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| Northport Class of 2012 |
The
class motto of Northport’s 2012 graduating seniors was “I don’t know where I’m
going, but I’m on my way,” a quote from American poet Carl Sandburg, and a more
refreshing group of well-spoken young people would be hard to imagine. They
were serious and funny by turn, but their every word was honest. “We didn’t
always love each other every minute,” they admitted, referring to historic
feuds and fights along the path from kindergarten to graduation, “but here we
are.” Still together. Setting off into the world.
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| Salutatorian John Petoskey |
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| Valedictorian Nina Muller |
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| Commencement speaker Steve Wetherbee |
Is
graduation anywhere else like this? A commencement address that includes a banjo? A little “flower girl” (Olivia Craker) giving
out, from a basket on her arm, flowers (white orchids) to all the seniors on the stage? Seniors
producing flowers (white lilies) from under their chairs to take down into the audience and
present to parents and guardians? After diplomas have been handed out, the
slide show (that's what the big screen in the top photo was all about), with pictures of each graduate, from baby photos to senior
portraits?
Every
year I, like many others in the audience, have more grey in my hair and am
further in time from my own graduation. This year’s class was not yet born the first
summer of my bookstore in Northport. The connection I had to the school during
the years I tutored there has weakened, more a feeling in my heart now than an
item on my daily agenda. And yet, Northport graduation never loses its magic
for me. I wonder if these young people know how many people are made happy just
by the sight of them on the sidewalk? They are our future.
So congratulations
to the Class of 2012:
Megan
Elaine Henderson
Austin
Glen Miller
Anina
Lee Punahele Naegeli Müller
John
Minodeé Petoskey
Forrest
Alexander Rogers
Chelsea
Renee Wack
Francis
Mitchell Wanageshik
Best
wishes to you all as you go out into the world. May you work hard, do well and
do good, and may all your dreams come true.
7 comments:
This blog is really lovely, Pamela. Are there only seven Northport graduates, or are the ones mentioned personal friends? I like their class motto. Smiling that you tutored there in the past and formed precious connections. Bless our youth as they move forth into the world...
The whole class was seven students, Kathy. Those you see on the stage--that's the Class of 2012.
Very uplifting story, Pamela. I'm touched by the fact that you attend the high school graduation each year. A small class like this is unusual nowadays, I think - most students get bused to larger schools. These sound like wonderful young people. I wish them much success.
Laurie, there are problems with a high school as small as Northport's. Certain problems arise precisely because of the small size of classes. On the other hand, large schools have their own problems that arise from being big. The way I see it, having all schools the same size, as if there is some optimum, perfect number to be achieved by busing, misses the point. But that's me. Others see it differently and would like our little high school to close.
Your wishes for the graduates are a bit like the one's from the Bob Dylan song I tried to recite at my new grandson's Naming Ceremony:
Forever Young
May God bless and keep you always
May your wishes all come true
May you always do for others
And let others do for you
May you build a ladder to the stars
And climb on every rung
And may you stay, forever young
May you grow up to be righteous
May you grow up to be true
May you always know the truth
And see the lights surrounding you
May you always be courageous
Stand upright and be strong
And may you stay forever young
May your hands always be busy
May your feet always be swift
May you have a strong foundation
When the winds of changes shift
May your heart always be joyful
May your song always be sung
And may you stay forever young
----
Joan Baez sings this beautifully.
Helen, thank you for including all the lyrics from this wonderful song. It expresses so well what we wish for our babies, children, youth--and each other!
Always a milestone for kids and parents transitional in a way.
Since there were 42 of us whose
last name started with B in my huge HS class of '59, I'm thinking
a class of seven would be much closer. Young graduate Petoskey;
always curious, am wondering if any connection with the community
of the same name up on Little Traverse Bay?
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