.jpg)
“I challenge you all to push your limits from this moment forward. Through you highest and lowest moments, never stop pushing yourself and never stop growing. I wish all of you the best of luck moving forward in any and all that you do. Congratulations class of 2023, we’ve earned this,” salutatorian Baylee Slagle told her classmates before they walked across the stage to earn their diplomas.
Parry McCluer High School’s graduating class of 2023 celebrated their hard work after a unique four years of high school by gathering at their commencement ceremony at Cameron Hall on Saturday.
The ceremony was kicked off with a rendition of the National Anthem, sung by three PMHS graduating seniors.
PMHS Principal Todd Jones took to the podium to address his seniors. He asked everyone to take a moment of silence in remembrance of a lost “Blue,” Jaden Baker.
Baker died in a car accident in 2013 at the age of 8, a student at Enderly Heights Elementary School. She would have been graduating this year from PMHS, so as a tribute to her memory, her fellow classmates placed a white flower in an empty chair after crossing the stage with their diplomas.
Three members of this year’s senior class delivered speeches during graduation.
Class Vice President Kendal Snider reflected on their senior year as the “last of everything”.
“From the moment we started this year, everyone had been telling us how fast this year was going to pass. But for the most part, we could not fathom believing this year was the last of everything,” Snider said. “The last first day, the last ‘Fighting Blues’ football game, the last day of school, and this being the last time we will all be together.”
She continued, “But seeing all of us grown and accomplish great things and reach new heights makes moments like these worth it.”
After congratulating her fellow classmates, Snider introduced the salutatorian – Slagle – and the valedictorian, David Lawhorne.
Slagle encouraged graduates to work through whatever life may throw their way as they enter this new stage of life.
“Although the future is wondrous, it is also uncertain,” she said. “There will be times it will knock you down, but there will be times it will lift you beyond the clouds. I want everyone to remember that no matter what your future throws at you, whether it be a hard class, or a crazy illness, you will get through it. Nothing is ever permanent.”
Throughout his speech, Lawhorne acknowledged the hardships the students endured through the pandemic, and he commended the class for their overwhelming success in such trying times.
“So many things have happened in the world around us in these past four years. The craziest thing was going to school during the pandemic,” Lawhorne said. “It’s pretty wild remembering all the Google meets and online school we did during that time. For a minute there we all thought the world was going to end, and we still had to do our schoolwork? That’s something we should be proud of.”
Lawhorne believes that the tenacity and familylike mentality helped pave the way to their accomplishments.
“Even without Covid, high school is hard,” he said. “All of us have made sacrifices in order to be here today. Maybe it was just setting time aside to study or staying later to get help from a teacher. Maybe it was staying up way too late doing homework because you had to go the Narrows on a weeknight. Many of you do extracurriculars. Many of you have jobs. I know a lot of you are three-sport athletes. It’s crazy how busy our schedules can get when we’re doing all of these things.”
He continued, “We’re graduating from a very small school. Our class is one big family. Even though I didn’t join Buena Vista schools until my freshman year, I quickly felt like I was adopted into the family. Even with everything you had going on in your lives, you still made the most out of high school. We should be really proud of what we’ve done.”
Principal Jones agreed with Lawhorne in that the class of 2023 should be exceedingly proud of the hard work and dedication they’ve put forth within their unusual four years of high school. He encouraged the graduates to keep striving to reach their goals, leaving the class of 2023 with a few words of advice before the students tossed their caps into the air.
“Graduates, you’ve made it. You have arrived,” Jones said. “At this moment, a new journey begins. Take risks and see what you’re capable of and never give up. Always remember to be thankful for what you have and always be willing to learn. Remember to honor others, be willing to stare down adversary, and strive to achieve your goals.”
