We’ve all heard about the graduations throughout the pandemic, the amazing resilience the Class has had and the years taken away from them, but now we enter a new segment. The graduations out of the pandemic.
Although this still remains a pandemic year with covid cases continuing and masks being required up until the end of February, this is also the first time in three years that Gorham High School gave students the option to graduate at the Merrill just as the Class of 2019 and past did. Through surveys the administration was able to decide Gorham High School was the right fit for this year and possibly for years to come.
The ceremony, on June 12th, started as normal with Principal Brian Jandreau’s “Welcome” followed by the “Pomp and Circumstance” as staff walked out with gowns and their appropriate college stoles, followed by GHS Class of 2022 students. The students were led by Marshal Asa Cutter and marching partner Colby Tucker, then Marshal Erin Castonguay and marching partner Abby Houp. Cutter, before walking outside, said he planned to “walk out there and be the best marshal Gorham has ever seen.” The duo was able to successfully lead the rows and create order within the loosely formatted ceremony.
After the 215 students walked the length of the track, they stayed standing for the Presentation of Colors presented by the Gorham Police Department and the National Anthem sung by Gorham Senior Chamber Singers. After being seated by Cutter and Castonguay the crowd was greeted by Jandreau’s Opening Remarks.
Jandreau touched on losing time with the Class of ‘22 and how they remarkably logged 9,729 volunteer hours, approximately 44 hours per student, one of the highest volunteer hours recorded in Gorham. Jandreau continued with “The Starfish Story” by Loren Eisley. The story depicts the idea of how each individual can contribute to a greater cause and how one small act can have a ripple effect.
Jandreau concluded his speech with “You are an amazing group of people. Pursue your dreams and do what you can to make the world a better place for future generations”. He then introduced Class President and Salutatorian, Kate Dupuis.
Dupuis started her speech by acknowledging she knew she would be delivering a speech on graduation day as class president and since sophomore year has tried to rack her brain with a topic. “I’ve searched for a message that’s inspiring, impactful and hopefully, even memorable, but here I am today and I still feel like I don’t have those words for you. So instead, to get my message across, I thought I’d tell you a story of two kids.”
Her message, phrased through the comparison of herself and her late brother, Jake, was to be more present, find a balance, to enjoy all life has to offer and prioritize relationships over grades. She expressed she wanted everyone to “avoid those mistakes that I have made.”
Dupuis conveyed her checkmark mentality as she “lived from one task to the next” as she made her way through school. Her need for academic excellence overshadowed her time with friends and family. “I can’t turn back time and bask in the sun with my neighborhood friends instead of studying for that vocab quiz but I can promise to live in the priceless present going forward. And as Jake would say, “go get Chipotle, your class can wait.”
Following Dupuis’ speech was valedictorian Clara Shvets. Shvets opened with a poem by Lina Kostenko titled The Wings about humans having wings from “truth, honor, and trust.” The poem explained that our wings are made from “loyalty and love, some with steady aspirations, others with full heartedness and work, others with selfless care.”
She ended with “just four years ago, most of us were at the middle school, celebrating those years and preparing for high school. We each had dreams and goals to inspire us, challenges and hurdles to overcome.” Shvets continued with, “by leaving High School we are spreading the wings we have built over the last four years.”
After the valedictorian address, keynote speaker Kenny Tuttle took the stage. The Gorham Class of 2015 graduate talked about his journey battling cancer as he highlighted perseverance while he learned to find a balance and endure the challenges he faced.
His main message was “don’t let life’s troubles dictate who you are and what you do. Recognize your passions and use them to overcome what’s presented.” Tuttle ended by saying “you are the only one who writes your life story and you only have one chance to write it” so in our future stories we should “aim to make the world a better place [and] aim to make the individuals around you better people.”
Next came, what every graduate and guest was waiting for: diplomas. The rows started with the core four officers, Kate Dupuis, Erin Castonguay, Brady Sawyer and Dylan Morrill and ended with Courtney Rent and Arzou Sayed. The officers then initiated the turning of the tassel from right to left, followed by the first class song performed outside, “I’m On Top of the World” by Imagine Dragons.
After the last “I’m on Top of the World” was sung, Jandreau officially announced the Class of 2022 graduates and the array of caps were thrown. Ellie Perry encapsulated the feelings of many graduates by saying “I’m so glad I can spend this day with my favorite people surrounding me. It’s such a big moment in my life.”
Amidst all the celebration among families and friends and their graduates, Elijah Wyatt summed up the day by saying “It feels like everything is wrapping up. It’s bittersweet.”
To the Class of 2022, be present, continue being resilient, persevere through the hard times and make your relationships count. Congratulations.
