4 minute read
HHS Honors Class of 2022
More than 500 students joined the ranks of Hempfield High School (HHS) alumni when the commencement ceremony was held for the Class of 2022 on May 25. The school’s 112th commencement ceremony began at 6 p.m. at the school’s Georgelis Law Firm Stadium.
During the event, the students heard remarks and words of wisdom and encouragement from several speakers.
School board president Grant Keener, a member of the HHS Class of 1987, was the first to address the group. “Tonight marks the beginning of the next chapters of your lives,” he said. “The experiences of the past four years have prepared you to tackle the challenges ahead, grow in your careers, and continue giving back to your community.”
“Every graduating class has their own story,” said Hempfield School District superintendent Michael Bromirski. “My hope is that each one of you knows that you are also able to write your own story. … You have started writing your book of your life, and … we are all authors of that own book. We get to choose the story or stories we tell, the characters by our side, the genre of the book, and more.”
Each year, the commencement committee selects a theme for the student commencement addresses, and this year’s theme was “What Perseverance Makes Possible.” Student speakers included valedictorian Mackenzie Ridilla, Student Council president Jack Kirchner, Danny Bennett, and Mekkai Williams.
In her speech, “Do Hard Things,” Mackenzie said, “I’m sure as we’ve all looked back over the years, there have been many pivotal points where we had to decide between the difficult, intimidating choice and the comfortable, easy one. … Choosing the more difficult option is often the most rewarding path.” She shared her story of making the difficult choice to join the cross-country team and how she benefited from that choice in the long run.
“Choosing to become comfortable with the uncomfortable is probably one of the hardest things to do, but I believe it is one of the most significant ways you can put yourself on the path to success,” she continued. “Do hard things. Take that leap. If you sit back and wait for life to drag you along, you’ll never know what’s possible.”
Jack titled his speech “Turning the Page.” “Like rivers, our paths to this point were not linear,” he shared. “We encountered rapids and obstacles along the way, but we maneuvered around them. … And now we’re all at the point where we are converging in one spot for the very last time as we prepare to start our next chapter.”
Danny’s speech was titled “Failure Leads to Success.” He began by sharing the stories of Thomas Edison, Walt Disney, and Oprah Winfrey, all of whom encountered failures and criticism before achieving success. “As we continue to look through history, we will find that nothing great has come without perseverance,” he shared. “There will always be people trying to stomp on your dream and derail you from the success you know you can reach.” “Success and failure must coexist,” he added. “A success doesn’t happen without failure. I’ve come to realize that it’s not loss, failure, or heartache that defines us, but how we react when these obstacles of life are thrust upon us.” In his speech, “Perseverance: A Success Story,” Mekkai noted, “We have all had to work extremely hard and persevere to make this moment possible.” He commended his classmates for pressing forward through the challenges of high school. “No matter how many times you fail at something, you must continue trying,” he said. “If there is one thing I want you to carry with you, it is this: Understand that you’re your own enemy. You’re responsible for your own successes, your own failures. However, failure is never a permanent condition. Rather, it’s just the beginning. Your plights do not define you. It is how you overcome them that does.”
“Wherever life takes you, classmates, just remember to keep pushing forward and continue to persevere,” he concluded.
The high school administration gave a charge to seniors. After the Class of 2022 was presented, the chamber choir performed a choral benediction and the Hempfield alma mater.
Class president Dylan Bard closed the ceremony with a few remarks. “After 2,160 days - or 3,110,400 minutes - together, we have reached a point where we part ways from our friends, leaders, and educators to pursue our life, our passion, and our dream in the real world. This task will not only be difficult but will also shape who we become for the remainder of our lives.” He then invited his classmates to turn their tassels, symbolizing their transition from students to alumni.
To view the ceremony, search for “Hempfield High School Class of 2022 Graduation” on YouTube.
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