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 2007
Valedictory Address
By Halee M. Marshall
Hi Everyone. Thank you so much for coming and sharing this
great day with me. I look around this room and can’t help but feel loved. It really means a lot to me that you are all
here.
In 1994, when I was five years old, I started
my academic career. It’s kinda weird to think about it that way, but
that is how it goes. For the most part I was your average student. I
was never the smartest kid, nor was I the dumbest. I made A’s, B’s,
and C’s all the way through school. But I was the most quiet, and
most of the time I was the teacher’s pet. My favorite teacher was
Mrs. Wetzel - she was a nice, patient, Godly lady. I would hang out
with her at recess instead of the other kids. I liked her so much
that I invited her to my tenth birthday party ... and she came.
I have to admit when I first started out, I had
a hard time understanding why I had to learn all this stuff, ‘cause
even though I never voiced it, all I ever want to be was a mom. I
thought it was just plain silly and a waste of my time. I’d rather
be painting or cooking up something strange and smelly in the
kitchen. My thinking is different now; I know that there is a reason
behind anything and everything you learn in school.
 When I was in the 1st grade, I had my first
embarrassing moment. I wore a dress to school that day. I started
leaning back my chair just like every adult told you not to. Then my
chair fell over and my dress went flying up over my head revealing
my Little Mermaid underwear to everyone. And all at once, several
girls in the class said, "I wore my Little Mermaid underwear today
too." I was so embarrassed!
When I was about ten years old I started my
love-hate relationship with cooking. I loved creating things, but I
hated reading the instructions. Through many mistakes, tears, and my
mother teaching me and my father harassing me, I finally learned
that there is a reason why they give you instruction and that hate
finally left.
In 7th grade my parents started home-schooling
my brother and me. Now I’m not saying that home-schooling is for
everyone or that it’s better than public school, but for my family
it probably was one of the best decisions we ever made . I know for
sure I would not have such an amazing relationship with my family if
we had not. I will say that there are many benefits to being
home-schooled. I got to travel around with my family and visit all
sorts of places and meet all different types of people. I believe
that is just as important as learning English.
Now I have to tell all of you something, I have
a couple of the best parents in the world, and no one can tell me
differently. They have raised me under God’s laws, and have shown me
what a happy, Godly marriage should look like. They have always
supported anything I wanted to do. They have always been there to
pick me up whenever I would fall. Thank you, Mom and Dad, for always
giving me your all. I love you.
From the time I was born, up until I was five
years old, I was the girliest of girly-girls. One time when I was
four I got frustrated with my mom because she did not understand the
importance of all the shades of pink I was wearing to be the exact
same shade, from the pink in my bow all the way down to the pink in
my shoes. I looked up and told her, "Mom! I have to look immaculate
so I can mesmerize everyone!" My mom is best friend. Not everyone
understands our humor, but that never mattered - we always have fun
anyway. I feel like I could tell her anything without being judged.
I hope and pray that if I have a daughter someday, our relationship
will be something like yours and mine. Mom, you are beautiful to me
in every way. I love you so very much. I look up to you in
everything. You have had such great patience with me and my quirky
little ways. Thank you for everything. I love you.
 I have always said that my dad is my number one
hero. I feel so blessed to have such a great dad. He has set the
perfect example of what I should look for in my husband. Dad, "You
are the apple of my eye, the pepperoni on my pizza, the butter on my
bread, the frosting on my cake!" I want you to know that no matter
what, I will always be your little girl. I love you, dad.
Branin, you are the best brother ever! I know I
may pick on you a lot and give you a hard time, but it's only
because I think you're pretty weird ... I'm cool. I only pick on
those I like. You are so much fun to be around. You are so funny and
talented, but my favorite thing you do is your awesome karate moves
you do going down the hallway when you think no one is looking.
Thank you for being a great brother and friend and my mental
punching bag! I love ya!
 Mom and
Dad told me I could start dating when I
became sixteen, but always told everyone else that I wasn't going to
start dating until I was eighteen. I said that I didn't see the
point of dating that young. If you decide that you wanted to get
married, you couldn't. So several months after I turned sixteen,
there was this boy, that I had known since I was eleven, that
started showing more interest in me, and I felt in my gut that I
should give him a chance. Marshall, I love you so much. I'm glad I
listened to my gut. I love the fact that you love God more than you
love me. You make me so happy. Thank you for being an amazing
boyfriend. I love you.
 August 28th is Marshall's birthday
and the day that I met him, but it's also the day that I met another
very important person, Emma. We were “joined at the hip” the first
day that we met. I will always consider her one of the greatest
friends that I have ever had. We could do some of the most boring
things and still manage to have a ton of fun. Emma, you are the
grooviest chick around. You're funny and beautiful. I'm glad that we
have been friends for so long, you’re like a sister. I love ya!
Now for the rest of everyone, my church family,
my family and my friends, now don't think that because you are one
of the last, that you’re not important to me. You all are the best
support system a girl could ask for. You are some of the sweetest
and nicest people and I feel so blessed to be able to grow up around
you. I'd like to give a special thank you to my Aunt Colleen and
Uncle Carl, my Uncle Rob and Aunt Judy, and my grandparents for
coming so far to be with me today! I love all of you.
When I look back on all that I have been
through, I can't help but see how God was there with me. I have Him
to thank for everything. He has given me a great family, amazing
friends, salvation, and healing. He has done just so much. He has
always had my back, no matter what. I pray that everything I do with
my life will be to glorify Him.
Now that this point of my life is coming to an
end, I have to start making plans for my future. From here I plan on
going on to Le Cordon Bleu Culinary Academy in Austin. Someday I
wish to get married and have children, and maybe someday I will own
my own business. Thank you again for coming.
February 17, 2007
Trifle
- created by Halee
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