In a joint speech by Class President Emma Curley and Alexis McClure, the two Hillsboro-Deering High School graduates thanked their family and friends for the “unwavering support” that led them to this moment in their lived.
They talked about the journey the class of 2021 had gone through in order to graduate. Curley mentioned a winter carnival lip syncing competition that brought the class closer together. They talked of the challenges brought upon them by the pandemic.
“Everything was different about this school year: we were split into cohorts, masks were mandatory, and we were socially distanced from our friends,” said McClure.
Social studies teacher James Maccabe couldn’t have been more enthusiastic for the class. Addressing the graduates, he talked of his journey to become a teacher and the parallel path he and the students had been on for the past four years. Maccabe started teaching the same year that 2021 graduates first entered high school.
“You don’t forget the first one, you just don’t,” said Maccabe.
Under a cloud sky Friday night, 82 graduates, robed in red, received their diplomas. Among them was Rachel VanOlmen, who plans on going to the University of Hartford where she will pursue degrees in finance and marketing. VanOlmen was excited to actually be seeing people unmasked for the first time in a long time.
“It’s kind of unreal since it’s been so long,” said VanOlmen. Most of all, she said she will remember the friendships from high school and her experiences on the track team.
Another graduate, Rylee Goulette will be heading off to college in North Carolina to study business. Goulette said the graduation ceremony showed a return to normalcy. “It’s kinda a window into the future,” said Goulette.
Pricipal Jim O’Rourke praised the graduated for their resilience.
“By January 2021, this class started to tread water, and in some cases started to go under. They lost sight of the shore but had the courage, perseverance and drive to reach the horizon and earn the honor to be sitting here in front of you.” said O’Rourke.
Curley and McClure ended their speech looking towards their futures.
“As the poster in Mrs. Haynes & Mrs. List’s math room said, ‘30 years from now, it won’t matter what shoes you wore, how your hair looked, or the jeans you bought. What will matter is what you learned and how you use it,’ ” Curley said.