A Kentucky high school senior was asked to give an inspiring graduation speech but was denied his diploma after veering off the approved script and urging his fellow students to allow God into their lives.
While permitted to mention his faith at the beginning, the student continued proselytizing for over a minute rather than sticking to secular topics as instructed.
“He is the light, he is the way, the truth and the life,” Price said. “Class, everyone in the audience today, I’m here to tell you if you don’t have any of those things in your life, you can’t seem to find the answer, my lord and savior is your answer he will give you the truth, the way and the life.”
“All speakers were told that going off their submitted speech, or any unplanned choices at graduation, may have repercussions as they would at any school function,” Superintendent Shelli Wilson said.
“I am in the wrong technically, because I went against Campbell County code, the rules,” Price said.
“Anyone that’s taking a hateful route to this, I please ask just you know, take a chill pill, take a time out, because in John 1, it talks about how it is absolutely impossible to say you’re a Christian if you don’t love your brother or your neighbor,” he added.
“If you truly consider yourself a Christian, be loving and pray for me, that’s all I need. But thank you for the support, thanks for the support, we will get the diploma, everything’s going to be fine,” he said.
School officials said any unplanned choices could have repercussions, though the student will likely receive his diploma after meeting with them.
“While I know, personally, that many of us are proud of this young man’s beliefs and are practicing Christians ourselves, the principal has to consider the possibilities of students going off the planned program,” Wilson said.
He has handled the situation with maturity, taking responsibility for breaking rules but urging understanding and no protests, saying he serves a higher power and has no hard feelings against those doing their jobs.
“If anyone is in the wrong, it’s me,” Price said. “I went against school policies, school rules. I went against that because I serve a higher power, because I serve Christ,” he said.
