Thirteen years ago, when you walked through our front door as kindergarteners, I walked through the door as the ‘new superintendent’ of the Hudson Community School District. Much like you, I found those early days to be ones of curiosity, questioning, and wonderment.
In the intervening years we both have found comfort in our surroundings and our confidence grew. Our experience led to wisdom. We realized that those around us, our teachers, our principals; really the entire community that makes up this school district was designed and set up in a way to ensure success.
From the moment you walked through those doors thirteen years ago, every activity: homework assignment, test, competition, performance, and yes, for some of you even a detention from time to time; it was all designed for one purpose and one goal: To get you here today. The significance of why we are gathered here this afternoon should be lost to no one. Graduating from high school is undeniably a very big deal. Consider the experiences you have had and the time you have invested in effort to arrive at this very moment. A very long time indeed. Those thirteen years come to fruition this afternoon. Your future. Your future begins today.
At the beginning of each school year when all our employees first return to the district from their summer vacations, we hold an annual convocation. During that assembly new employees and teachers are introduced to the staff. It is an opportunity to catch up with our friends and neighbors, perhaps share a favorite vacation picture, and ease into the task of preparing our buildings for your arrival in just a few short days. It is also the only time during the school year where we have all 140 employees gathered together in one space. I use that event as a moment to reflect on our work and mission as an institution, to ponder and affirm our calling as educators, and to outline our goals and aspirations for a school year that is yet to unfold.
This year I asked our faculty and staff to focus on your, well; on our collective destiny. I did this partly because of what we have seen happen in our school district over the course of the last several years. We have experienced, and continue to sustain incredibly high academic achievement—I’ll share more on that in a minute. You continue to excel on the court and in the classroom. You understand what it means to show your Pirate Pride when in our community and the greater Cedar Valley. I hear stories all the time about how polite, kind, and courteous you are—when no one is looking. The fact is there is no better indicator of character than witnessing how someone acts when they believe no one is paying attention. Indeed, you have passed that test as well and I can attest that you are young people of great character.
I love getting these phone calls and emails. Hopefully I never grow tired of them. Truthfully though, it no longer surprises me. That’s because its baked into the DNA of this institution. It’s what we have come to expect. It’s why the community members gathered here this afternoon have invested so heavily; and so willingly in your future. It’s how your parents have raised you. It’s what the Class of 2022 showed you, and it is what you have so masterfully modeled for the Class of 2024.
All of these things, these attributes have helped this district begin to meet its destiny. Families are flocking to our schools because of the reputation you have helped mold and sustain. Now, while you won’t be here for the next chapter of our journey, you will always and forever be a Pirate. This is your home, and we look forward to welcoming your back.
So then, it was in my opening remarks to our faculty and staff that seemed so long ago, our focus was and is on our collective destiny. I asked them to help you answer with confidence one simple question: What will I be? Their charge was to help you to meet your destiny so that you have the skills and tools needed to realize your dreams and aspirations.
Those dreams began to crystalize into reality at the senior awards assembly on May 3. On that day we learned, with great clarity how you plan to answer that question. Before me I see future doctors, teachers, and electricians. Your quest to realize these goals and aspirations will scatter you across the country and break the bonds that have held you together these past thirteen years. You are well prepared to meet this very moment. Some of you will be as far away as UNLV while others will be just a few short miles down the road. For many of you, this is a scary time. For others, it is filled with great excitement. But for all of you, it is a destiny of your choosing. No matter where you go, you are doing so in effort to become what you will be. I have no doubt you will be successful wherever you may go.
Now then, about this class. The achievements of these students 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 3.48, 6 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 $622,653 in scholarships. That investment will enable you to continue your vocational journey, to fully answer that all important question: What will I be? 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.
So now we come to the final paragraph of this chapter that will become the story of your life. Thirteen years ago, we walked through the doors of this institution together. Sadly, today we part ways because our journey comes to an end. My work now turns to the successors you will leave behind. You have set a new bar of excellence that will add to the storied legacy of this school district. One that all those who follow will no doubt strive to build upon. It has been an honor, a privilege, and a thrill to walk with you on this adventure.
You now stand at the doorsteps of destiny and have proven to us that you are prepared to embrace the future you have chosen. Congratulations, good luck, and Godspeed. I am so very proud of you.
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