The comeback kids.

Dear Class of 2023,

As the Vice President of the Denver School Board. I want to take a moment to commemorate an academic milestone but to celebrate your triumphant journey, rightfully earning you the title “The Comeback Kids.”

As the world was plunged into uncertainty and anxiety, you were faced with a challenge unlike no other — a global pandemic. Everything we knew changed overnight. Schools closed, friends distanced, the very essence of the learning environment shifted.

Today you stand on the precipice of a world ripe for change. A world that needs not just dreamers, but doers. Not just students, but teachers. Not just leaders, but listeners. It needs you, “The Comeback Kids,” the embodiment of resilience, of hope, of unyielding determination.

This title you’ve earned is not just a testament to your past struggles but a prophecy of your future triumphs. It is a declaration to the world that you will not be overcome, you will not be silenced, and you will not be stopped. Because like a river that carves through stone, you persist. And like a seedling that cracks the pavement, you grow.

Remember, your story does not end here, but in many ways, it’s just beginning. You’re the authors of your own narratives, the architects of your own destinies, the artists of your own futures. In every challenge, see an opportunity. In every setback, find your comeback.

As President Obama often said, “We did not come here to fear the future, we came here to shape it.” So, go forth and shape your future, shape our world, and remember that within each of you is the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars and change the world.

Because you are, and will always be, “The Comeback Kids.”

Have a safe summer and come home and visit us in Denver Public Schools!