HOULTON, Maine — There were plenty of smiles, lots of cheers and a few tears Thursday, June 9, as Houlton High School bid adieu to its graduating class.
Held at the Millar Civic Center, the class of 73 seniors continued their proud tradition of filling the arena with confetti and silly string before dancing out to the tune of “Don’t You Forget About Me,” by Simple Minds to end the service.
Adam Casillas, senior class president, welcomed the full house at the arena, and took his fellow classmates on a fond trip down memory lane as he recalled tales from their time at Houlton Elementary School, Houlton Southside School and eventually Houlton Middle-High School.
“When I think about it, I find it difficult to believe that the day we have always looked forward to is finally upon us,” Casillas said. “Today, we present ourselves to our community as graduating seniors. Each and every one of us has worked incredibly hard over these last 12 years to sit on this stage and be a part of this memorable ceremony.
“When looking ahead to the future, some of us may be excited, anxious to get started, maybe even scared,” he continued. “Seniors, If you are apprehensive you are not alone, there are 73 kids sitting to your left and right who are experiencing similar uncertainties, but each of us have an exciting future to look forward to.”
Co-Salutatorian Amira Abouleish’s spoke of her grandfather Dr. Ezzat Abouleish, in her address.
“Opportunities are ubiquitous; keen eyes that seek out these opportunities are rare,” she said. “My grandfather shared this wisdom not only through words, but also through his actions.”
Her grandfather attended a prestigious medical school in Egypt, and at the age of 36, he moved his family to America and gained employment at a hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. Latter in life, he used his medical knowledge to inspire and educate young students at the University of Texas Medical School of Houston and the University of Pittsburgh.
“As all of you enter unfamiliar environments and encounter intimidating situations, seek out opportunities; do not wait for them to present themselves,” she said. “Engender lists of everything you long to accomplish, create a plan for each one, and then execute. Do not generate excuses and therefore limit your potential. Participate in events that provide networking and human interaction. No, Garrett, picking up ladies doesn’t count as networking. Strive for that prestigious promotion despite the myriad of competitors. Build your worth through education, despite the overwhelming academic requirements.”
She encouraged her peers to find their own person who inspires them to develop talents and reach goals.
Chelsea Gentle, co-salutatorian, introduced the guest speaker for the evening, Marie Carmichael, recreation director for Houlton.
Carmichael spoke on the importance of maintaining a healthy, recreational life. Carmichael, the Houlton Recreation director, had an impact on many of those in the graduating class through the numerous recreation programs.
Carmichael joked she had trepidation about speaking before the gathering of roughly 2,000 people, but felt better when she realized Abouleish’s father, a local physician, was in attendance and could be called upon if she fainted.
“I have had many of you students, and I think some of your parents, in rec programs over the years,” she said. “Graduates, you are sitting in these seats because you have worked extremely hard. I’m sure as much as you have enjoyed that, you probably don’t want to do it 24-7. The same goes for myself and the working adults in the audience here tonight.
“Nobody ever died wishing they had worked more,” she continued. “Yes work hard, you are from The County, so you have a great work ethic. Always find something you enjoy to do for your career, but don’t prioritize your work over your family, friends and most importantly, yourself.”
She encouraged the grads to find a lifetime recreational activity so that they would remain active.
Valedictorian June Choi shared her experiences over the past 18 years and how being able to make adjustments was essential to her success.
“What have these past few years of my life entailed?,” she said. “Simply, but not so simply, transitions, transitions and more transitions.”
Choi said she faced her first period of adaptation at age 10 when her family abruptly moved from the U.S. to a foreign country. She enrolled in a foreign school system that required students to take numerous classes and dedicate hours to specialized academies.
“My daily routine involved rice in every meal and exotic Korean dishes that were at times questionable, a fast-≠paced environment infested with crawling city buses and raging taxi drivers, and a homogenous community with similar backgrounds and values,” Choi said. “However, with the assistance of my parents and newly≠-acquainted relatives who were familiar with South Korea, I was successful in constructing an identity that incorporated two different cultures.
Her next drastic adjustment was living with an unfamiliar family back in the U.S. This second global move proved more daunting than the first due to the absence of her family.
“The day of my departure, inside the walls of a small apartment crammed into an overpopulated city in South Korea, my father inquired, ‘Ready?’” she said. “With that word, though I had only breathed for 13 years, I became the competent, 6,124th resident of the little town of Houlton that blesses its inhabitants with a six -month ≠long, Siberian-≠like winter. In this foreign environment, despite my paralyzing fear of making new friends and switching schools, the transition was, in fact, possible. While I no longer had my mother to steady my heart at dentist appointments, I efficiently adapted so that my biological family was no longer my sole source of support.”
Choi encouraged her peers to fight through whatever fears they may have and to push themselves outside of their comfort zone on a regular basis.
