By Ashley McLeod, Staff writer
Jun 15, 2016, 11:24
HOPEWELL — Students, family, friends and faculty at Hopewell High School gathered under the hot sun on Saturday to celebrate the class of 2016 during graduation ceremonies.
With more than 250 students earning their diploma during the 101st graduation ceremony for the high school, the commemoration was filled with tears, words of wisdom and cheers for the 2016 graduates.
New school superintendent Dr. Melody Hackney spoke at the commencement ceremonies. In her speech, Hackney listed 10 gifts, which are given to a person at birth: Strength, beauty, courage, compassion, hope, joy, talent, imagination, reverence, wisdom, love and faith. Hackney encouraged students to use these gifts and to expand on them.
“My wish for you is that you always recognize and cling to those gifts you were given at birth. Grow them, practice them, challenge them, lean on them. They will get you through anything you face from this day forward,” said Hackney.
Senior Class Vice President Kyle Taylor spoke to his fellow graduates during the ceremony.
Although not from Hopewell, Taylor has attended city public schools since kindergarten, because his mother worked in the Hopewell school system.
When given the choice in high school to go to Henrico schools, Taylor declined and stayed in Hopewell. During his speech, he admitted that he would often get negative remarks when telling people he went to Hopewell High, but his response to the naysayers showed how much he loved the schools here.
“My response is, I go to a high school that is fully accredited in the state of Virginia because of SOL test scores, and (has) an amazing sports program, including teams making it to championships,” Taylor praised.
His advice to his fellow classmates, his family, was to not give up on their dreams.
“We made it. Whatever you do, do not give up. Continue on your chosen paths so that you will become the best you can be. Hopewell High School has given us the foundation that we need to go out into the world and be successful. It’s just up to us to make sure we use it,” Taylor inspired.
Other speakers at the commencement ceremony had similar words of wisdom for the new graduates.
Salutatorian Alexis Haden spoke about her grandmother, Mya, who recently passed away, and was a big influence on her life. Through her tears, and the cheers of encouragement from her classmates, Haden gave sound advice for the future.
“Our time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.,” she said. “Don’t let the noise of others opinions drown out your own inner voice. Most importantly have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”
Even in the hot sun, with temperatures rising into the 90s, the class of 2016 held out through the long ceremony, proudly receiving their diplomas, ready to take the next step in their lives.
“This is not the end, but a beginning,” said valedictorian Elizabeth Majewski. “This, as cliché as it sounds, isn’t the end of the book, but the end of a chapter.”
