Seniors gathered for the last time in the school gymnasium as the Class of 2013 on May 14. The sea of red caps and gowns were a display of both excitement and disbelief, as it was now finally the seniors’ turn to be honored in the 54th ceremony of Baccalaureate.
“It still has not hit me that high school is over. Tonight is a great experience because it is one of the last times we will all be gathered in the same room together,” senior Erin Ropke said.
The students, supporting family and friends hushed as the ceremony commenced with the speech of senior Brad Gallow. Gallow expressed what he wanted most for the class as a whole and the growth that he hoped would take place inside each of them.
“I want our class to feel entitled to working hard at doing what we love, to excel at it and share our rewards and our lives with the people who we love. I want us to seek out viewpoints that differ from ours so we can learn and grow as individuals,” Gallow said.
Principal Mr. Tim McCarthy followed Gallow and stressed the idea of taking the time to reflect and think before moving on to the next stage of their lives.
“Tonight is an opportunity to slow down, pause and reflect. You are on the verge of taking another leap forward,” McCarthy said.
He also wanted the seniors to understand everything they had accomplished and to realize that these accomplishments are extremely significant.
“This is a tangible representation of your capacity to overcome challenges in your life. Draw strength from this process,” McCarthy said.
Guest speaker and graduate Chester Lampkin gave the keynote address. Lampkin graduated in 2003 and now is a News Channel 5 meteorologist. He shared personal experiences from his high school career and proved that memories will truly last forever. He told the class to never forget how you got to where you are and who it was that helped you get there and never to look into the future with fear.
“Be ready to conquer the world. This is a watershed moment in your life- you’re an adult. You won’t ever look at the world the same. There will be failure down the road; but failure isn’t about the lack of success but how you rebound to difficult situations,” Lampkin said.
Dr. Sarah Power, the senior grade level principal, said she was able to form close relationships with the students over the past four years. She wished them all the best of luck and thanked them for being a wonderful and memorable class.
“Being your grade level principal has been my pleasure; follow your passion and stay true to yourself,” Power said.
The ceremony concluded with Brian Hillhouse, student body president, reminding everyone to slow down amidst all of this chaos and enjoy life in the moment.
“Life is full of moments. While we’re waiting for the important ones to happen, the little ones make it all worth it,” Hillhouse said.
