HOULTON, Maine — It was a time for cheers and a few tears Thursday evening as 94 students bid adieu to their classmates during Houlton High School’s commencement exercise
Class Marshal Franki White led her classmates into the John A. Millar Civic Center as the familiar chords of “Pomp and Circumstance” rang out from the faculty ensemble.
Senior Class President Tori Hanson welcomed a standing-room-only crowd to the service and said the words that were surely on the minds of many of her peers.
“This is the last time we will be sitting together as a class,” Hanson said. “Some of us will be venturing far and some of us staying near, but no matter where we go, the memories of 12 years together will remain close to our hearts. I am very thankful to be part of this Class of 2013, and I am sure that I am not the only one who feels melancholy about our time together coming to an end. We no longer will be lounging on the senior bench, sitting in classes or passing one another in the halls at school. Instead of seeing each other’s faces every day, we may see one another only rarely as new obligations demand our time and attention.”
Salutatorian Allyson Carmichael took a trip down memory lane with her classmates in her speech.
“We look back on childhood dreams and fondly remember their magical qualities,” she said. “From waiting for our superhero powers to come in, to waiting for that letter from Hogwarts, we were supremely optimistic children. As time went on those dreams eventually faded, but exciting and promising new ones took root.”
Carmichael quoted Chinese philosopher Confucius in bestowing some poignant words of wisdom to her classmates.
“Find a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life,” she said.
Carmichael also encouraged her classmates to “never be afraid of failing, never underestimate yourself and finally as my dad always says, “Don’t sweat the small stuff … and it’s all small stuff.”
Emilie Newman, first honor essayist introduced guest speaker Traci Storti, an HHS English teacher.
In her address, Storti gave a humorous and poignant look at the seniors’ time at the high school.
“It is an honor to be invited to speak in celebration of the successes and ultimate graduation of the Class of 2013,” Storti said. “It is a distinguished list of speakers whom I join.”
Storti used the topic of “vision” in her address, and presented each student with a gift bag containing a mirror, baby photo and a notebook.
The mirror, Storti said, was a tool to be used to see one’s personal reflection in terms of outward appearance and inner strength.
“In the future as you look in this mirror, take a moment to consider if what you see is accurate,” she said. “Are you prettifying yourself? Are you being too hard? What is the clear vision? In the end, you’ve got to be able to see the flaws and accept them. You’ve also got to be able to see the goodness.”
The baby photo was a grounding tool to remind students where they came from.
“There are a pack of proud parents sitting in this audience this evening who still see you as their baby,” she said. “Despite the yelling, the grounding, and the sometimes disappointed looks, their primary view is of the perfect little package they brought home from the hospital. They will never stop seeing the biggest blessing ever bestowed upon them. They see you as your potential. So, when life gets you down, put that mirror away for a bit, and remember how you look to them: you are bright; you are strong; you are funny; you are of ultimate worth.”
The notepad, she said, was intended to help with focus and vision.
“Scribble in it. Write and draw your dreams. Recapture the good you do for others; recapture how that small service makes you feel,” she said.
The senior chorus, under the direction of Jason Anderson, performed the selections “Time of Your Life” and “Today My Life Begins.”
Valedictorian Rebekah Holmes also took her classmates on a trip down memory lane.
“What better way to celebrate our commencement than to revisit some of these memories?” she said. “To fondly recall the people that have truly impacted our development. We must appreciate what they have done for us and use the memories to sustain us as we encounter future difficulties. In August, the usual morning announcements provided by the cheery voices of Mr. Bouchard, Mrs. Matthews, and Mrs. Mailman will be replaced by the lively banter that characterizes campus life or the chatter of busy coworkers. The familiar faces we passed in the hallway on our way to advisory and those we saw commandeering the senior bench as we rounded the corner into the lobby will be replaced by new friends, acquaintances, and mentors.”
