Mascenic students urged their classmates to make their own way in the world, taking with them the lessons of their close community, as the Vikings celebrated the Class of 2021 commencement ceremonies on Friday.
A total of 51 graduates walked the stage set up in front of Mascenic Regional High School, as their family and friends watched from seats in the parking lot in an outdoor ceremony.
Student speakers reflected on the growth and change that comes with leaving behind secondary schooling and entering adulthood. And there was no more challenging time to make that transition than in the past two years, Superintendent Chris Martin said, in her remarks to the graduating class.
“You ladies and gentlemen were juniors when COVID-19 hit our world,” Martin said. And while those circumstances have been hard, and resulted in lost chances, it’s also forged graduates who are ready for anything. “For more than a year you have persevered in your learning, fighting every step of the way to experience as much of a normal high school life as you possibly could, with a detour of COVID stuff in your way. Learning to adapt to change is critical in today’s workforce. COVID has forced us to adapt to change. Let’s see how your ability to adapt improves your outlook toward work and life.”
Valedictorian Thomas Maino reflected on the changes that each of his classmates has gone through in their 12 years together – and the way they have stayed the same.
“We’ve taken on many responsibilities, refined our skills, honed our minds, made and broken friendships, and fallen in and out of love. All the while, we’ve discovered more about ourselves, the world around us, and the people who have helped us along the way.”
And no matter what comes next for the Class of 2021, Maino reminded his classmates that they can always come home again.
“Although the next few years of our lives will be filled with many trials and uncertainties and will undoubtedly change us even more, I know there will still be a place for us in the community that helped us throughout everything,” Maino said.
Salutatorian Quinn Aldrich agreed that the community of Mascenic is something that its graduates can carry with them to their next endeavors.
“Education is more than just classes, lectures and studying. It’s the people who surround you that truly make you who you are,” Aldrich said.
And that’s why, she said, seniors should move on to their next phase with confidence – even if they’re not sure what that next phase is, yet.
“That question of ‘What do I do now?’ doesn’t have to be scary, and can actually be freeing with a simple change in perspective,” Aldrich said. “You can do whatever you want to do. Whatever your heart tells you, whatever you’re passionate about. The rest of your life is a blank slate, starting today.”
Class President Amelia Conlin praised her class for making the most out of a situation where there were many dark spots.
“We did the best we could do, with what we had. And in the end, we did better than anyone had ever imagined, including myself. Due to COVID and other obstacles, a lot of things we planned for this year and last year completely fell through,” Conlin said. But, she added, those losses shouldn’t take away from the victories they were able to find, despite the odds, including a senior prom and organizing this year’s class gifts, which included a wildflower garden and an ongoing $500 scholarship for a graduating senior, which the class was able to fund for years to come with funds left over from class fundraisers.
“Each and every one of you has had such an incredible impact on my life,” Aldrich said. “It’s an honor to stand here and speak in front of the community that has done so much for me in my young life. We are here celebrating a tremendous accomplishment in our young lives, and the first step into the rest of our lives. I’ve watched us become strong young adults, all with bright futures ahead of them.”