Page 7 - Priorities 5

Class of 2001 Moves Up To High School
Graduates:
Ross Anderson Andrew Asadorian Elena Basegio
Blake Bechtel Michael Bohley Gina Budde Kristina Campbell Devin Coats Roxanne Crittenden Julia Dobervich Bradley Ehikian Sarah Graebner Sara Gundell Kendall Holland Laura Hurlbut Warner Iverson Brian Kelly
Emily Kirkland David Lando Michael LeBeau John Martin William Murdock Matthew Neter Katharine Newman Helene Nguyen Laura Nowell Stephen Rice Christopher Schnoor Pernilla Schweitzer Erin Trish
Claire Waterman Allyson Wengert
Co-valedictorians are Helene Nguyen, standing beside Ms. Stoner, and Laura Nowell, to Helene’s left.
Each graduate received the traditional diploma and a plaque with personal inscriptions from their teachers.
With boutonnieres on the boys’ jacket lapels and bouquets bound with blue and white ribbons in the girls’ hands, Woodside Priory’s eighth grade class filed in procession to the Chapel at 5 p.m. and emerged an hour later full-fledged members of the High School Freshman Class.
Among the speakers’ comments were these from class co-valedictorians Helene Nguyen and Laura Nowell:
“We have reached a point now where the correct questions to ask are more important than moving immediately to the issue of what the correct answers are. We can do this only by each establishing our own internal standards and values. If we don’t do this, we (might) at some point...realize that we are on the top rung of the ladder, but up against the wrong wall,” Laura said.
Helene counseled against extremes in high school life. “Being a worrywart...is just going to make life miserable. There will never be happiness nor will there be time for enjoyment. On the other hand, being a careless, lazy couch carrot will prevent anything useful from getting done...What we must do is find a balance.”
The students asked Doug Sargent, their computer teacher, math teacher and coach, to be their commencement speaker. “I am going to tell you about one of the worst decisions I ever made,” he said, and recounted a story of landing in a tiny college in 110-degree heat in the Arizona desert, a disappointing school in all respects, all because he didn’t investigate for himself and use his own judgment. Instead, he listened to and relied on some friends. “As you move through the challenges of high school... and are tantalized with the excuse, ‘everybody does it’ ... don’t!” he advised the class.
Nearly all of the students will be returning next fall and they will be joined by new freshmen, making a class of about 50 students.
7