Guest speaker Janelle Greenwood urges Seeley Swan graduates to ‘be you’ and work for dreams

Guest speaker Janelle Greenwood addressed the Seeley Swan High School graduating class with personal anecdotes and practical advice, telling graduates to be themselves and do the work required to reach their goals.

Greenwood said she was surprised when students asked her at basketball practice to be their guest speaker and described dodging public speaking in college. She offered a short list of guidance: be yourself; pursue your dreams but do the work; do not let doubt or others’ opinions deflate your goals; avoid comparison; value time and relationships; and keep faith. She said, “Doubt kills dreams. Don't let someone deflate your dreams just because it doesn't make sense to them,” and advised graduates to “run your race and stay in your lane.”

Greenwood closed by noting graduates would be missed and had left programs and teams better than they found them, and she wished them luck in the next chapter.