DIXFIELD — Emma Lueders, valedictorian of Dirigo High School Class of 2016, told graduates, family and friends Friday night to be original, be creative, be yourself, and be confident and never apologize for being yourself.

DeFoe Gymnasium was filled for commencement exercises as 60 seniors were presented with diplomas. There was a special diploma presented by Principal Michael Poulin to Rose Frost.

People stood and applauded as she approached the podium.

“Several months ago, Rose contacted Dirigo,” Poulin said. “She was interested in going back to school and getting her high school diploma. She did this through Region 9 in the adult education program, and 44 years after she was to receive her diploma, she’s finally going to get it. Congratulations.”

Lueders, in her speech titled “Remaining True to Yourself,” said, “So many people that we encounter in our lives compare others’ qualities and abilities. They think that if two things are different, one has to be better than the other. It’s important to recognize that this mentality is false.

“Stand up for what you believe in and show the world the beauty that makes you so unique. Accept yourself for who you are. Don’t worry about flaws because not one person is perfect. Instead, start focusing on your positive qualities. It’s about being yourself. Someone only you can be. Someone only you can understand. And it’s all right if others don’t understand you because you are you,” she said.

The seniors were seated below a banner displaying their class motto, a quote from Theodore Roosevelt, “Believe You Can and You’re Half Way There.”

Senior Kylie Palmer titled his speech “The Importance of Passion.”

“Being passionate is important, no matter what your future goals may be,” he said. “It can be all too easy to let life slip by without very much interest or regard. It’s easy to say, ‘Oh, that doesn’t affect me, so I don’t care.’ There’s this attitude of sarcasm and cynicism that I think all too many of us have adopted during our high school years. We dismiss and make light of having to work hard and although sometimes this is nothing more than just a joke, overall, it still promotes the same cynical and uninterested view point. Don’t fall into that rut. Indifference breeds negativity,” she said.

She said amid all the uncertainly, there will be new highs and lows to face, but she urged classmates to keep persisting.

“Don’t hold back from unfamiliar pursuits, even when they scare you. You might end up finding something you’re really passionate about. And when times are bad, passion is what gives us purpose and excitement,” Palmer said.

Members of the senior chorus sang Rob Thomas’ song, “Little Wonders,” and seniors Jessica Carrier and Emma Gallant shared their thoughts about the class history.

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