The time for high school seniors to bid adieu to their fellow classmates has arrived once again as graduation season is upon us.
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 at 7 p.m. Friday. Greater Houlton Christian Academy bestows its diplomas at 10 a.m. Saturday at Military Street Baptist Church. Southern Aroostook Community School will hold its commencement service Friday, June 13 at 7 p.m., followed by Katahdin Area High School passing out its diplomas Saturday, June 14 at 10 a.m.
Graduation can mean different things to different students. For some, it is a time of excitement and wonderment for what the next chapter of their lives holds in store. For others, it can be a time of sadness as they say farewell to their childhood friends, and possibly their parents, as they prepare to head out into the great unknown.
Not much has changed in graduation ceremonies in the 25 years since I walked the aisle of Houlton High School. Students essentially wear the same caps and gowns that have been worn for decades, although the hairstyles are certainly different.
Valedictorians and salutatorians still give speeches offering words of advice to their fellow classmates, as if they somehow have additional insight into what the road of life has in store for them. Often times, those speeches are filled with fond remembrance from their time together. Occasionally, there is a comical story one will recall about the time he/she and some classmates had a fun experience.
Many of today’s graduates were born in 1996. Some of the more notable events from that year include the first version of “Java” programming was released; the NFL approved the move of the Cleveland Browns to Baltimore (although the Browns name stayed behind) as the Ravens became the league’s newest franchise; the “Unabomber” Ted Kaczynski was apprehended; President Bill Clinton was elected to a second term; and the U.S. Senate approved raising the minimum wage to $4.25.
Gasoline cost $1.23 for regular unleaded (which was an increase of 14 cents per gallon from the previous year) and the cost of a U.S. postal stamp was 32 cents.
The changes in the educational process have been dramatic over the past few years. Technology has replaced textbooks and chalkboards as iPads and Smartboards are the current tools of the trade. Teaching cursive handwriting is slowly being phased out as it seems to be more important to teach students how to use a keypad rather than a pencil and piece of paper.
The one thing that has not changed, however, is the notion that nothing will ever be the same for this group of young men and women. Sure, there will be class reunions 10 years from now, where many will return to their roots and catch up with people they have not seen in many years. But for the most part, the age of innocence ends when the students receive their diplomas and head out into the brave new world.
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.
