DYER BROOK, Maine — Southern Aroostook Community School graduated 32 last Friday night.
Valedictorian Cassidy Lyons offered several pieces of advice for her classmates.
“Throughout my life, my family has taught me to stay true to who I am, although it didn’t make sense to me when I was young, over time I began to believe that if we stay true to ourselves we become who we are meant to be,” she said. “Make your own decisions and don’t let others stand in the way of your goals. You are responsible for your own happiness. If you expect others to make you happy, chances are you will always end up disappointed.”
Lyons then proceeded to admonish her classmates to recognize and appreciate the small tokens life offers.
“College can be stressful and a lot to handle, but take time out of every day and just appreciate the little things because in life the little things are the biggest,” she said. “Remember to take nothing for granted and always appreciate what you have.”
Starting college, military service or employment in the work force, Lyons reminded her classmates to live a life that is pleasing and satisfying to them.
“Remember to always apply yourself and do your best,” she said. “You get rewarded for hard work and it will pay off in the end. When opportunity appears take it and don’t be afraid to take risks this will create more opportunities. With the right key you can bust the door wide open, no one will open it for you.
“Lastly, never give up on your goals and don’t be afraid to create your own path. Sometimes when reaching for your goal you will run into obstacles that will make it harder to reach your them, don’t be afraid to take a more difficult path to get there.”
Salutatorian Matthew Tarr thanked those who helped the graduates make it to their special day.
“You guys have always been there for me,” he said to his parents. “Whether it be dragging me to school every day. Or wasting hundreds of dollars in gas, driving me whereever I needed to go. And for helping me get started in the right direction in life. None of this would have been possible if it wasn’t for you. So thank you to not just my parents, but to all the parents and guardians who have supported us in the ways too impossible to count.”
He ended his speech saying, “Thank you to the class of 2015 for not just being great friends, but for being a great family. And thank you for all the great memories. Just remember that no matter where we end up, always remember where it all started.”
Jessica Nye, First honor essayist took her fellow graduates down memory lane from Kindergarten to their special moment on the stage.
“As individuals we have grown into somewhat responsible young adults instead of immature ones we were just a few years ago,” she said. “As a class we’ve grown closer than I thought possible, now I can honestly say that for sure we’ve made friends that will last a lifetime.”
Nye said that last Friday night was the “last time that we will be together in this building as a family.” She used a quote to sum up high school, “Special times and special places, special friends together; the moments pass too quickly but the memories last forever.”
Second honor essayist Kylie Dunphy, asked her classmates one question, “Why stop now?”
Don’t limit yourselves,” she said. “Seeing that you are all capable of making it this far, why call this the limit? Why call the end of high school the top of the mountain when you have so much more left to climb?
“Some walks you have to take alone, and after tonight, that walk starts,” Dunphy added. “After tonight, we are no longer high school students. We’re all going off on our different paths. But remember, different doesn’t mean wrong. Everyone will go their own way, but we should all continue to keep climbing that mountain. Think of all the amazing experiences that have yet to come. Think of all the opportunities out there that are waiting for you. They’re out there waiting, but if you stop now, you won’t experience them.”
