By Stephen Smoot
Graduation day welcomed students with rain, gray skies, and even a flood watch, but nothing could dim the shining faces of those students, family, friends, and others who packed the John M. Dice Fieldhouse last weekend.
Graduating seniors walked in two by two, ladies clad in light blue and the gentlemen graduates wearing the Navy shade of that color. They walked to “Pomp and Circumstance,” played expertly by freshman student Olivia Gonshor.
Senior class president, Megan Smith, opened the proceedings with an invocation, saying “gracious God, thank you for the opportunity to be here today.”
Timothy Johnson, principal, then gave some opening remarks. Joking about the 15-minute technical delay, he said, “I wanted you to know how it feels when someone comes in late.” He then said that he wanted to open the 26th graduation ceremony of the school’s existence by thanking teachers, staff, and the school board.
Attendees applauded that and also “the parents and guardians of the Class of 2024.”
“This one is extra special to me,” Johnson shared, saying, “I’ve watched this class for seven years . . . I’ve watched them grow, improve, overcome obstacles with their hard work.” Notably, the class includes his own daughter.
Myra Mitchell, class salutatorian, ascended to the podium next. Her talk parsed the lyrics of the class’s chosen song, “Simple Man,” relating the words to her class’s past and future experience. The Lynyrd Skynyrd classic tune is about a mother trying to advise her son on how to live both a simple and a happy life.
She started with “take your time, don’t live too fast. Troubles will come and they will pass.” Mitchell explained that life inevitably includes overcoming obstacles and that one need not go to the elite schools, earn millions, or go to the absolute top of their fields to have a wonderful and productive life.
“It is perfectly fine to live a simple life and be a simple man,” she said.
She closed by quoting, “Don’t forget son, there is someone up above.”
Class advisor, Jennifer Cook, then introduced the class valedictorian, Kaylee Callison. Callison started her theme with “think about a time when you were nervous,” also stating that “we have the ability to get into our heads.”
“Fear and nervousness should not hold a person back from pursuing their dreams,” she said. Then added, “Maybe fear is the only thing holding you back.” Students should “push through the fear and believe in ourselves.”
“We can be the people our younger selves dreamed of being,” Callison concluded.
Matt Firor then provided the commencement address. Firor grew up in Upper Tract, but has been a major figure in the video game industry since the days when children got excited about playing Pac Man on their Atari 2600s. Firor helped to drive the popularity of massive multiplayer games. He founded Mythic Entertainment and currently serves as studio director of ZeniMax Online Studios.
He opened by speaking about an experience at what was once called the vocational and technical school in Petersburg, now South Branch Career and Technical Center. Firor saw options in computer work, but none that included programming. Someone replied that “people who go to Petersburg vo-tech don’t program computers. (The same school now offers classes in coding that help lay the foundation for learning about computer programming.)
“I’ve done lots of amazing things, but I’m from here,” Firor emphasized. Far from being a detriment, he explained, “It’s a very big advantage to be from here.” In Pendleton County, Firor stated, one grows up with values of hard work and perseverance that remain key to success wherever a person hails from.
In the late 80s, as Firor and his colleagues pushed toward the transition to massive multiplayer games, away from isolated consoles, he said “there was no one to tell us you couldn’t do it.”
After Firor’s speech, attendees enjoyed the traditional senior slide show. Headshots and fun pictures of childhood and high school experiences entertained attendees, who often clapped and shouted at their beloved friends and family’s images.
After the slide show, seniors marched onto stage one by one to receive the degrees they worked so hard to earn. Some may have thought about their experiences in school leading up to this moment, while the minds of others were likely focused on what is coming next in life.
Smith then gave the benediction, saying, “Dear Lord, surround all of your graduates with grace . . . in Your name we pray, amen.”
Johnson then added some final words, “Lead by example, work hard, play straight.”
As the young adults formerly known as seniors and their supporters filed out, a bit of sun and blue sky broke through the clouds that had dominated the sky all morning long.
