CHURUBUSCO, Ind. (June 5, 2009) – It may be a cliche, Alayna Skinner told fellow graduates of Churubusco High School’s class of 2009, but it was indeed, the first day of the rest of their lives.
Skinner, valedictorian of the class, addressed the crowd of hundreds who attended the June 5 graduation ceremony at Churubusco High School Friday night, June 5.
A range of emotions emitted from the throng of graduates who filled the hallway prior to the ceremony. There were tears and laughter, the sharing of joyful and poignant memories and last-minute worries about whether the cap would stay on or whether someone would trip and fall or animated chatter regarding whose graduation parties they would be attending that weekend.
By Viv Sade
for Busco Voice
Friends and proud family members packed into the hot and muggy high school gymnasium - a CHS tradition – using programs to fan themselves and snapping photos of their loved ones – beautiful young adults with bright, smiling faces – full of hope for the future.
Skinner was one of those faces.
“We have a bright future ahead of us,” she said in her valedictorian speech. “We now have the opportunity to go out into the world and make our mark.”
She cited Charles Swindoll’s quote in accessing their future: “Life is 10 percent what happens to us and 90 percent how we respond to it.”
“It is within our power to control our responses,” Skinner said. “I find it comforting to know I have these friends and memories. The teachers prepared us well – they taught us not only academics, but perseverance, confidence and compassion.”
Other speakers included salutatorian Allison Norris, who spoke of the outstanding athletic abilities and records of all sports teams at Churubusco High School with in the past four years, interim superintendent Bruce Hippensteel and high school principal Austin Couch.
Hippensteel urged graduates to do three things – continue to be an active learner; volunteer and “give back”; and remember their parents, friends and educators who encouraged and challenged them.
Couch urged the graduates to follow their dreams, no matter how difficult or how many setbacks they encountered.
“Aim high,” Couch said. “What would you do if you know you could not fail? Would you be a professional athlete, play in a rock band or write a classic like The Old Man and the Sea?”
“There’s nothing wrong with aiming high,” Couch said. “It may be difficult and you may encounter setbacks, but follow your dream. It is more difficult to get to a point in your life where you look back with regret.”
“I hope you will enjoy a life of achievement, more laughter than tears and find goodness in others and be kind,” Couch said before closing with related quotes from Henry David Thoreau: “Do not worry if you have built your castles in the air. They are where they should be. Now put the foundations under them. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”
Post your comments or notes of congratulations below.
I would just like to say how proud I am of my daugher Crystal for graduating high school and want to wish her the best that a dad can. She is a compasionate person and will do very well.
I also want to say how proud I am to be the uncle of Alayna Skinner. It is exciting to have one of my family members to achieve what she has. I wish her the best as well.
Ken Wilkins