Marcus McKeever Graduation Speech
For me to talk about this day, I need to go back to 2014 – one of the toughest years for me. That was the first year in one of the most important transitions in my life. I was to be done with being a child and to start laying down the foundation for the rest of my life.
Through sheer luck, I made it into Baltimore City College, and I thought I would be good from there on. I was extremely, extremely wrong.
Firstly, I had a deep hatred for the place. I showed up two days late and was already out of the “loop” of making friends, and those who I did know from middle school acted as if I was a stranger.
I already had issues at home financially – threats of eviction, little food in the house, many other unforeseeable expenses, and I felt I didn’t need another stressor in my life. I dropped out. For almost a year, my only two good friends were Bud Light and my computer.
Then, after months of being pushed to go back to school, I found TCS, or more so, TCS found me.
Honestly, when I first started at TCS, I was awful. I could barely participate in class because I was so tired. I barely did any of my homework and, now that I think about it, I probably shouldn’t have lasted more than a month, but I was spared.
Mr. Thomas Culotta, a man I resented at the time for making me work so hard, saw something in me I didn’t see in myself, something I couldn’t see in myself, and he pushed me to be better.
Due to Mr. Tom pushing me, believing in me, it took a while, but I changed. Finally, I could believe in myself and my own capabilities, and for the first time in a long time, I could look forward in my life and actually see hope for the future. I could finally see myself as a better person.
With the help of Mr. Tom and Mr. Noah I have finally been able to see myself as a strong, hardworking, self-driven man, and I can’t thank you both enough for helping me achieve this great feat.
Seeing yourself for what you really are, for what you really are worth, is such an important feature of this school, which is why the school must remain here, and that its existence is ensured by those that come after us. My fellow classmates, it is important that throughout the next year you all must stay strong. Your strength, your determination, your drive is what makes this school exist so it can keep improving lives.
There are days that will be good, days that will be bad, days that you don’t want to get out of bed, but you must get up and you must keep fighting, because not only are you improving the future for yourself, but you’re also setting up the next class for success. Always remember that.
Every decision you make within the school impacts not only you and the current staff, but it also impacts every single person that walks through the school’s doors for years to come. Always, Always remember that.
Personally, I like to say that I do things myself, that I did something using me, myself, and I. Today is not one of those days, because I know without the help of many people, I’d be another directionless person.
For that, of course, I’d like to express a deep thank you to both Mr. Thomas Culotta and Mr. Noah Saganski for their dedication to not only me, but also to each and every one of my classmates. The guidance and council from both of you will surely stay with me for until the very last day of my life. You are both two truly amazing individuals and I thank you for the opportunity and great honor to work with you both.
Another great teacher and mentor for me over my time here at TCS would certainly have to be Mr. Don. Mr. Don, I cannot express enough that you and your guidance were instrumental in allowing me to reach my full potential as well. All those talks on Wednesdays and those few times I wrote to you in my writing kept me on track for my whole TCS career. There were some days, if it were not for me talking to you, I would’ve made the grave mistake of leaving. I deeply and truly appreciate and will never forget what you have done for me.
I’d like to express thanks to Ms. Peg, Ms. Carol, Ms. Leah for their constant council, support, and dedication over my years here at TCS.
I’d also like to thank the donors who have supported me and the school over these past years, of course without your financial support, none of us would be standing on this stage.
Finally, I’d like to express my deepest love and gratitude to my mother Jennifer Haynes, and my two mentors Margaret Hart and Tyler Block, because I would not be standing on this stage without your help. You three were the ones that pushed me, believed in me, saw something in me, that I could not see within myself. I am so lucky to have you three in my life. Again, thank you guys so much.
In closing, I’d like to say there have surely been good days, have surely been bad days, and there surely have been days where there was something in between, but I would not trade a second of my time here, because it has built me into the man I am today. A man that I can be proud of.
Thank you all for listening, and thank you all at TCS for the three wonderful years as a student, and for the deep relationships and connections I will have for many years to come.
Marcus McKeever
June 3, 2018