Bermudian Springs High School celebrated its commencement ceremony on Wednesday, June 3.
During the ceremony, class president Layna Lowry asked her class to consider whether they are truly happy rather than simply checking off boxes, reminiscing about her father asking her the same question.
“Without a doubt, after every big accomplishment, every milestone, every moment that’s supposed to feel important, he asks me the same question: But are you happy?” Lowry said. “And every time, I kind of laughed and said, ‘Yeah, I am.’ because to me, it always felt like such an obvious and, frankly, annoying question. But the older I’ve gotten, the more I’ve realized that it isn’t.”
Lowry said that their high school career may have felt like alternating between periods of rushing and waiting, and graduation provided an opportunity for reflection about true desires and goals.
“The truth is, most of life doesn’t happen in milestones,” Lowry said. “It happens in ordinary minutes we barely notice when living them: the ordinary walks between classes we thought would last forever, the conversations we didn’t realize were actually saying goodbye in disguise, the versions of ourselves we kept shedding without even realizing we were changing. That’s what growing up really is, not becoming somebody entirely new, but slowly realizing you are always becoming someone, even in moments you thought didn’t matter.”
Salutatorian Alaina Dunham reminded the class that they have been influenced and helped by those around them.
Dunham named her twin brother as a source of “friendly competition” who was key to her growth.
“While our past may have been different, none of us reached this moment entirely on our own,” Dunham said. “If there’s one thing high school has taught us, it’s that we’re all more connected than we realize. Whether it’s getting help on a difficult assignment, encouragement before a game, or desperately asking someone what the homework was five minutes before class started, we relied on each other more than we probably noticed at the time.”
Dunham challenged her audience to “find courage to become that person for someone else” as they start on the next chapter of their life.
Valedictorian Mikolay Foursevitch had a similar theme, naming a long list of teachers, family members and friends who helped him get to graduation.
Foursevitch said he pushed hard for academic success ever since middle school, then overcame burnout in his junior year to enjoy “wonderful opportunities for leadership and growth” in his senior year.
In the commencement program, Foursevitch is credited with earning the Eagle Award, the Harold L. Griffie STEM Scholarship, the Jean Barnett Trone Memorial Scholarship, the Lenfest Scholarship, and the Presidential Academic Award, as well as being a member of the National Honor Society and being a Distinguished Honor awardee.
Foursevitch said he faced some challenges. He told of being accepted to his dream university, then realizing when the award letter came that it was not financially viable to attend. Instead, Foursevitch said he will go somewhere more affordable.
The valedictorian encouraged others, particularly those who feel unprepared for life after graduation, and reminded them that they are not alone.
“Strive to be smarter, humbler, kinder, and more willing to open our hearts and spread love and compassion with one another,” Foursevitch said.
Following the performance of Fleetwood Mac’s “Landslide” by the senior choir members, Bermudian Springs High School principal Michael Brooks reminded graduates of the variety of ways success can manifest.
“Some of you will define success by your grades, your class rank, your awards, athletic accomplishments or your future careers,” Brooks said. “Those achievements do matter and many you’ve earned through hard work and determination. But success is bigger than a transcript and a title.”
Brooks said success may look different for everyone.
“Success is getting back up after failure,” Brooks said. “Success is showing kindness when no one is watching. Success is choosing integrity when shortcuts are easier. Success is learning how to keep moving forward, even when life is difficult.”
Sometimes, success might be invisible to others, Brooks said.
“Some of you have balanced school and jobs while helping to support your families,” Brooks said. “Some overcame anxiety, loss, setbacks, challenges around you people never fully saw. Some of you struggled academically but refused to quit. Some learned how to believe in yourselves again after moments of doubt.”
Despite outward metrics of success – including money and popularity – remaining highly visible and valued by society, Brooks said graduates should feel successful if they are reliable, respectful and helpful.
The graduation ceremony can be viewed on the district’s YouTube channel.
