By Aidan Mortensen | KOAL News
The sun is setting on another school year in the Castle Country, and with it comes commencement ceremonies aplenty. Emery High School’s class of 2025 had the opportunity to walk across the stage to receive their diploma on Thursday, May 22.
Opening the ceremony was an honor address by Allison Johansen entitled ‘Moving Forward with Optimism.'” Tonight is not just the celebration of students,” said Johansen. This is a ceremony of commencement, of beginnings. It signifies the first step of the journey that lies ahead.”
“Looking back at the last 18 years of my life, I know I wouldn’t be the person I am without the support of the mentors around me …. Now, we, the class of 2025, get to choose our paths of engagement. Many of us have chosen to serve missions for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints across the U.S. and throughout the world. Some are going to college, both in state and across the country … So, as you leave tonight to face the future, I encourage you all to embrace the opportunity and journey ahead of you. Approach each challenge as an opportunity for growth, and trust that the choice you make will have a positive impact on the world.”
Following Johansen’s remarks, senior members of the Emery High Choir performed a rendition of ‘Remember Me’ from the Disney/Pixar film ‘Coco.’
Salutatorian Kallee Lake addressed attendees next and encouraged graduates to “find a groove that works for you.”
“In the movie’ Cars,’ which is a favorite of many in our class, the main character, Lightning Mcqueen, finds himself in a precarious situation. As the final race nears its close, he is behind an entire lap and struggling to get into a winning position. As the race becomes tighter and tighter, his mentor, Doc Hudson, tells him what he should do next. He says, ‘Find a groove that works for you and get that lap back.'” She continued,” I’m confident that we have found our groove and left our mark. We also wave the green flag as we enter the next phase of our life. Some of us know where that race will take them, and some are still trying to figure it out … As we move into our futures, remember, wherever you go or whatever you do, if you find yourself in a precarious situation, just relax and find your groove.”
Rounding out the speakers was Valedictorian Maleeya Mecham, whose address was “Forever Bold.”
“We’re graduating; it’s time to move on with our lives. We each have our own class missions, careers, colleges, and plans to enlist in the military. Graduates, no matter what your plan is, I ask that you be bold, confident and courageous. In life, we won’t always make the right decisions, and some of our plans will change. But if we are bold, we will be able to survive like we did here at Emery High.
Mecham continued,” We have had to make some of life’s most important decisions in the past nine months. We must continue to do so if we want to succeed. We may have to switch career paths, majors and schools, but being bold will give us the confidence that we need to succeed.”
In closing, the Valedictorian evoked Winnie the Pooh’s immortal words: ” Be bold enough to use your voice, brave enough to listen to your heart, and strong enough to live the life you’ve always imagined.”
Castle Country Radio would like to congratulate the Emery High class of 2025 and wish them luck in their future endeavors.