‘It is just the beginning’

Hopewell Valley Central High School (HVCHS) senior graduates have closed one chapter and began another when they walked across the commencement ceremony stage with their diplomas.

The HVCHS graduation ceremony for the Class of 2025 was held in the high school’s gym on June 19.

“Seniors, as we are gathered here tonight and are able to reflect back on our time together, we would like to congratulate you on all your hard work and effort,” Class President Aynsley Mauldin said. “It has been incredibly special getting to learn alongside some of the most talented hardworking and genuine people.

“Don’t be afraid to try new things, get lost and make mistakes, because if not now, then when. You have the whole rest of your life to settle down, so now is the time to travel anywhere and everywhere to not only discover things about the world, but also yourself.”

Class Vice President Samaira Sachdeva noted how graduation not only marks the end of one chapter, but the beginning of a new one.

“From here on out your life is truly what you make of it,” Sachdeva added. “Enjoy the journey because it is all a part of your story and there is no rush to finish writing it. To quote the one and only Natasha Bedingfield – ‘Live your life with arms wide open, today is where your book begins the rest is still unwritten.'”

Senior Colleen Marko, who next year is studying to become a pilot, delivered the student address.

“After four years of fire drills, spirit weeks, AP (Advanced Placement) exams, late night study sessions, unexpected tests, awkward group projects, football games, concerts and way too much caffeine we have made it to graduation,” she said.

Some fellow graduates have known their path since they were little, others have changed their minds more times than they can count and there are people like her holding a dream in one hand and uncertainty in another.

“Finally, starting to find something we love while still knowing life doesn’t follow a perfect flight plan…Dreams aren’t always a straight line,” Marko said. “The weather might change, the route might shift, and the destination can end up being entirely different than we planned. What matters is having the courage to keep flying – one mile, one decision, one day at a time.”

Courage is not the absence of fear, and the sky isn’t the limit, it is just the beginning,” Marko said.

“Sometimes the best things in life are the scariest…takeoff is never easy, but you do it scared because nerves, they are excitement in disguise,” she said. “If your dream doesn’t make your hand shake a little it might not be big enough.

“Whether your future includes a college campus, a trade school, the military, a full-time job, or something you have not figured out yet that is OK. Everybody’s flight path is valid. There is no one size fits all version of success. What doesn’t matter is having the perfect five-year plan, it is having the willingness to keep moving forward even when the path isn’t clear.”

Patricia Riley, principal of HVCHS, highlighted how the Class of 2025 has taught her a lot over the past four years.

“I realized one of the most important lessons was to expect the unexpected,” she said. “At times the unexpected came in the form of success with unprecedented numbers of school and state records or a conqueror of the hill championship or academic achievements at the state, national, and even international level.

“Sometimes the unexpected with the Class of 2025 took a different turn and became a first in my time as principal. Like when I had to confiscate handcuffs at a game or when I discovered a couple of you trying to work on homemade tattoos in the bathroom. Definitely unexpected.”

Riley called graduation the culmination of those unexpected experiences as she referenced the Class of 2025 dealing with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“And yet the Class of 2025 continues to surprise me,” she said. “Instead of being upset at things [that] were not as expected, they chose to embrace it with positivity, joy and support. As you move forward in life you are going to be faced with even more of the unexpected and as long as you face those experience with same genuine positivity, joy, and support you showed today you are going to be just fine.”

Superintendent Rosetta Treece said she is incredibly proud of the Class of 2025’s strength and tenacity.

“As a result of your hard work, you are entering the finest colleges and universities in the world,” she said. “You will follow your passions into technology fields, start businesses and join the workforce…you’ve proven that you know how to give back, you’ve proven that you know how to get up when you fall down.

“I’m grateful that our graduates have joined the Air Force and armed forces and have become first responders. As a gold star mother, I know the sacrifice that you and your families are making to protect our freedoms and keep us safe.”