By Shelby Hartin
Student Intern
STACYVILLE — Makayla Patterson, president of the Class of 2013, opened Katahdin High School’s commencement ceremonies Saturday by reflecting on times of the past.
“Think back on all the amazing times we have had together,” Patterson asked of her classmates, “Like when we were playing football at recess and Sal was pushed into the building, or watching fake weddings take place on the soccer field, or when Mr. P lit the table on fire in 8th grade … You never know the true value of a moment until it becomes a memory.”
Patterson commented on the importance of the memories the class shares, thanking them all for the part they took in shaping her own experience.
“We have all gone our separate ways since we have been in high school, we’ve changed and befriended different people, but no matter what, the one thing that hasn’t changed is our bond with each other. We still support, encourage, and care for one another,” Patterson said.
Patterson concluded with a word to the wise: “Watch out world, here we come.”
Patrick Pettegrow, salutatorian of KHS’ Class of 2013, was then presented. He began his speech with a reminiscence of the pressures that students face throughout their years in middle and high school. He admitted that he acted in ways he never would have if he had not been pressured.
“It’s impossible to fight. Naturally, we just want to be part of the group and not be the outlier that is picked on or bullied. So we mold ourselves to fit in,” Pettegrow said.
Pettegrow confessed that he still holds some of his peers’ actions against them, but he added that he believes in second chances.
“This class isn’t perfect, but who is?” Pettegrow asked the crowd.
“Sometimes it’s our faults that make us unique and the way we climb over them shows who we are.”
Pettegrow asked his classmates to allow others to reveal themselves before judging them.
In conclusion, he spoke of the potential that the Class of 2013 has.
“The senior class of 2013, here at Katahdin High School, has the same potential as any other graduating class, regardless of what statistics say about us. As a class we have all gotten past the challenges thrown at us and have become better from them,” Pettegrow said.
“I doubt anyone has ever taken a test on leadership or hard work, or loyalty and dedication, and probably never will. I can say with certainty that those traits will prove to be more powerful that getting an ‘A’ in math or chemistry.”
Travis Gallagher, valedictorian, then spoke about the importance of educating oneself. He focused specifically on the responsibility that now rests on graduates.
“Our parents, grandparents, and other family members, whether related through blood or otherwise, have helped us in motivation and sprit, sometimes giving us ultimatums, sometimes fighting us tooth and nail to get us to do work. Not nearly enough credit goes to them throughout our teenage years. Self-motivation when we leave the nest is going to be put to an extreme test. As many leave for college, or to go to work, or perhaps the armed forces, they will still be there but in a diminished capacity,” Gallagher said to the audience and his fellow classmates.
Gallagher not only focused on self-education, but the importance of how it is imparted.
“What that knowledge you have accumulated will go towards depends entirely on the choices we individually make,” Gallagher said.
He left his classmates with a piece of parting advice: “There is a certain value in knowledge that no material thing can match; the only thing that can match knowledge, to me, is the knowledge from experience, which is known as wisdom.
The guest speaker at Katahdin High School’s commencement ceremonies of 2013 was Owen McCarthy, valedictorian of the class of 2006, who will be attending Harvard Business School in the fall.
McCarthy began his speech by informing students of the Class of 2013 that he recognized a lot of them from the swimming lessons he taught while he was in high school.
“If you felt that you were better at sinking than swimming, you can blame me,” McCarthy said, admitting that he wasn’t the best of swimmers himself.
He then related the act of swimming to the challenges the graduating students will face.
“You could sink like a rock, casually float, or dive in. I’m asking you to dive in.”
He then told the students that they have what he likes to call the ‘northern Maine advantage,’ addressing the traits that are instilled in those from the area since birth like hard work and dedication.
“This advantage just gave you flippers,” he said.
McCarthy gave advice as to how to “dive in,” asking the students to make goals for themselves and work to achieve them.
“A goal is a dream with a deadline,” he said.
He concluded by letting the students know that as a fellow KHS graduate, he would always be there to help them if needed.
Katahdin’s Class of 2013 graduated 24 students in total, including Lucas Anderson, Spencer Anderson, Savannah Beach-Campbell, Matthew Birmingham, Colton Bivighouse, Salvador Cloukey, Eric Cole, Braeden DeTour, Maverick Elwell, Mandy Emery, Travis Gallagher, Richard Gould, Danaysha Lindsey, William Livezey, Sierra McAvoy, Megan Merry, Makayla Patterson, Adam Pelkey, Patrick Pettegrow, Cole Porter, Ashley Randall, Jordan Russell, Samuel Vetter and Steven Whitney.
