Meet Addison Trail's class of 2016 graduation speaker

On May 22, Addison Trail senior Daniela Diaz Vazquez will address about 460 of her classmates as the graduation speaker during Addison Trail’s 50th commencement ceremony.

Diaz Vazquez entered the school’s annual graduation-speech competition and was selected as this year’s winner by a panel of judges. Her speech, entitled “Worth Every Moment,” will focus on how hard the class of 2016 has worked for the past four years throughout high school and how all that effort is now coming back in the form of a diploma and was “worth every moment.” She also will ask her peers to remember everyone who has helped them along the way.

Diaz Vazquez said when she first entered Addison Trail, she wasn’t quite sure how she felt about school. But then something clicked, and she realized she wanted to make sure she was successful in life. She said she entered the speech competition because she wants to leave her mark on the class of 2016 and be remembered.

“Being an Addison Trail Blazer is something that will always stick with me,” Diaz Vazquez said. “Blazer Pride means being proud of who you are, and the community is incredibly proud as well.”

Diaz Vazquez plans to attend College of DuPage or DePaul University to study art history.

Diaz Vazquez said she hopes her classmates take her message with them as they leave the halls of Addison Trail after walking across the stage and receiving their diploma.

“My message is it’s important to take chances and put yourself out there, because you’re going out into the ‘real world’ now,” she said.