Daniel Klemenz, past president of the Clarence High School National Honor Society, delivered this speech below at his commencement in June 2025. He is a sophomore in the UB architecture program and a server at Montabaur Heights on The Brothers of Mercy Wellness Campus.

Hello, everyone. It is my honor to be standing on this stage today to bring to a close one of the most important parts of our lives.

Before we recognize ourselves as the graduating class of 2025, I believe it is important to recognize the people who got us here.

Look around for your friends and your family, and take a moment to realize that this group of people, whom we’ve survived the thirteen years of school with, will never again be together.

I would like to share with you some of the most important things I have learned in my years here at Clarence.

In August of last year, I started working at a local nursing home as a waiter in the home’s dining room.

When you are surrounded by people anywhere from 65 to 100 years old, you are bound to hear some interesting things. First off, when you enter a room full of old ladies as a teenage male who has the ability to breathe, speak, and place food down on a table, expect to hear anything from being complimented on your dimples to stories of the violently competitive ladies’ bingo nights. But then, of course, you have those who mind their own business and slip you subtle smiles as you pass by. Those are the people who require the most attention and patience, two things I learned that are extremely important to foster good relationships and develop a good attitude.

I remember specifically when I started working, there was a quiet couple who sat in the back corner of the dining room. The wife was a delightful old lady who never failed to say thank you for anything I did. The husband was wheelchair bound and shared my name, something we always talked about when I saw him.

One day, I came into work and noticed the woman sitting alone. I never asked her where her husband had gone, for I assumed the worst.

I had asked my coworkers and my boss where her husband was, and I learned that he simply had been moved to a higher-care unit as his health was declining.

Days later, after finding out about my inquiries, the woman came up to me in tears, grabbed my hand, stared into my eyes, and thanked me for taking the time to remember her husband.

From her, I learned that almost every person is carrying some sort of pain or anxiety you can’t see. When someone says “patience,” it isn’t just about waiting; it’s about empathy. And attention isn’t just about noticing details, it’s about choosing to take the time to care.

Now, let’s take the time to look at ourselves.

As we go our separate ways, some of us go to college, and others go into the workforce. Do not forget the value of patience and empathy.

These are not just skills for a job or a classroom; they are the foundation of creating a meaningful life for yourself and others.

Taking the time to understand those around you is a quality that sets you apart in a world filled with people who live for themselves.

I hope you are immensely proud of what you have accomplished in the past 18 years of your life.

I wish you all the best of luck, and God Bless.