Students rode a roller coaster of change, challenge and success to the end of their high school careers.
POLAND – The class of 2003 at Poland Regional High School is anything but ordinary. In fact, it’s quite extraordinary.
And the graduates, staff and parents all know it.
Maybe it’s the fact that 86 percent of the 103 graduates are continuing on to higher education, that they are the first class to complete four years at the new high school, or that a 76-year-old war veteran graduated with them.
This class has stood strong to endure the past four years during a roller coaster of change.
On Saturday afternoon, many of the commencement speeches centered around this inevitable change. In delivering the keynote address, Principal Derek Pierce spoke of the lessons that he was taught by the class of 2003.
“I have been fortunate enough to attend some pretty fancy-shmancy schools and colleges and universities, but the best education I have ever received has been right here alongside you all,” he said.
From the many facets of change to the diversity of the student body, Pierce reflected on the past, present and future.
“And ever greater change awaits. College and career. Personal and global. Calamitous and fabulous. And as you confront this change, respect its difficulty and complexity. Allow yourself to mourn what you must leave behind; acknowledge the fear of failing at something new,” he said. “But simultaneously soak in the possibility, the opportunity that change offers. Be ever steadfast to who you are, but be ever open to who you might become.”
One of the lessons that Pierce learned from the graduating class was the importance of strong positive relationships.
“In our first spring, it was the meaningful relationships between students and teachers which convinced enough students to convince enough of their parents to give some modified version of our wacky ideas more time. … Long after this graduation, all that will remain vibrant about your high school experience will be the connections you maintain with a few close friends and, hopefully, teachers,” Pierce said.
The valedictorian and salutatorian speeches also addressed the impact that relationships have had on all of their lives.
“It’s sad the way some friendships can disintegrate like they were sand castles eaten away by the tide, but just like sand castles, these short-lived friendships are beautiful and meaningful while they last,” said salutatorian Lindsay Lehr. “Dozens of people have come in and out of my life and, even though today is the last time I will see many of them, they have all left their own unique mark.”
“I know that every single one of you has the power to change lives, because every single one of you has changed my life,” said valedictorian Kearah Westerman.
An hour after the ceremony, graduates headed to the Freeport YMCA to celebrate these relationships, as well as their accomplishments, that have inspired change within them, their community and the school system over the past four years.
The seniors planned to return to the high school for breakfast after spending the night sumo wrestling, swimming and human bowling as part of Project Graduation.
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