Salutatorian Morgan Sarkis tells the class not to stand by while others board that plane, ride that roller coaster. See more photos here.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — It wasn't just the Drury High class of 2023 getting some advice on Thursday night.
Valedictorian Evan-Quin Goodermote included the family, friends and staff filling the auditorium seats in their call to live with determination.
"Rather than deliver some big speech about the passing of the torch, the turning of the page and chapters of our lives, I want to talk about the difference between surviving and living," Goodermote said to the 61 graduates on the stage. "All my life I've been taught that those two things are somehow synonymous, that they need to exist in some form of consciousness, but surviving is the act of keeping yourself alive. ...
"But living, truly living is the pursuit of fulfillment, contentment and happiness."
Goodermote urged their classmates to dig deep into the soil and get their hands "filthy with the soil to allow your purpose to grow." Take risks, seek opportunities but don't let failures detract from your goal, they said, noting how the class had grown in a world full of challenges.
"You will be taking that failure and working it into the soil for the next plants you grow. Use what you collect from your mistakes and learn from them to retire next time and start back at square one," Goodermote said. "Relish in the fact that you have the resilience to keep going even as roadblocks appear as your path becomes steep once again."
And to the audience, "I encourage the same. Don't just survive anymore, live."
Salutatorian Morgan Sarkis urged them to face their fears and go boldly into the next chapter of their lives.
"This is not the time to sit on the ground and watch our friends ride the roller coaster, this is not the time to sit on the beach roasting on the sand and watching from a distance," she said. "This is the time that you're going to board the plane confidently knowing what a wonderful time to awaits."
Sarkis asked them to think about the "trials and tribulations that we endured over the last four years" and how that "endemic uncertainty" allowed them to become stronger individuals.
"We adapt and adjust to meet our needs at any given time," she said. "We will all end up where we are meant to be. This is a piece of advice that I will continue to take with me"
Class co-President Nicholas Lescarbeau welcomed the gathering, saying how much he appreciated his classmates and thanking parents and families "for your unwavering love You have been our biggest supporters and we owe our accomplishments to your sacrifices and encouragement. We stand here today because of you."
Ash Gardzina sang "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "I'll Always Remember You," as the class waved the flashlights on their phones. Principal Stephanie Kopala presented the awards with Director of Curriculum and Instruction Krista Gmeiner and Class Treasurer Emma Bergeron read off the scholarships.
Superintendent Barbara Malkas said she admired the class for having "lived history with flexibility, adaptability, you have lived the values of personal responsibility and resilience, and collectively it has not been an easy road to this day. And for some it has been even more challenging road."
Malkas presented the class and handed out diplomas with Mayor Jennifer Macksey, who told them that there's no recipe for life but to strive to be the best person they can.
Class co-President Rachael Barrows presented the yearbook dedication to physical education and health teacher John Moore, saying he has been there to listen to and support students. "This has an impact that will last a lifetime and we will never be able to thank you enough for being a rock," she said.
The graduation ceremonies, which had a few tearing up stage, ended with the singing of "Drury, Mother on the Hill" and the setting off of confetti cannons.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Neal Secures $700,000 for North Adams Flood Chutes Project
Mayor Jennifer Macksey at last August's signing of an agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers.
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — U.S. Rep. Richard Neal has secured $700,000 in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' budget to complete a feasibility study of the Hoosic River flood chutes.
The Corps of Engineers is in the midst of a three-year, $3 million study of the aging concrete flood chutes that control the passage of the river through the city.
North Adams has ponied up $500,000 as part of its share of the study and another $1.5 million is expected to come from state and federal coffers. Neal previously secured $200,000 in the fiscal 2023 omnibus spending package to begin the feasibility study.
The additional funding secured by Neal will allow for the completion of the study, required before the project can move on to the next phase.
Neal celebrated it as a significant step in bringing the flood chutes project to fruition, which he said came after several months of communication with the Corps.
"The residents of North Adams have long advocated for much needed improvements to the city's decades-old flood chutes. This announcement is a substantial victory for the city, one that reaffirms the federal government's commitment to making this project a reality," said the congressman. "As a former mayor, I know firsthand the importance of these issues, especially when it comes to the safety and well-being of residents.
"That is why I have prioritized funding for this project, one that will not only enhance protections along the Hoosic River Basin and reduce flood risk, but also make much critical improvements to the city's infrastructure and create jobs."
But not enough for Finance Committee member Andrew Fitch, who voted against the compensation and classification plan because it did not include a city planner.
click for more
The Corps of Engineers is in the midst of a three-year, $3 million study of the aging concrete flood chutes that control the passage of the river through the city.
click for more
This weekend, the Berkshires and surrounding areas will have a variety of events, including concerts, comedy, farmers' markets, and more.
click for more
The License Board on Tuesday approved two license transfers including one for V&V and a license for a restaurant in the former BrewHaHa on West Main Street.
click for more
Board Chair Peter Mirante thanked the sponsors of the breakfast event at the Berkshire Hills Country Club, including his employer, Adams Community Bank, for allowing him to attend the nonprofit's many events and functions and encouraging his involvement. click for more