The familiar chords of “pomp and circumstance” will reverberate throughout high schools this coming week as seniors from Houlton, Hodgdon, Southern Aroostook, Katahdin, East Grand schools and Greater Houlton Christian Academy receive their diplomas.
East Grand and Houlton and will hold their commencement exercises on Thursday at 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. respectively, followed by Hodgdon and Southern Aroostook, both at 7 p.m. Friday. Katahdin and Greater Houlton bestow their diplomas 10 a.m. Saturday.
Graduation is an emotional time for students and parents alike. For many students (and some parents), there are deep feelings of sadness as one chapter of their lives comes to a close. For others, there is a feeling of relief as high school may not have been the easiest of times, while others express extreme joy in moving on to the next phase in their lives.
Over the years, I have covered countless graduation ceremonies. Not much has changed in graduation ceremonies over the years. Valedictorians and salutatorians give speeches offering words of advice to their fellow classmates, as if they somehow have more insight into what the road of life has in store for them. Today’s speeches are filled with references to “Facebook,” and “Twitter,” but traditional nods to Robert Frost and the “Road Not Taken” remain popular.
Today’s grads have a far different road ahead of them than those who graduated 30, 20 or even 10 years ago. Technology is changing at a remarkable rate. Desktop computers have given way to laptops and now those are starting to be phased out in favor of “tablet” devices.
Cell phones are everywhere, which also means videos and photos of events are being taken and posted on the Internet for the world to see almost as quickly as they are happening. Today’s grads need to be cognizant of the fact that what they do may not stay behind closed doors and sometimes, unflattering moments are shared online. Once out there, they are nearly impossible to rein back in, so be careful as you venture out into adulthood.
Most of this year’s graduates were born in 1995, a year that saw some remarkable news stories develop: the United States helped Mexico’s economy with a $20 billion aid program; the median household income was $34,076; unemployment was 5.6 percent; the cost of a first-class stamp was 32 cents; the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame opened in Cleveland, Ohio; the record of the year at Grammy Awards was “All I Wanna Do,” by Sheryl Crowe, while Song of the Year was “Streets of Philadelphia,” by Bruce Springteen; and notable deaths that year were Howard Cosell, Jerry Garcia and Micky Mantle.
The staff at The Houlton Pioneer Times extends best wishes to all of the area graduates. You are our future and it will be interesting to see where that future leads us all.
Joseph Cyr is a staff writer for The Houlton Pioneer Times. He can be reached at pioneertimes@nepublish.com or 532-2281.
