Help Me with a Speech please! :D

Okay, so it's for the high school valedictorian speech. i'll apologise in advance for any typos or grammatical errors as i am yet to edit it! just tell me what you think of what i have so far.

“Thank you Principal Williams. The senior year has a lot to be thankful about.” Ivy started, her voice quivering silently and then confidently smoothing out. “We’re thankful for our teachers’ unwavering devotion to our education and we are thankful to their support and that of our families. Whatever challenges we face in life we’re thankful for these last four years of preparation. And we are thankful for each other, for our friendships. No matter which clique or society we belong to we all have someone to turn to for a shoulder to cry on after all the stress of exams.” There was some laughter at this. “Or the support of studying alongside us into the wee hours of the morning. Caffeine filled and jittery, we thank you.” Laughter again. “Even though this is the end of high school we’ll always carry these friendships with us forever. They may be tried and tested over time but we have learned over these past four years how important and highly we hold each other.”

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Ivy took a deep breath here and looked for me in the crowd. “Keep going.” I mouthed to her. “These last four years has been a cakewalk, let’s face it.” She said, the old Ivy swagger coming through as the students clapped and laughed. “We do not know what lies ahead but we must face it head on without fear or prejudice. We must seize opportunities of happiness and success and not be discouraged when things do not go to plan but keep on working and striving towards excellence. We may look to our families for hope, inspiration or support from time to time but we’re grown ups. Adults. We’re on the edge, the precipice of a new era and I know it is extremely daunting and tempting to hide and… but we can’t! The future is what we make it. We’re responsible for ourselves now.” She sighed, but smiled. “The sun is shining down on us today class of 2012! I predict a warm, bright, glorious future ahead. Congratulations class of 2012… we did it!”

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bump!

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If the actual text of the speech isn't going to end up being important plot material, you might want not to include the *whole* thing in the finished story. Instead, use few phrases, here and there, interspersed with Ivy's feelings (and perhaps some other important characters' reactions!). That would give a sense of the flavour of the speech, without diverting the reader out of the main thrust of the story.

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