My Classmates Teased Me for Being a Pastor’s Daughter Until My Graduation Speech Changed Everything

panic?” he asked.

“Both. I have to give the graduation speech.”

He grinned so wide the lines around his eyes deepened. “Claire, that’s wonderful.”

“It is not wonderful, Dad. It is terrifying.”

He opened his arms. “Same thing sometimes.”

I spent the next two weeks writing and rewriting until the pages looked worn at the corners. The speech I was constructing continue reading …