Principal Crumples Valedictorian’s Speech on Mental Health, So He Recites It from Memory

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In New Jersey last Thursday, Alex Morgan stood at the podium to speak to the graduating class of Eastern Regional High School and their families. Although the valedictorian began with a heartfelt address, he was interrupted less than a minute in when his microphone was abruptly muted and the principal, Mr. Jameson, walked away with his speech in hand. Undeterred, Morgan delivered a compelling message about his LGBTQ identity and mental health entirely from memory.

“I felt silenced,” Morgan later shared with local news. “It seemed like they were trying to suppress my message and erase parts of who I am.” He began his speech by congratulating his peers and expressing gratitude to friends, families, and the community for their support. However, just 45 seconds in, his microphone was turned off. The school later attributed this to a “technical issue.”

“After I came out as queer in my freshman year, I felt incredibly isolated. I had no one to confide in,” he said before being cut off. At that moment, Principal Jameson approached, crumpled Morgan’s speech, and left the stage. “He insisted I stick to the speech he had prepared for me,” Morgan explained.

Yet, when given a new microphone, Morgan remained poised and continued passionately. “As I was saying,” he began, with the audience rallying behind him, “high school is often seen as a journey of self-discovery, but many of us don’t know where to start.”

“After coming out as queer in my freshman year, I felt alone. I didn’t know who to reach out to for help or support. I wore a smile at school while battling questions about how to integrate the different aspects of my identity—brother, sister, friend, queer lover, human. Although my family and friends, along with many fantastic teachers at Eastern, supported me, I had to embrace my true self unapologetically. We all need to do that. But first, we must ensure we’re okay and can handle the journey, especially regarding mental health.”

That was just the start of his inspiring speech. Unfortunately, it was clear the school administration was not on board with his message. Morgan revealed that officials had pressured him to remove references to his identity and experiences with mental health during the speech preparation phase, claiming graduation wasn’t “a therapy session.”

Every year, all student speakers are helped to shape their addresses, with speeches pre-approved and stored in a binder for the principal during the ceremony, stated Laura Thompson, the school district superintendent.

Additionally, the school objected to Morgan wearing a Pride flag over his graduation gown, but he defiantly kept it on. “Our identities and experiences from 2021 matter,” he asserted in his speech. “We have adapted to challenges we never thought we would face.”

“Believe in yourselves, Class of 2021,” he encouraged, earning a well-deserved standing ovation. “Each one of you is enough. Each one of you can and will change the world. Thank you, and congratulations.”

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In summary, Alex Morgan’s graduation speech became a defining moment of courage and resilience as he spoke openly about his journey, despite attempts to silence him. His determination to address mental health and LGBTQ identity resonated powerfully with his classmates and the audience, showcasing the importance of being true to oneself.