To the Class of 2016,

Since day one, no one has had faith in us. We were always known as the troublemakers. Every school administrator has rolled their eyes at the thought of our class. News reporters have painted us in a bad light with false information. We've never been anything other than Chelmsford's "problem children."

Over the years, we've had to put up with certain kids ruining opportunities for everyone else. There have been fights that have divided us and events that have brought us together. We've had to deal with our own problems as well as suffer the loss of a class member and support another as they recover from a tragic accident. It's no secret, we've been through a lot.

One positive action we have completed is making it this far. No one thought we would. No one gives us the credit we deserve. Yeah, so we've rubbed some elbows along the way, but it's bound to happen over 12 years of dealing with each other.

Personally, I'm tired of being associated with the kids who give us a bad reputation. People fail to see that all of us actually aren't bad kids at all. After June 4th, we have the chance to be ourselves and not be associated with the negativity of immature individuals that have held us back for so many years. This is our time. Our time to prove ourselves. Our time to break away from all the labels people have suffocated us with. Take advantage of it. Make a statement. Conquer the world. Explore new places. Meet new people. Make mistakes and learn from them. Whatever you do, realize we are so much more than "one of the worst classes to go through the Chelmsford Public School system." Every one of us has the chance to be extraordinary.

I'm ready to prove that we aren't as bad as people think. Are you?