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School Forces Student to Take Jesus Out of Graduation Speech, Plan Gloriously Backfires When She Drops This Line

“I’ve always been a rule follower. When they said not to chew gum, I didn’t chew gum. When they said not to use your cellphone, I didn’t use my cellphone. But today, in the spirit of defying expectations, and for perhaps the last time at this podium, I say..."

‘You Are Made in the Image of God’—Valedictorian’s Faith-Filled Graduation Speech Goes Viral for All the Right Reasons

A South Carolina high school valedictorian is going viral for her very faith-based graduation speech following a devastating tragedy.

High School Valedictorian Delivers Graduation Speech Hours After Dad’s Funeral

Early College High School valedictorian Alem Hadzic has gone viral after he took the stage at his graduation ceremony to deliver his speech—just hours after his father's funeral. 

Start Over Poems: Navigating New Beginnings Through Verse

Poems About Beginning a Journey

The motif of embarking on a new journey is a rich vein in poetry. Walt Whitman’s “Song of the Open Road” is an exhilarating celebration of new beginnings and the adventures that await. Whitman’s verses invite the reader to join him on a journey of self-discovery and exploration, embodying the spirit of setting forth into the unknown with optimism and an open heart.

Reflecting on Starting Over

“Wild Geese” by Mary Oliver and “Still I Rise” by Maya Angelou

Mary Oliver’s “Wild Geese” and Maya Angelou’s “Still I Rise” are touchstones for those embarking on new journeys. Oliver’s poem reassures us that we do not have to be good, just to let the soft animal of our body love what it loves, signaling the acceptance required to start anew. Angelou’s poem is a triumphant declaration of resilience, echoing the strength required to rise from the ashes of past experiences and start over with grace.

Real-Life Examples of Start Over Poems

Start Over” by Woodrow Kroll and “How to Start Over” by Stuart Kestenbaum are not just poems but lifelines thrown to those adrift in the sea of change. While fictional, these examples would represent the process of beginning anew amid life’s unpredictability, guiding readers through the emotional landscapes of change and renewal.

These real-life examples of poems under each heading serve as beacons for those navigating the waters of change and renewal. Whether short verses or longer meditations, these poems about starting over in various aspects of life offer solace, inspiration, and a reminder that every ending is the seed of a new beginning. As we turn the pages of our own life stories, let these verses inspire us to embrace our new chapters with hope, courage, and an open heart.

Staff
Staff
FaithIt staff contributed to this article.

School Forces Student to Take Jesus Out of Graduation Speech, Plan Gloriously Backfires When She Drops This Line

“I’ve always been a rule follower. When they said not to chew gum, I didn’t chew gum. When they said not to use your cellphone, I didn’t use my cellphone. But today, in the spirit of defying expectations, and for perhaps the last time at this podium, I say..."

‘You Are Made in the Image of God’—Valedictorian’s Faith-Filled Graduation Speech Goes Viral for All the Right Reasons

A South Carolina high school valedictorian is going viral for her very faith-based graduation speech following a devastating tragedy.

High School Valedictorian Delivers Graduation Speech Hours After Dad’s Funeral

Early College High School valedictorian Alem Hadzic has gone viral after he took the stage at his graduation ceremony to deliver his speech—just hours after his father's funeral.