5089"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}