Freeman HS graduation: 'I implore you to take the risks'
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With blue skies above, the 408 graduates of Douglas S. Freeman High School celebrated the school’s 65th commencement ceremony June 16.
“The best lesson out of wind sprints, or final exams, or even the butterflies before you take the stage is that these things teach you that you can do hard things,” Principal John Marshall said. “After this year, we can say that these students received a master class in that subject. Class of 2021, I believe that because you can do hard things, that you have mastered that skill, that you have the capability to do great things.”
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Marshall acknowledged the resiliency among the Class of 2021 during the COVID-19 pandemic and suggested that they now possess superpowers that allow them to achieve greatness.
“What I want to challenge you with today is ‘what will you do with those powers?’” Marshall said. “I believe that happiness comes from using one's talents and service to others. The best use of your hard-earned superpowers, those you obtained by surviving and thriving these challenging conditions will be to make the world a better place.”
The first class to graduate with the new Maverick mascot donned navy gowns and light blue sashes for their graduation at the Richmond Raceway.
Student speaker and Class of 2021 president Jacob Taylor enlisted his peers to try whatever they want to pursue in their life now because now is the time to fail.
“While we shouldn't seek out failure, we will all face it in our lives,” Taylor said. “It is a constant. If we live in constant fear of it, we will find ourselves evading our goals rather than evading failure itself, so I implore you to take the risks.”
Amanda Gagen, a Class of 2021 graduate, said while addressing her peers that they must accept the changes that are coming and muscle through the discomfort that results from it.
“Through change, we have the opportunity to form new habits, new routines, new loves and new lives,” Gagen said. “In these new lives, we are able to look inside of the big things and find the little things. Those little things that form the beautiful comfort that becomes the wonderful mundane we grow to love so much.”
