HODGDON, Maine — Thirty-three Hawks soared into the next phase of their lives Friday as Hodgdon High School bid adieu to its graduating Class of 2015 during the 86th commencement exercise at the school.
Principal Mary Harbison opened the ceremony with a look back at the pupils she has been associated with since her time as principal at Mill Pond Elementary School.
“I have been with most members of this class since their early school days at Mill Pond,” Harbison said. “These students moved with me when I came from Mill Pond to the high school in 2011. Tonight marks the culmination for these students as their public school days end and they prepare to go on to college, into the armed forces or the work force.”
She turned to the seniors sitting behind her and made a humorous pledge.
“I promise I will not follow you to college, I will not follow you into the armed forces, however, we may meet again in the workforce, as there are several people that teach within the district that I had as students,” Harbison said.
She then announced Joseph Silliboy and Hannah Sherman as the all-around male and female students for the year. Faculty and staff of Hodgdon High School choose the two students as those who best exemplify the core values of the school.
Sherman, the salutatorian, offered some insight into what was likely occurring in the minds of all of the students sitting on the stage Friday evening.
“Although we are beyond excited to finally receive our diplomas and begin new journeys in our lives, we must also leave behind normal routines in the process,” Sherman said. “Despite these upcoming monumental changes, I will never forget the people in this community, nor the memories we have made here at Hodgdon High. Throughout our time at MSAD 70, we have learned various life lessons along with our academics. We have been taught the values of preparation, remaining humble, hard work, and dedication. We have united to work towards common goals, and consequently discovered that most things are more easily achieved through working together. Hodgdon High has served not only as the foundation of our education, but as a support system as well.”
Following a poignant photo slide show highlighting some of the many memories students made at the school, Jessi Tracy, First Honor Essayist, encouraged her classmates to pursue their dreams, while remembering to be genuine and true to their character and added dreams were not just for the graduating seniors.
“Regardless of where you’ve come from, where you are, and the choices you’ve made, you have the power to make your life what you want,” she said. “You decide whether you achieve your dreams or settle for less. You are the one ultimately shaping your life. Is that life everything you want it to be? Some of you may be thinking the time for achieving things has passed for you, that my speech only applies to us ‘youngsters’ if you will, who have our entire lives ahead of us. Do not be held back by your fears, whatever they may be. Be led by your dreams. I urge and challenge every single person in this room to chase one of their dreams in these next few weeks. No matter how big or small, do something for you, and never settle for less than you want.”
Valedictorian Rachel Harmon urged her peers to embrace whatever path the future has to offer.
“Life is going to keep moving, sometimes a little too fast, but it stops for no one,” she said. “The times where you feel like you’re losing grip, those are the times where true character is revealed. You may be surprised to find that you’re stronger than you think. Also, those little moments and memories? They’re not little. Every experience you have builds on who you are, and no part of that is irrelevant. In closing, be optimistic about the future, but don’t forget to live in the moment, as this second, right here and now is the only one you know you have for sure. As the great Sean Molloy (a minister at the East Hodgdon Bible Church) once said, ‘You only live once. However, if you do it right, once is enough.’”
Superintendent Scott Richardson said he was impressed with how well the seniors conducted themselves during the final year at Hodgdon High School and relayed how group spent more than 1,300 hours doing community service and took 58 early college courses saving thousands of dollars toward their education.
