Preetha's Speech

Good evening everyone. Wow!!! where did the time fly? We look at you and wonder where have the years gone? What happened to our yesterday’s? Today as you graduate one chapter in life is closed another about to begin. There will be times, when you feel overwhelmed but do not to give up.

When you were a little boy we have held your hand, guided you, protected you as best as we could, the time has come for us to let go now. There is some pain in that, still there is also a wonderful sense of pride and accomplishment.

On the first day of every school year, every year has been milestone for you and us. I remember I cried the day I first dropped you off at preschool. I was sad to leave you in the care of another. I decided to stay in the parking lot until your class was over.  We have always given you the freedom to make your choices whether it was about your choice of classes, the sports you wanted to play, or what extracurricular activities you wanted to do.

Pranav has been a very focused and determined in all his school years and in whatever he chose to do and we are proud. In the early years of school Pranav had many great ambitions in what he wanted to become. Here are a few. When he was in second grade during that year Christmas holidays he told us his dream job was to become a postman delivering mail. We asked him why? His answer was he will be getting so many Christmas gifts. As the grade school year passed he wanted to have his own landscaping company. His focus was to make money and get rich. Then he became more serious and realized that these are really not something he wanted to do and the reason was involved hard labor.  A few more years passed and his interest in space, Astronomy grew and wanted to become an astrophysicist that made us immensely happy. But somewhere down the years the influence of Kuttan and his uncle’s influence in sports grew and he wanted to become a sports manager. His knowledge in sports and statistics grew and still dreams to manage a team or work for ESPN.

Pranav has made us proud in all his accomplishments. His keen interest in Math has allowed him to represent his school for several math competitions. He played varsity tennis. He was awarded the bilteracy seal award. He was treasurer of DECA, a business club. He was awarded the Illinois Scholar award for his GPA and test scores. His high school also awarded the excellence in education and was recognized for achieving the rank of top five percent.

You stand before us on this day ready to step into a new chapter of your life. We wish you the strength to face challenges with confidence. So take hold of our dreams and no matter what don’t let go. Want to thank all our friends and especially Leena for giving Pranav and us all the tips and how to survive high school. For no one could be prouder of the person you have become and that is why we are confident the best is yet to come. We love you and wish you the very best.