By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
LIMESTONE — Nineteen students marched into Limestone Community School auditorium with stoic pride to “Pomp and Circumstances” played by the LCS band. Nineteen celebratory graduates walked out of the auditorium to “Don’t Stop Believing” by Journey, a song chosen by the graduates to mark their milestone accomplishment.
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
Nineteen students graduated from the Limestone Community School on June 11. They were, from left, front row: Monica Quist, Tammy Johndro, Cameron Brown, Katrina LaLonde, Tabatha LaLonde, Jack Westfall, Ashlee Gagnon, Kaitlyn Obar, Joshua Forsman and Audra Kirk. Back row: Aaron StPierre, Justin Thompson, Courtney Mattoon, Spencer Keiser, Savanna Gray, Misty-Elizabeth Denslow, Scott Fisher, Chelsea Leighton and Ashlynn Kelly.
“For some of us it probably feels like we did not have many choices up to this point; where we live and what school we attended was decided by our parents,” said Valedictorian Justin Thompson. “Now we have the choice to go to the school [of our choosing] and live wherever we want.”
“Whatever we do and wherever we go we will face hardships in our life. We may lose loved ones or see things that will break our hearts,” he continued. “Though the hardships keep your eyes on your goal. If you don’t have a goal, your goal might be to find one. Whatever that might be, don’t give up on it. The only person that can stop you [from reaching your goal] is you.”
The Class of 2011 requested that LCS upper level English teacher Ken Hixon speak at their graduation, and their request was certainly granted.
Hixon spoke for a half hour, which some may consider to be a long speech, but he never lost his audience as he regaled them with stories. Hixon’s style of storytelling, highly entertaining with a poignant life lesson nestled in between funny anecdotes, is the reason the graduates requested his speech.
Among the chapters of his address, Hixon shared with the graduates a portion of the story regarding the death of his father, who died at home when Hixon was only 13.
“It was the worst day of my life. It challenged me to stay true to his words of advice and the single worst day of my life made me a better person today. There may be things that happen to you that can never be explained,” he said. “Maybe it is not intended that we understand everything that may happen to us, yet we are to merely grow by having had the experience, tragic or otherwise.”
“Remember,” he said, “never use a tragedy as an excuse to fail and never forget even the smallest blessings.”
Hixon’s stories are one of the many things Class President Audra Kirk urged her classmates not to forget in her welcome address at commencement, and she also reminded the class of the things they have to be thankful for.
“All of us have said it before, ‘I hate going to school in a small town.’ But you don’t think of how many things we should be thankful for,” Kirk said. “Going to school in a small setting allowed us to create personal relationships and connections with people. Growing up in the county and in a small town has taught us so many things — what hard work and dedication are, how to do the job right and do the job ‘till it’s done.”
“Living in a tight knit community, we’ve all witnessed the family feel of our town — always lending a hand to someone in need, pulling together when times are rough and things like these are blessings in disguise that many of us overlook or take advantage of,” she added.
After the graduates were given their diplomas, the class stood. Following the direction of Kirk and Aaron St. Pierre in their last moments as seniors, they ceremoniously moved their tassels and officially became graduates.
“I know each and every one of us has the potential to do great things in our lifetime and for our generation,” Kirk said in her speech. “Sometimes the hardest part of the journey is the first step, and I know we will all be okay.”
Aroostook Republican photo/Natalie Bazinet
Monica Quest, Tammy Johndro and Cameron Brown turn their tassels during the graduation ceremony at the Limestone Community School on June 11. For additional photos, please see an upcoming issue of the Aroostook Republican.
