Emma Philbrook: STUDENT LIFE

I am in the process of writing my co-valedictorian’s address. This process is not going as smoothly as I would have hoped.

“Valedictorian” is taken from “Valedictory,” which is defined as “a farewell address.” In other words, academic stuff aside, the whole point of being a valedictorian is to deliver a speech at graduation.

This fact is not helping.

I know from experience that the opening line is the most crucial part of any speech. I won some very important elections at Girls’ State with bizarre opening lines. In one speech, I approached the podium, smiled awkwardly, looked up at the far lef...