Noah Evans Speech

Accept the challenge, go be those heroes.

Noah Evans was one of three students selected to speak on behalf of the Class of 2020 during the virtual Commencement ceremony.

Dr. Ford, Mr. Reinhold, faculty, staff, administrators, family and friends, and most importantly, the Class of 2020. It's strange to be here giving this speech without all of you. 

It is during hard times that good people, brave individuals, true leaders emerge. The world is going to need many new leaders now and after the pandemic. I'm not talking about world leaders who are running countries and making massive executive decisions. The leaders I'm talking about are everyday people who simply help their community to be better. While this pandemic has taken so much from us, it has also given us something: an opportunity. 

The Class of 2020 has the opportunity to lead the next generation out of these hard times. This group will succeed because during our time at Penn Charter, we have learned what it means to be a part of a community and to be a leader. These were not things that were a part of my third-grade curriculum or found in my freshman-year textbooks. I learned to listen through my debates with Mr. Rentschler, my fifth grade teacher, about whether or not Texas A&M was going to beat Alabama. Passionately performing "Party in the U.S.A." on the seventh grade camping trip showed me to be fearless and to allow myself to be vulnerable. Finally, the senior lounge taught me the importance of good friends, laughter and having a strong support system around you. The most important things I learned while at Penn Charter were not limited to a classroom or assignment. It was through the interactions with teachers and my classmates that I learned true, valuable life lessons. This is what separates this school, our school, from others. Whether we are able to see each other soon or not, whether we are working jobs this summer or not, whether we go off to our colleges in the fall or not, we, the Class of 2020, will be ready. Penn Charter has taught us to prepare for anything and to adapt. This school has shown us how powerful a community can be. That is why the Class of 2020 is more than ready to be our next leaders. 

So, Class of 2020, my message to you is to take the lead. Not because we feel we're better than everyone, but because we have a special understanding and knowledge about community, and strength in numbers and how to lead. This school has given us the tools to voice our truth and to make a change. So do it. Right now our world is full of fear. People are scared and do not know what to do next. Use what you have learned to give people hope, to give them strength, and to show them the importance of a strong community. During these hard times, many heroes, such as medical professionals, police officers and grocery store workers, have emerged. Many of those heroes are probably watching right now. What I am asking of the Class of 2020 is to be the next hero. A year from now, five years from now, 10 years from now, we are going to need new, different heroes. We will be the people this world calls on for guidance in efforts to rebuild. Like I said in the beginning, there is an opportunity waiting for all of us. So accept the challenge, go be those heroes and show everyone what a true community is. Thank you, and congratulations to the Class of 2020.

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