Class of 2029 Eighth Grade Promotion: Academic Excellence

The following is an excerpt of a speech by Shiv Sareen, one of several students chosen to speak at the Class of 2029 Eighth Grade Promotion. Read the other student speeches.

By Shiv Sareen, Class of 2029 and edited by the Eastside Catholic School Marketing and Communications team

What does academic excellence mean? For many, it means getting straight A’s or 5’s. But to me it means something much deeper. According to our school’s handbook, academic excellence goes beyond numbers and grades—it’s about discovering purpose, cultivating curiosity and gaining a deeper appreciation for life through learning. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Learn as if you were to live forever.”

Academic excellence isn’t just about the subjects we enjoy, it’s also about the lessons we learn through perseverance and patience.

I found interest in science class where we learned subjects ranging from biology to geology to archaeology. I think we all remember dissecting a goat’s heart in seventh grade. These moments cemented my interest even more.

In Language Arts, thanks to all my teachers, I became a confident writer. When I first joined Eastside Catholic, my writing was average. I still remember learning about double cheeseburger paragraphs in sixth grade. Through that, I gained strategies and tools that now help me write essays and even draft professional emails with ease. Boy, am I looking forward to answering and writing emails in adulthood!

Social Studies has always been my favorite subject. Learning about Mesopotamia, Mount Rainier and the March for Civil Rights has ignited a lifelong passion in facts and stories about the world.

But academic excellence isn’t just about the subjects we enjoy, it’s also about the lessons we learn through perseverance and patience. In band, my teacher showed endless patience despite the estimated $150 damage I caused and the six band binders I somehow managed to lose. His kindness taught me that everyone deserves a second chance, and that most problems can be solved with the right attitude.

Learning Chinese was my most challenging class, and I learned and implemented many study strategies to memorize the complicated characters. This class also gave me an appreciation for a new cultural perspective and set me up to study harder in classes in the future.

Math has always intrigued me. Over three years, I progressed from linear equations to sinusoidal functions. Math is probably the most important class for the future, as it can be applied to so many modern jobs.

Physical Education helped us learn the basics of a wide variety of sports, and Health class prepared me for my future life by teaching us important skills and real-world hazards to avoid.

In my time at Eastside Catholic, I’ve come to love learning.

Ultimately, being engaged in my classes helped me truly understand what is being taught, and helped me really enjoyed my time at school. It helped me connect with my teachers and peers which gave me more motivation to learn more and make each day at school more meaningful.

Those things are what academic excellence means. It means being excellent not only on a report card, but growing in real-life skills and building meaningful connections.

If you have questions about the Eighth Grade Promotion speeches, contact Middle School Principal Ashley Hylton.

Want to learn more about Eastside Catholic School's Touchstones, the core values that shape our community and inspire our students every day. Visit our website to learn how these principles come to life in academics, faith and service.