Blair Oaks High School Principal Melinda Aholt told graduating seniors Sunday evening they have impacted her life as she watched them overcome adversity this past year.
That included losses in sports to the pandemic to the loss of loved ones, including a classmate. The school graduated 116 students, plus one in spirit - Cooper Smith, who died in a vehicle wreck less than two weeks ago.
"You have all been through tough times. You have seen me go through tough times. Watching you hold your head up high taught me to do the same," Aholt said.
Aholt, chosen by the senior class to give the commencement speech, said she loved watching the class grow into leaders and serving any way they could, whether at a Veterans Day assembly, collecting canned goods, making items for Autumn Ridge Living Center residents or playing with children at Little Explorers Discovery Center.
"I have always focused on three things: learn, lead and serve," she said. "And you have mastered all of them. As I look back over the past couple of years, you have taught us we all make mistakes, but it's what we do with those mistakes that define us."
She told the seniors they reminded her of the biblical verse Joshua 1:9: "Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid, do not be discouraged. The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."
She said her mother always told her that God's plans were the best plans.
"Your lifestreams may change, and what you think you want, there is something even bigger and better out there for you," she said.
She told them to continue making an impact in the next chapter of their lives, just as they made an impact on her life.
"I know God has big plans for you. Just look at the places you can make a difference," she said.
Of the seniors graduating, 45 plan to attend four-year colleges, while 56 will attend two-year or technical colleges. Thirteen plan to enter the work world directly, and two plan to enter the military.
The seniors earned more than $1.9 million in scholarships, not including 51 seniors who received A+ scholarships. Forty-four seniors earned college preparatory certificates and three were awarded Bright Flight scholarships.
The school no longer honors valedictorians or salutatorians. But 16 graduated cum laude, four graduated magna cum laude and 11 summa cum laude. The National Honor Society accepted 22 class members.
Superintendent Jim Jones told the graduates their senior year is supposed to be like a victory lap culminating a 13-year education. Instead, it was an unprecedented year filled with challenges.
"It is not about what you were able to accomplish but more importantly to me about the challenging conditions in which you were able to accomplish them," he said.
He said the school district's No. 1 focus was to not allow any students to be adversely affected by a situation they didn't create and couldn't control. Their junior years ended with 41 days of extended closure due to the pandemic. Their senior years were filled with face coverings, contact tracing, quarantines and limited attendance events.
But he said the school found innovative ways to have dances and other functions.
Jones said the class faced significant adversities.
"But your reaction was 100 percent spot on and a model to our school, community, state, country and the world," he said. "Seniors and senior parents, thanks for helping to right the ship. I'm so proud of all of you."