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The achievements of this class are nothing short of amazing and span a variety of academic, extra and co-curricular activities that touch every discipline available to our student body. From an academic standpoint, we are proud to honor a class that has an average GPA of 3.57, 10 students who have achieved the remarkable feat of earning a 4.0 throughout their high school career distinguishing them as valedictorians, and finally this class has earned $473,220 in scholarships to continue their educational journey. There is no doubt, this class is prepared for the next step, whatever that might be. We are proud of you now, and most certainly will be proud watching your future unfold.
While our celebration here will serve as a crowning experience that has, by in large encapsulated your entire lives to this point, it is not lost on me, or those in attendance that very soon this commencement will be a fading memory in the rearview mirror as you eagerly enter a world that awaits your contributions.
Ten years from now, perhaps even six months from now, you probably won’t remember the words that I am saying to you today. I suspect the majesty of this ceremony will largely dim into the background of experiences that are yet to come and the life that you are about to lead. Truth be told, I remember very little about my own high school graduation. The procession into the gym, a solo performance; and if I try hard I can almost recall walking across the stage. Don’t get me wrong, this day is incredibly important, noteworthy, and perhaps even life changing. What we are preparing to do [here] momentarily is confer upon you a diploma from Hudson High School sealed with the imprimatur of this institution. This is our community’s opportunity to see their investment in you come to fruition. It is for your parents and grandparents to celebrate your coming of age, perhaps breathe a sigh of relief, and to take pride in you! Indeed, it is a very big deal. I urge you to savor this moment, because these final minutes that are left on the clock will soon evaporate into fragmented memories.
Yes, today is a monumental occasion for you. But what led you to this day is even more noteworthy. Hopefully in these few remaining moments together we can reflect on the experiences you have had, the challenges that you have overcome, and the legacy you will leave behind. That—all of that has brought you to this defining moment that culminates today with your graduation. When you leave here with diploma in hand, understand the significance in this ceremony is much more than the ornate parchment you will be vested with shortly. The value, well that is in everything that has led up to this moment.
The life you choose to lead when you depart our halls will be marked by watershed moments. Moments that, decades from now you will remember with such vivid clarity that they could have happened yesterday. A marriage. The birth of a child. Others, perhaps memories like today may fade with the passage of time yet still be cause for a fond memory and warm smile. But at the same time, I must warn you, the sun will not shine every day. There will be days that cause you anguish. Outside those doors, the doors to this institution, it will not always be easy. The world that awaits you beyond these walls will not always be kind or courteous. The good news though, of all the challenges, triumphs, heartache, and disappointment that is yet to come: you have been well prepared to confront those obstacles in the months and in the years ahead. By all measures, you are much better equipped to handle what lies ahead than I ever was.
You see, I graduated from high school more than 30 years ago. In many ways our experience is similar. I was raised a little more than an hour from here with about 60 students in my graduating class. I had many of the same experiences that you had, we likely participated in the same activities, ran in the same circles and; well we probably both found ourselves somewhere we weren’t supposed to be on a random Friday night from time to time. Like you, I found my niche, discovered and mastered a talent while realizing I was pretty good at it—at least for a small-town Iowa kid. The trouble was, once I got to college and saw there were 50 other guys just like me I knew I was in trouble. Then to learn that compared to them I was mediocre at best was a bit deflating. Needless to say, my experience with mediocrity was not well received! But with a lot of hard work and a more than a few lucky breaks I was able to move those proverbial mountains and persevere.
Setting the trip down memory lane aside, the picturesque small hometown Iowa high school upbringing is where our similar experience ends. I would argue your experience is much richer because of the tribulations you have faced. Where I needed a good dose of luck, you have all had a good dose of life.
Across this generational divide we have shared collective moments that have altered society in ways that were unimaginable a few short years ago. I can promise that this epochal time will leave an indelible mark on you that you will recall with amazing clarity decades from now. And you will be able to leverage those unplanned lessons in ways that are yet to be determined. You will move mountains. And it will be a sight to behold.
Like your predecessors of the last two years, your high school experience was unlike those of the past. Your sophomore year was disrupted in a way that none of us could image, and we lived last year in the shadow of constant worry. Yet it is for certain your senior year was more akin to the Class of 2019 than it was to the Class of 2020 or even 2021. While safe to say this year was marked largely by a return to ‘normal’, it is also true that there have been some fundamental; if not subtle changes to the way society operates. It is certain there have been obstacles and while our journey was far from worry free, you persevered. Much has been made about the loss in learning that occurred during this time and how your education has been negatively impacted. You have proven that not to be the case and that any perceived deficiencies have been grossly overstated. I reject the notion that anything was lost or deficient and you should too. If anything, you are stronger for the experience. It would be a mistake for any of us to discount the tenacity and will of this class!
Indeed, it would be safe to say that in your short 18 years you have lived a lot of life and have had experiences that are unlikely to be repeated in the span of the next 100 years. But you will face additional challenges. This adversity will serve you well as you stitch together the watershed moments that will make up the fabric of your life.
At the beginning of the school year I challenged the staff to move mountains where necessary to ensure that each of you had the tools and skills needed to successfully navigate the path with which you are about to embark. Now you are at the gateway of that waiting world and you alone will choose the path forward. There will be obstacles. There will be mountains. If this experience has taught you anything, it is that you have the capacity to move them.
Congratulations, I am so very proud of you!
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