I would like to start by thanking God. Without Him I would notbe here now and I could not have accomplished the things I have.Next, I would like to thank my family. My family has always beenthere for me. I am so thankful and blessed to have been raised in aChristian home. My family could not have done a better job atgiving me positive Christian role models to follow. I love andthank all of my family more than words can say, but I would like tosay a special thanks to a very important person in my life and thatis my mom. She has done so much for me and I would be here for daysthanking her for everything. She has always been there for me nomatter what, she is my hero and my role model and there is nopossible way to thank her enough for everything she does forme.

Next, I would like to thank my principals, teachers and classmates.I have known Coach Myers for a long time and he is someone I know Ican go to for anything. I have only known Dr. Adcock for a year,but I feel like I have known him forever. I thank him for all hehas done, is doing and is going to do at Bogue Chitto. I am sohonored to be in Dr. Adcock’s first class to graduate from BogueChitto. I hope he graduates many more classes from thisschool.

Next I would like to thank my fellow classmates for making my highschool years fun and interesting. Y’all were so nice and welcomedme when I came to BC in the seventh grade and I thank y’all forthat and always being here for me.

And last but certainly not least, I would like to give a big thankyou to my teachers. I would like to start with Mrs. Scott. Wordscannot describe how good of a teacher, role model and friend sheis. She has taught me three out of my four high school years. Ihave learned so much from her in and out of the classroom. I havebabysat for her for about three years and she has become more thanjust a teacher to me, she is someone I can talk to aboutanything.

Next, I would like to thank Mrs. Smith. She is also a great teacherand I have learned so much from her through the years. I have hadher for a teacher for all four of my high school years. Mrs. Smithalways likes for me, Shelby, and David to keep her straight. If shewrites a wrong number on the board we correct her and she smiles,says thank you for keeping me straight, and keeps going. She nevergets mad.

Next, I would like to thank Mrs. Gary. She has worked so hard onthe slide show, annuals and many more things to make our senioryear a success. She does a lot of behind the scenes work. I onlyhad her this year for accounting but she has also become more thana teacher to me, she has become a friend that I can always counton.

I also only had Coach Terrell, Coach Norton, Coach Sartin, Mrs.Haralson and Mrs. Wall for one year in high school. They are allgreat teachers and have made a big influence on my life.

Coach Sartin has always looked out for me. One day he called me outof class because he heard one of the younger boys said somethinginappropriate to me and he was going to punish him. That meant somuch to me to know that he cared enough to get me out of class andask me about that.

I also want to thank Mrs. Melane Crosby for everything she has donefor me. When I was in the ninth and 10th grades, I had Mrs. Scottfor a cheer coach, then Mrs. Melane took over. They were both greatcoaches and one can’t replace the other. I want to thank Mrs.Melane for all of her time and effort she put into our squad andfor making my senior year as a cheerleader great. I also want tothank her for the Christ-like example she set for us, even when shewas mad.

I would also like to thank the PTA and Booster Club for everythingthey do at this school. It could not function without them. I’m noteven going to try to name names because I know I will miss someone,but everyone knows who they are so thank y’all so much.

Today this class behind me and I will be moving onto a new chapterin our lives. This school has prepared us well. We have received agreat education and whether we are going to work or to pursue ahigher education we are very well prepared. I cannot say thank youenough to this school and to everyone who makes learning here asuccess.

Ten years down the road all of our lives will be very different.What we do with each of our lives from this point on is up to us,we have grown from children to adults and we are now fullyresponsible for our own actions. No matter where life takes eachone of us we can never say we were not offered a good educationwhether we took it or not and what we will do with it lies in ourhands now.

Graduates, I would like to leave you with this quote. WilliamJennings Bryan once said, “Destiny is not a matter of chance; but amatter of choice. It is not a thing to be waited for. It is a thingto be achieved.”

Everyone else, I would like to leave you with this quote by ananonymous person, “It’s never too late to be what you might havebeen.”

Thank you.

Hayley Owens is the daughter of Julie Crosby.