“GOOOOOOOD MORNING VIETNAM!” Fellow classmates, administrators, families, and friends, I cannot express the pride I take in speaking to you tonight. For those of you who do not know me, my name is

Jonah Manalo. And if you are wondering why I seem so nervous, it’s not because of the fact that I am alone at this microphone in front of so many people. It’s because my parents are filming me and will most likely put this on Facebook with an embarrassing caption. Probably something like: “Look at our little boy! He’s all grown up!

*With a smiley emoji*”. Before I go on, I just want to warn you that there will be several references to The

Office, so I apologize if you are one of the few unlucky individuals who have not seen the show.

My entire life has been spent in the same city, in the same district, even in the same house. The experience I have had here at Upper St. Clair is best summed up in the words of Darryl Philbin: “Everyday when I came into [school] all I wanted to do was leave. So why in the world does it feel so hard to leave right now?” I believe that this change of heart lies in our fear of the unknown. As we transitioned from elementary to middle to high school, our longing to graduate transformed into a fear of life beyond Upper St. Clair.

This fear of the unknown crept upon us when we stepped into the high school as a tiny freshmen with squeaky voices. “[We] knew exactly what to do. But in a much more real sense, [we] had no idea what to do”

(Michael Scott). However, the people we once were seemed to change faster than we were ready for. High school for us seemed to proceed with a constant acceleration as each subsequent year seemed shorter than the last. College applications, AP tests, SATs, ACTs, and so much more sprang upon us so rapidly. Suddenly, we are not puny freshmen anymore. As said, “We are warriors! [Class of 2019] I ask you once more rise and be worthy of this historic hour!”. This class of brilliant individuals has accomplished so much over a short four years. The legacy we are leaving behind will be one for the record books. In each of the three pillars of the academics, the arts, and the athletics, we grew. “Some people will tell you [senior] is a bad word.

They’ll conjure up images of [worn out procrastinators and good for nothing troublemakers]. It has been our duty to change their perception”. As much as many of us considered ourselves to be suffering from senioritis before school even started, the class of 2019 prospered in its final stand at Upper St. Clair High School.

National Honor Society gained some 150 new inductees, numerous musicians and vocalists once again qualified for PMEA band and PMEA chorus, and countless sports teams emerged as section champions and advanced in the playoffs for their respective sports. To top it all off, we have been recognized by the Pittsburgh Business

Times as 2019’s #1 Public School in Allegheny County. The accomplishments we have had here at Upper St.

Clair will act as the seeds that will blossom into a variety of flowers, each one different from the last. I look out amongst the class of ‘19 and see doctors, engineers, business men and business women, servicemen and servicewomen, lawyers, athletes, musicians, artists, and everything else in between.

I know this because of the one thing that we will miss the most: relationships. Well aside from the roni rolls … the relationships. Every year I spent at Upper St. Clair brought me close to so many new friends. Every year opened my eyes to unfamiliar faces who revealed themselves to be brilliant in their own ways. But what’s more important than simply being talented is being welcoming. The ability of this class of graduates to create a warm and supportive environment for each other and the underclassmen is truly amazing as we have allowed everyone to feel as if he/she was a part of something greater than him/herself. We knew that the best way to succeed in high school was by helping each other every step of the way, “for it is together that we prevail”

(Dwight Schrute). By finding a balance between individual success and supportive teamwork at USC, each and every one of these students is more than ready to graduate and experience the world.

Still, the unknown seems dangerous as our fear of failure overcomes us. Will we fail? Of course. There will be times when we find ourselves lost and hopeless, with no answers. What is there left to do? Get back up, and try again. There is no shame in failing, because if we do not experience failure, we will miss out on the opportunity to grow from mistakes. And this growth, I believe, is the true embodiment of success. The unknown, while having its risks, also has its rewards. Living outside of this familiar ground on our own will not be easy. We are in for a tough journey. But by experiencing new and unfamiliar things, the potential for success is present. And even though it may seem as if we are venturing far from our friends and families, remember the words of the wise Creed Bratton: “No matter how you get here or where you end up, human beings have this miraculous gift to make that place home”. The places we go and the people we meet will provide us with a home away from home. So, rather than fear the unknown, we should welcome it. We should welcome all of the ups and downs that lie ahead and know that the strong foundation that Upper St. Clair has given us will see us through to the end where success is waiting. We should go out into the world with the same mindset Dwight had when he left and said “I am ready to face any challenge that might be foolish enough to face me”.

I would like to again express how grateful I am to have attended Upper St. Clair for the entirety of my schooling. The friends that I’ve met, the bonds that I’ve formed, and the memories that I’ve made, will stay in my heart forever. “Everything I have I owe to this [school] … this stupid, wonderful, boring, amazing [school]”

(). Congratulations once again to the Upper St. Clair High School Class of 2019, and “may your hats fly as high as your dreams” (Michael Scott). Thank you all and I’ll “catch you on the flippity flip” (Michael

Scott).