Mitchell High School hosts graduation ceremony for class of 2022
MITCHELL — Friday was a bittersweet day for parents, teachers and students at Mitchell High School, as for many students it was their last day of high school.
Following their final day of class was the graduation ceremony for the class of 2022.
Festivities were hosted in the Mitchell High School gymnasium, where 89 students received diplomas from principal Troy Pritchett.
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Speakers at the event were class salutatorian Hannah Clark and valedictorian Mercedez Hill.
First to speak was Clark, thanking many important people in her life before telling the rest of the senior class in attendance that she was proud of what they had accomplished together, despite unusual challenges faced by their class from the COVID-19 pandemic.
"I'm proud of us. We've dealt with masks, hybrid scheduling, e-learning, canceled after-proms and now our school is under construction. Let's just say we haven't had your typical high school experience. But if I'm completely honest with myself, I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. I've still made countless memories and had so many beautiful experiences here. Experiences that I know I will definitely miss," she said.
Clark urged her classmates to make the most of their lives after leaving MHS and to pursue their dreams, as their opportunities to do so may pass before they even realize.
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"Go out and get a job you actually love. Push for your goals, grasp any opportunity given to help others and leave a legacy of positivity and kindness. I wish you all success in all the things that you love and I wouldn't have wanted to be part of any other class. So, let's celebrate; congratulations class of 2022, we did it," she said in her closing remarks.
After thanking others, Hill spoke about the importance of memories and the overall impact they have in telling the story of an individual's life, likening them to parts of a book.
"A memory is like a moment frozen in time. I often go back to certain memories and dwell on the bliss of their simplicity. These are the childhood memories that I carry with me like a book, re-reading over the crinkled pages, smiling over the perfect lines and shedding tears over the sad chapters," Hill said.
Hill then spoke about how sometimes the memories can fade before reminiscing about some of the most fond moments from her childhood. She told her class that while it is easier to make fond memories as a child, living without many of the pressures that later come with adulthood, they should always look to create new, happy memories.
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"Before I get too caught up in my real life and real responsibilities, I don't want to forget to add to my book along the way. So, remember to make memories while you still can, because before you know it, it will just be another thing that you carry with you. And before you get too caught up in your real responsibilities, remember to live a little. Because all that is going to matter in the end are all those pieces in between," she said to finish her speech.
Noah Dalton is a reporter in Bedford, IN. He can be reached at ndalton@tmnews.com
This article originally appeared on The Times-Mail: Mitchell High School 2022 graduation held Friday night
