Commencement Case

Thank you Principal Alexander, members of the school board, teachers, parents, family, friends, and members of the Westside High Class of 2012. I am humbled and honored to speak to all of you today.

Let me begin my with a memorable quote: "Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success-Henry Ford". The above proverb by Henry Ford can very well highlight the importance of working together in teams.

Many of you have worked on committees for prom, yearbook staff or played sports during your time here at Westside and what do any of those things have to do with graduation you ask? Answer: Teamwork. When asked to define teams the common answer is: A group of people, contributing their individual knowledge and skills and working together to achieve a common goal and or task. During discussions, most people agree that using teams and teamwork provides benefits to both individuals and organizations.

As you transition from high students to college students and or student athletes, full time employees or join the United States military; you will be faced or forced to work as a team.

There is no I in TEAM. No one person can do it all alone; he/she has to take the help of his colleagues to accomplish the tasks efficiently. It has been observed that the outcome comes out to be far better when people work in a team rather than individually as every individual can contribute in his or her best possible way.

College is more than books and classes, more than labs and studying. Student athletes will experience a wide array of activities that enhance the college experience and build teamwork and leadership skills. Teams that often end up on the winning end of the score in team sports are those that work well together. Learning to cooperate with others towards a common goal in sports is what builds character, friendship and important life skills for players and coaches. The friendships built within a team can last a lifetime for some players, and the journey of a team throughout a season is often memorable.

Sports such as football and ice hockey are physical sports and often require heavy commitment and dedication to be successful. By the end of the season, players who have been battered and bruised by the grind of the regular season and the playoffs may feel a strong connection, much like brothers, to their teammates. The team work involved in these sports allows for people to become part of something of value and teaches people how to help someone on their team when they are struggling and offer them words of encouragement when they are performing either poorly or admirably.

Players can translate the hard work they've put into their sport by working harder to be a better student or employee and a better person overall. Working towards a goal can teach people the value of hard work, commitment and dedication and team sports are a great way to learn these values.