“We here at the Mikaelson Academy for the Superior have made excellent progress in the last few months.” Headmaster Vardemus tapped his cane on the floor of the sleek Mikaelson Academy dining hall, keeping the attention of every student on him. “It is no secret that we began as the best, but there is still a long way to go before each and every one of you reaches perfection. You have blown the Salvatore Boarding School for the Young and the Gifted away with your superior skills and discipline.” Vardemus laughed at that, more smugness than humor. “This year, we will best them just as we did last year and the year before that and every year before that. For every area they fail in, we will succeed twice as hard. For every time they attempt to minimize your great powers, we will show them that you can’t be controlled - that you shouldn’t be, that you won’t be.
"You need no reminder of our beliefs. Supernaturals are stronger, they are faster, they are smarter - we are better. Better than humans and better than the supernaturals who are content to bow down to them and hide their existence. But we have no reason to hide. We are not ashamed of who we are. We are proud.” Vardemus turned to the right side of the room, searching out a face. “Miss Mikaelson?”
Hope stood, smiled at MG next to her, then at the crowd, and made her way to the front of the room. She tapped the microphone and cleared her throat, still smiling proudly.
“You’ve heard the story before. My father started this school after he discovered the disgrace of the Salvatore School. He knew he could do better for me, give me a place where I could grow stronger without being stifled and silenced.”
“Yeah.” Kaleb’s voice drifted to Hope’s - and every vampire’s - ears as he muttered to Jed next to him. “And then she still stayed at that school for years.”
Hope continued on without missing a beat. “A place where we could all realize our full potential. Where we aren’t molded by who the world thinks we should be and how the world thinks we should feel. We shouldn’t have to hold ourselves back. We shouldn’t ever have to deny our truest selves, no matter how ‘dark’ other people may call it. My father knew that. That’s why, this year, we’ll do more strengthening, more recruiting, more taking out enemy organizations like Triad that threaten our boldness. We will remain superior.” 
The room burst into applause, MG clapping the loudest.
“Well said, Miss Mikaelson.” Vardemus took the stage back, ushering her back into the crowd.
Hope collapsed into her seat again. MG turned his head to smile proudly at her, and she smiled back at him, sitting up straighter in her seat.
Vardemus tapped his cane a final time. “Here’s to another great year!”