Montgomery High School (MHS) seniors completed a life achievement when they walked across the stage to graduate as the Class of 2025.
Inside the high school gymnasium on June 24, the Class of 2025 capped off their high school years during their high school graduation and now begin a new life chapter.
Class President Varun Iyer said against all odds the class did it.
“As we gather here today, I think it is important to recognize that we are part of something that no other class has been in years,” he said. “We are the first class since 2019 to complete all four years of high school fully in person and I think that truly is something worth acknowledging.”
Iyer thanked his parents for believing in him and for their sacrifices and thanked his older brothers.
“Class of 2025 tonight is all about us,” he said. “We’ve worked for 12 long years to get to where we are but take a look around you, we are surrounded by thousands of the most important influential people in our lives and I think every parent, guardian, teacher, faculty and staff member, mentor, sibling and friend deserves a round of applause.
“We often hear it is about the journey, not the destination, but what does that really mean. It is a phrase we have heard so many times that it is written off as just another cliché. But I think the best way to understand it is to look back at everything that has led us to this moment. Going beyond the last four years.
Each little memory should be cherished, Iyer said, because no one is going to remember what grade someone got on that math test, and no one is going to remember what someone scored on the SATs.
“What they will remember are the interactions and memories you’ve made along the way,” Iyer said. “Those moments, the relationships, the friendships, and experiences we shared. Those are the things that last and truly define the journey.”
Salutatorian Katie Shou in her speech compared going through high school to trying to peel a pomegranate.
“When you start it is going to be messy,” she said. “There is going to be pomegranate juice and bits all over the countertop and possibly yourself. Nothing can really prepare you for how overwhelming high school is in the beginning.
“New classes, new teachers, and a giant school that feels like a labyrinth at first. Then as more days go by you get passed that initial shock and realize there still is so much to do. You have to join clubs, try out for sports teams and socialize, all the while juggling a load of course work you could not imagine previously.”
It is much like starting on the individual portions of the pomegranate, Shou said, with each portion “awfully complicated.” She said you will never peel a pomegranate perfectly on the first try and they didn’t acclimate to freshman year without struggle.
“There is a learning curve for both,” she said. “Then as you peel the first pomegranate section, you start eating the seeds. You are going to have some mixed experiences. Some are going to be too tart and there are some of those in every pomegranate. Heck some are going to be so awfully tart and enzymatic.
“Similarly in high school you will face no shortage of struggle. There is drama about what so and so said, stress about group projects, and the heart sinking moment when you look at the first page in your quiz and are already stuck. It also doesn’t help that everyone is running on a sleep deficit and also running from homework, which every high schooler has done at some point.”
Shou shared there are beautiful instances in high school, and they come in the form of beating a personal record, nailing a tough problem, scoring the winning point for your team or just having a good time with friends at Disney.
“It is these bits that get you through the rough patches,” she said. “Small moments of sweetness that remind why you are doing this in the first place.
“Finally, I’d like to address the fact that pomegranates are not easy to get through alone. Throughout our high school journey there have been so many people supporting us. High school equals pomegranate. It is not without pain and struggle, but neither is it lacking in happiness and fulfillment.”
Valedictorian David Ji said uncertainty has shaped the trajectory of the Class of 2025’s high school lives.
“… It has taught us to be appreciative of and thankful for the few things we can be certain about,” he said. “To my guidance counselor Ms. Ritson and to all the teachers I have had these past four years – thank you…
“To Coach Steve and the rest of the Montgomery boys’ soccer coaching staff – thank you. I will forever be grateful by the time you figured out I wasn’t that good at soccer it was too late to take me off the roster… Thank you to my friends…to my little sister Sophia…to my parents…”
Additionally, Ji thanked the entire Class of 2025.
“Because of your hard work I can now say with certainty that despite all of the questions over the past four years we have done more than just survive,” he said. “We’ve thrived. So, as we say farewell to Montgomery High School and proceed to an even more uncertain chapter of our lives remember that uncertainty is not something to shy away from and nor is it something to bear. Uncertainty is something to embrace.”
Ji told his fellow graduating seniors to not be afraid of being uncertain about their plans.
“… Because only by giving yourself the freedom to explore will you find the people and the things that really matter,” he said. “Don’t be afraid to be uncertain about your decisions because only by taking risks will you find success that is truly meaningful.
“Don’t be afraid to be uncertain about your future because only by doubting what is to come will you find the ability to truly appreciate what you already have. Montgomery High School Class of 2025 – keep living, keep learning and keep asking questions. Congratulations on graduating.”
Principal Heather Pino-Beattie said in her speech that graduation speeches often draw on small stories, honest truths, and a bit of reflection.
“… These milestone moments invite us to pause and look back before moving forward,” she said. “Tonight, will be no different.”
Pino-Beattie offered three simple pieces of advice to the senior graduates.
“First, be wary of rushing to the grown-up table,” she said. “Adulthood is not a single destination. It is not a moment when you suddenly have it all figured out.
“In fact, part of being an adult is realizing how much you don’t know and learning to make peace with exactly that. Don’t be in such a hurry to be grown up that you miss the beauty in the present. There is a value in keeping a childhood like curiosity and wisdom in playfulness. Don’t forget to make room for joy and silliness.”
Pino-Beattie’s second piece of advice – if you do not speak up someone else will speak for you.
“History is not written in isolation,” she said. “It is shaped, molded, and defined by the voices that choose to rise above the noise…if you don’t show up decisions will still be made just without your perspective. If you think your voice doesn’t matter, think again,” she said.
“My last piece of advice – take ownership. Your story is yours. Own it. Your decisions, your voice, your impact, it all matters and when you take responsibility for your corner of the world you begin to see how powerful that mindset can be.”
