Sarah Palin Helps Give 'YOLO' Message To 27 Graduating Students At Washington High School

Sarah Palin's 'YOLO' High School Graduation Speech

Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) delivered a commencement address to a small class of graduating seniors in Republic, Wash., this weekend, telling them the secret to success was to "get off your butt."

Wooed by a successful viral campaign by Republic High School students, the former vice presidential candidate stepped to the stage on Saturday "flanked by paper banners bearing the class motto: 'You Only Live Once,'" the Spokesman-Review reported. She encouraged the class of 27 students to work hard and to have courage and perseverance.

Palin also praised the importance of small-town America, telling the story of her father's journey to Alaska in 1964, which actually brought him through Republic. She also managed to get in a shot at "petty, troubled reporters" from "big city newspapers," whom she accused of criticizing her decision to speak at the event.

(Watch Palin's entire speech above, via KHQ.)

While only around 1,100 people live in the town of Republic, around 700 packed the auditorium to listen to Palin's address, according to the Associated Press.

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