When the big day finally came and President Obama surprised us and arrived in our holding room
a few hours before schedule, it was surreal, not only for the chance to hear the President speak
but to have him mere inches away from us in a private setting. It was more than anyone could have
dreamed of. The initial excitement never faded. Later, seeing him on stage joking with our principal,
listening to our valedictorian and salutatorian speak, and finally giving us a speech that showed
that he had read our essays and paid attention to our community was incredible; an experience none
of us graduates or our families will soon forget. The honor went far beyond the President simply
coming to our graduation or even shaking our hands. It was the fact that he made the experience
wholly about us, using no political campaigns or agendas, that made it a truly special ceremony.
-Kelsey Socha, Kalamazoo Central High School student
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