MONROE - Monroe High School 2014 graduates, robed in red and white, entered their futures Sunday at the school's 141st commencement ceremony.
Speakers for the afternoon equipped the Class of 2014 with some final advice: To retain their individual uniqueness; to build on the real-life lessons they have already learned; and to face the challenges on the paths they have chosen for themselves.
Graduate Holly Thomas gave the welcome address. She said that standing before a packed crowd was a bit nerve-wracking and that the highlight of graduating, toward which most high school graduates look and plan, seemed surreal.
But her smooth delivery reflected her message - "You can't plan every moment, but you still get through it."
Thomas and her classmates couldn't always plan to pass a test or to make the final game basket, but these experiences have begun to shape their character, she said.
"Do your best ... meeting your own standard," Thomas said. Doing so will "give everyone an idea of what you've become and will become."
Maria Fernanda Larraga Martinez, in her speech, approached fellow graduates with some answers to a simple question - "How am I going to use this in real life?" - that all students confront at one time or another.
The lessons of life are gathered in the smallest experiences of school, such as learning to read, working in teams and making presentations, she pointed out. These are not wasted, she added.
They learned to handle the stress of working in a team and to concentrate under pressure. They learned taking risks is often necessary and that they really could change clothes in five minutes after gym class. And they have shattered youthful notions about teachers, discovering they can be interesting with great advice.
"We have survived," she said. "We are heroes for being here."
The real-life lessons at school will carry them through to life in the real world, she added. But she also challenged them to be "rebels."
"Choose your own way," she said. "Follow your dreams. Don't wait to try what you have always wanted to try."
She encouraged them to enjoy the work of achieving their dreams and the friends they make along the way, and to use the talents they each have and "not be afraid to shine."
Jennifer Moehn, a teacher at MHS for about 12 years, was chosen to give the commencement address. Moehn empathized with the emotions that come with graduation, excitement, fear and sadness.
"Those are normal and expected," she added.
Known by the graduates for her love of movies and plays, Moehn took her advice to the graduates from the stage and screen.
Moehn said she finds, in the movie "Forrest Gump," Mama's advice about life being like a box of chocolates with unknown centers to be true. Though she hoped they would all find their favorite centers in their life choices, Moehn warned that bad things, heartbreaks and losses unfortunately do come.
How they choose to deal with those choices is up to them, Moehn said, but she encouraged them to take ownership and to live up to the consequences of their choices.
In "Nemo," Moehn sees advice for parents as well as the graduates. Nemo, a little fish with a short fin and overprotective father, learned to take chances and never to give up. "Just keep swimming," his friend Dori tells him. Meanwhile Nemo's parents discover the time to let go is when their children know it's time.
From "The Wizard of Oz," Moehn presented Dorothy's lesson, "There's no place like home." She reminded them of the community that has helped forge their character.
In conclusion, Moehn boosted the graduates' confidence by quoting A. A. Milne in Winnie the Pooh, "You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."
This year, the Citizenship Awards went to Larraga Martinez and Alexander Hendrickson.
Principal Chris Medenwaldt presented 23 honor graduates out of the 169 graduating seniors.
Speakers for the afternoon equipped the Class of 2014 with some final advice: To retain their individual uniqueness; to build on the real-life lessons they have already learned; and to face the challenges on the paths they have chosen for themselves.
Graduate Holly Thomas gave the welcome address. She said that standing before a packed crowd was a bit nerve-wracking and that the highlight of graduating, toward which most high school graduates look and plan, seemed surreal.
But her smooth delivery reflected her message - "You can't plan every moment, but you still get through it."
Thomas and her classmates couldn't always plan to pass a test or to make the final game basket, but these experiences have begun to shape their character, she said.
"Do your best ... meeting your own standard," Thomas said. Doing so will "give everyone an idea of what you've become and will become."
Maria Fernanda Larraga Martinez, in her speech, approached fellow graduates with some answers to a simple question - "How am I going to use this in real life?" - that all students confront at one time or another.
The lessons of life are gathered in the smallest experiences of school, such as learning to read, working in teams and making presentations, she pointed out. These are not wasted, she added.
They learned to handle the stress of working in a team and to concentrate under pressure. They learned taking risks is often necessary and that they really could change clothes in five minutes after gym class. And they have shattered youthful notions about teachers, discovering they can be interesting with great advice.
"We have survived," she said. "We are heroes for being here."
The real-life lessons at school will carry them through to life in the real world, she added. But she also challenged them to be "rebels."
"Choose your own way," she said. "Follow your dreams. Don't wait to try what you have always wanted to try."
She encouraged them to enjoy the work of achieving their dreams and the friends they make along the way, and to use the talents they each have and "not be afraid to shine."
Jennifer Moehn, a teacher at MHS for about 12 years, was chosen to give the commencement address. Moehn empathized with the emotions that come with graduation, excitement, fear and sadness.
"Those are normal and expected," she added.
Known by the graduates for her love of movies and plays, Moehn took her advice to the graduates from the stage and screen.
Moehn said she finds, in the movie "Forrest Gump," Mama's advice about life being like a box of chocolates with unknown centers to be true. Though she hoped they would all find their favorite centers in their life choices, Moehn warned that bad things, heartbreaks and losses unfortunately do come.
How they choose to deal with those choices is up to them, Moehn said, but she encouraged them to take ownership and to live up to the consequences of their choices.
In "Nemo," Moehn sees advice for parents as well as the graduates. Nemo, a little fish with a short fin and overprotective father, learned to take chances and never to give up. "Just keep swimming," his friend Dori tells him. Meanwhile Nemo's parents discover the time to let go is when their children know it's time.
From "The Wizard of Oz," Moehn presented Dorothy's lesson, "There's no place like home." She reminded them of the community that has helped forge their character.
In conclusion, Moehn boosted the graduates' confidence by quoting A. A. Milne in Winnie the Pooh, "You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think."
This year, the Citizenship Awards went to Larraga Martinez and Alexander Hendrickson.
Principal Chris Medenwaldt presented 23 honor graduates out of the 169 graduating seniors.