Email
Print
High school graduations full of cheerful, tearful moments
Photo by James Nix
A.L. Brown math teacher Molly Charles gives senior Tristan Steele a hug as the graduating class prepares for its commencement cermony Friday night in Kannapolis.
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: June 13, 2009
Julia Jarvis urged her peers to stay positive. Michael Boyle advised never letting failures debunk anyone's dreams, and Christopher Miller told his classmates to recognize that it was their moment, and they should embrace it.
As the class of 2009 celebrated commencements in Cabarrus County and Kannapolis City schools this weekend, students and faculty gave many pieces of advice. Commencement speakers offered words of wisdom from everyone from Robert Frost and Ralph Waldo Emerson to rapper T.I. and singer Rihanna.
For her last commencement speech as principal at A. L. Brown High School, Debra Morris provided her students with nine life lessons to remember. They included not taking people for granted, making the most of every day, taking risks, not taking bad hair days or any other troubles out on others and leaving a positive legacy.
"How successful you are is not about intelligence," Morris said. "It is about work ethic. Your future is in your hands. Make it what you want it to be."
Cabarrus County Superintendent Barry Shepherd also offered several tips and requests for graduates in the school system. He advised them to approach life with urgency and purpose, be open to challenges, serve others, remain curiously in motion and to not be spectators in life.
"Be safe as you celebrate your graduation, and make the most of your life," Shepherd said.
While each ceremony had its unique speakers and words of wisdom, there were the usual expressions of emotions at this weekend's commencements.
There were tears shed as many families and friends watched graduates march into the ceremony, as well as when a member of the Concord High School senior ensemble paused while singing, "End of the Road," to wipe away tears and receive a hug from a fellow singer.
There was laughter when Julia Jarvis thanked the Academy and Harrison Ford when she spoke to A.L. Brown graduates and when Chase Johnston mentioned and quoted several of his Jay M. Robinson High School teachers, including Andrew Platek.
"His speech was really funny," said Isiah Harris, 18, a Robinson graduate. "The way he messed with the teachers made me laugh."
But the most overwhelming expressions of emotion were the cheers and applause. These came as A. L. Brown graduates were told to approach the stage and receive their diplomas, when Robinson graduates were pronounced the last class of the single digits, or when Hickory Ridge High School seniors were about to enter the first commencement ceremony of their high school.
The cheers and applause continued as each graduate was handed a diploma and then shook hands, smiled and for some, did a little dance as they walked across the stage.
As many graduates recognized the13 years of individual hard work to get to their graduation, they also acknowledged the unity they felt as the class of 2009.
"I'm excited to be with a group I've been with since we were in diapers," said Holly Cottom, the senior class president of Concord High. "Since we are from such a small town, I'm as proud of my peers as I am myself."
Hickory Ridge made several references to that unity as the first graduating class.
"A majority of our students came from two rival schools," graduate Ashley Wood said. "(We) came together as one united school."
Managing editor Jonathan E. Coleman
Email
Print
ADVERTISEMENT
Click a region for news specific to that area.
 |
||
 |
 |
 |
 |
||
 |
||
 |
||
Advertisement
