Valedictorian Shares Important Life Lesson | Kyle Martin Speech | Goalcast

In this epic valedictorian speech, Kyle Martin gets struck by the wisdom of the 16th second.

Video Script:: 

I stand before you tonight as the 2019 valedictorian this time last year I found out that I was in the running for this title it was then that I decided I wanted it so I worked hard for it I sacrificed for it and yes I stressed for it and I got it and at our senior award ceremony it felt so good when I heard my name announced with this title it's so good for about 15 seconds yeah 15 seconds of my heart racing and my adrenaline pumping 15 seconds of yeah 15 seconds of being at the top of the pile of all my accomplishments and it felt euphoric but there must become a 16 second and on that 16th second sat down on my seat I looked at my silver stole that says valedictorian and I thought that's it what just happened why why am I not feeling anything else to be honest I don't even know what I was expecting a parade of balloons to drop or maybe I was hoping that all of my problems would fade away in comparison to this amazing achievement but none of that happen not even in my heart I felt nothing I was shocked this was a huge problem for me and I needed to figure out why so here's my thought process working hard is good but it should not be done for the sole purpose of a goals sake at the expense of relationship with others looking back on this year I realized that the stress of this year for this goal and a 5 minute speech was paid for with the lack of attending to relationships in my life well lesson learned and self-reflection accomplished now I would like you my fellow classmates to do some self-reflecting I would like you to take a moment to fill in a different thing that you strive for and you focus on something that you thought was the end-all be-all perhaps it was sports perhaps it was fine arts academics getting into a particular school an unhealthy social life friends we are about to launch into life and we haven't messed anything up yet now think instead of academics taking your focus off your important relationships it was your career you chose over your spouse instead of sports it's money that you pursue at the detriment of your children instead of just the instagram-worthy picture hits striving to be famous at the expense of time with your friends because now you're too self-involved I'm well aware that this is kind of a downer speech but I don't care because a lesson learned should be a lesson shared now I'm glad that I have only made this mistake of striving for something that is in the light of eternity not important for just one year I can't imagine if I learned this at 50 or at the end of my life here's the lesson have no regrets in the sixteenth second nothing is more important than your healthy relationships nothing not your goals not your successes and here's why relationships are where we get to influence impact and change people's lives your life cannot be meaningful without them and we are put on this earth by our Creator and we all have a purpose and how we could all go about that that's what's different it's different in what college we choose who we marry and what career we choose it's different in the triumphs and tragedies that come upon us but in all those things new relationships are being formed so be generous with your time and money and a lot of relational issues will be resolved and by the way it's not too late to mend fractured relationships any friends you haven't spoken to in a while because of your pride parents when you disrespected and teachers who you never thanked just do it humble yourself start a conversation have no regrets in the sixteenth second [Music] you