(Editor's note: Marcos Sanchez, the associated student body president at Eatonville High School, made the following speech at a welcome-back meeting of school district staff members Aug. 28, a week before the start of the 2013-14 school year). I have a question for everyone: Do you believe in me? Because I believe in me. I believe I can do anything, create anything, dream anything, become anything because you believe in me. Do you believe that every single one of us can graduate, get ready for college or the workplace? Well, let me tell you what, you better. Because we're all showing up for school next week, and what we need from you is to believe that we can reach our highest potential. I have another question. Do you believe in your colleagues? Well, you need to. You need to trust them and you need to lean on them, especially when tmes get tough, because we all know we kids can sometimes be a pain. So whether you're a counselor, librarian, teachers aide, work in the front office, serve meals (which really is my favorite part of the day), or whether you're a teacher, principal or a superintendent, we need you. Do you believe that what you're doing is not just shaping my generation, but future generations? Listen, I'm sure there's probably easier ways to make a living, but I'm here to tell, on behalf of all the students in Eatonville, we need you. We need you now more than ever. Today I stand here as a senior in high school, and as I look around, I see a lot of my old teachers, and I want to say thank you. Thank you for believing in me and in my goals. And to my current teachers, keep on believing in me and my fellow students. I would like to end this by saying that when those all-day, every-day kindergarteners walk into your classrooms this year, believe in them. And when they walk into middle school, believe in them. And when they walk into high school, believe in them. Because when they walk across that stage at graduation, they will know and thank you for believing in them.
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