Jesse was well liked by everyone, so everybody anticipated what he had to say
As he walked up to the microphone, on graduation day.
For a moment he remained silent, as he peered at the faces from his senior class
And then Jesse leaned into the microphone, and finally spoke at last.
"As your class president, I'm here to speak to you today.
I was up most of the night, considering what words that I should say.
I reminisced on school days, and all the many things I've done
So many memories came to mind, but my thoughts kept me focusing on one."

And then Jesse held up a photo, and he moved it all around
As everyone leaned to view it, and silence was the only sound
You could have heard a pin drop, as Jesse placed the picture in full view
And began talking of a classmate, that no one really knew.
"Charlie's life seemed meaningless, compared to yours and mine
Because none of us understood him, we never took the time
We saw only what we wanted to, that Charlie was not cool
He was far from being popular, the butt of all our jokes in school."

"Yes that we knew of Charlie, that much we decided on our own
He simply wasn't worth our time, he was an outsider who deserved to be alone.
But you see Charlie had a passion, deep within he had a dream
It was his one desire, to play for our soccer team.
"And of course that was ludicrous, it was totally absurd
Charlie was no athlete, he was the senior nerd."

In gym class he was never captain, he was always chosen last
He was the poster child for unpopular, he preferred history, science, and math.
"And so some of us took it upon ourselves to keep Charlie from wanting to play
For weeks we taunted him with insults, day after day after day
We made sure that he wasn't welcomed, by anyone else on the team
For whatever foolish reasons, we were set on destroying his dream
And I'm here now to tell you, as your class president, I was wrong
I'm here to speak for Charlie, who couldn't be here, because you see he's gone."

Jesse paused just for a moment, to give time for his words to sink in
As he looked about at the faces, of parents, teachers, and friends.
"I'm not sure if all of you know it, I'm not sure if anyone cares
But the reason Charlie isn't with us is a reason I feel I must share.
Cruel words they are definitely weapons, they destroyed Charlie's body and soul
For all of the taunting and teasing left Charlie feeling out of control.
And Charlie alone in a battle, gathered his weapons to fight.
He purchased some drugs from a dealer, his mother found his body last night.
Maybe it was only an accident, maybe Charlie wanted to die
But no matter how it happened, we as his classmates know why
For who in their lives hasn't been teased, or made to feel unbearable shame
I'm certain that everyone in this room has endured some heartache and pain.
And maybe boys will be boys and girls will be girls, and we each have our battles to fight
But no matter our justification, hurting Charlie was never right."

And then Jesse took Charlie's picture and held it firm in his hand
And spoke to the photo before him, words unrehearsed and unplanned.
"If only I'd helped somehow, given you guidance to conquer your dream
If only a teacher, a classmate, if someone would have just intervened.
But I know I can never go back, I can never undo what has been
For you will never receive your diploma, or ever play soccer again.
But deep in my heart I wonder, I can't help asking what if... I would have reached out to you Charlie,
Would your school years have ended like this?"

Jesse stood lost in his thoughts, of a life that was ended too soon
Until muffled coughs caught his attention, and nervous whispers began filling the room.
And then Jesse turned with a smile, before retreating back to his chair
Teaching a valuable lesson, with his final words filling the air.

"I would like to introduce our valedictorian, he will be speaking today.
Please give him your full attention, please hear all that he has to say."
And then Jesse set Charlie's picture down, on the podium facing the crowd
As the silence told Charlie's story, a message quite convincingly loud.