Taconic High School Graduates Told To Be Brave and Go Big
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With a celebratory batting of beach balls into the year, the class of 2013 completed their high school years. |
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Taconic High School seniors are ready to "be brave" and "go big."
On Saturday, the school district award diplomas to class of 2013 in the school's gymnasium. The class of Taconic Braves have already been brave enough to handle the challenges posed by high school and now it is time for them to face challenges in the next phase of their lives.
"Now it is time to be brave on other fronts. Be brave to approach that first job or that first class in college, make new friends, take new risks, apply yourselves and learn as much as you can. For those of you who may be entering the military, your bravery is an example for all of us because you give us safety, security and ultimately, peace," School Committee Secretary Catherine Yon said at Sunday's graduation ceremony.
"My message is simple. Congratulations, good luck and Braves, wherever you go, go big."
For valedictorian Cara Partridge, being brave comes from the people who are there to support the students, "even if it is a Spanish teach who makes you translate all of your questions first." The most important thing the students have learned at Taconic is that there will always be people who care, she said.
"There is no need to be afraid of the future when you have people behind you that care about you," Partridge told her classmates. "We made mistakes at Taconic. We're going to make mistakes in the future. But that is no reason not to take chances."
Principal John Vosburgh has seen those mistake but he has seen the accomplishments as well. Vosburgh has followed the students through the Pittsfield School System since middle school, making the class of 2013 special for him.
"This year's graduation is particularly a special event for me. This is my last opportunity to speak to a class of students with whom I've worked very closely with for seven years," Vosburgh said. "I first met most of you when you entered Reid Middle School as sixth-graders, seven years ago. I became your vice principal when you were in seventh grade and followed you here to Taconic your freshman year. To say I know you well is an understatement. I've enjoyed every moment working with you as a group and as individuals."
As final words of advice to the class he knows so well, Vosburgh read "10 rules you don't learn in high school," which were first said by Bill Gates at a commencement speech. The rules may sound blunt but knowing the students so well, Vosburgh said they would be "inspiring and motivating."
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Valedictorian Cara Partridge said the most important thing the students have learned is that there will always be friends and family who care for them. |
He then ask the students "to never forget where you came from."
Co-salutatorian Stephanie Carvalho remembers where she, and her classmates, came from. She recalled how she felt when she graduated middle and the class moved to the high school level.
"Before I entered high school, I envisioned it being somewhat glamorous since the awkward stages we've all faced in middle school left us totally idealizing the next phase of our lives," Carvalho said.
"High school has delivered us more freedom but also the responsibility that comes with it. The success our class has achieved with that responsibility is simply amazing."
After watching the students grow and achieve great things, Carvalho knows "we will move on to better things."
Co-salutatorian Shannon Houghtlin also has no fears of her class meeting challenges "head-on" because that is what "Taconic has taught us."
"These years were short and memorable," she said, and recited administrative and personnel changes that had gone on around them during those years. But, "we learned truly amazing things, we've worked intensely and we've come together to overcome obstacles."
Mayor Daniel Bianchi credited reaching that point with the support of family and friends. He pointed to the crowd "on the hard seats" and asked the students to give their parents and grandparents an "extra hug" for all they have done to help them get through high school.
But it wasn't all of the parent's doing. Getting to graduation has shown that the students "can be successful," he said.
"You've been persisted for 13 years. You've mastered a variety of academic programs, engaged in athletics, theater programs and any other extracurricular activities. Lesser mortals may not have survived as you have," Bianchi said. "You've got something to hang your hat on. You've shown that you can be successful. But like all achievements, your high school diplomas didn't come easily."
And now the journey into the future "begins here and begins today," Houghtlin said.
For Superintendent Gordon Noseworthy, Sunday was the day when he reached his goals. Noseworthy recalled when he was an intern at Taconic in 1970 and saw the dignitaries on stage at that graduation. He set his mind to becoming one of those dignitaries and finally this year, 43 years later, he took the podium to a loud applause.
But, he said the ceremony isn't about what he has accomplished but the students and what they can accomplish in the future.
"Each of you have your goals, plan and directions. But now, you have to get moving. Focus your energy, capitalize on your independance and know when you need to lean on your resources and when to forge ahead," Noseworthy said.
And with that, the graduates received their diplomas and launched and batted celebratory beach balls high into the gymnasium air before leaving the school to greet their friends and family.
