3 days ago
Concord graduates largest class ever
SOUTH BEND — Annika Troyer, a Concord High School graduating senior, has thought about the moment of high school graduation from the first day of her freshman year.
Troyer has always looked forward to the finish line of graduation, she said to a crowd of graduating seniors, parents, and faculty during a graduation ceremony. The ceremony took place at Purcell Pavilion on Wednesday evening. It was the largest graduating class in school history with 412 graduates.
'Now, don't get me wrong,' Troyer said. 'I absolutely loved the four years I spent at Concord High School; however, sophomores taking my parking spot and remembering I have an assignment due at 11:59 that I completely forgot about are definitely things that I will not miss about high school.'
Troyer told her fellow graduates in a speech that it is OK to not know what they want to do after graduation. Life is meant to be lived and experienced, she said. She also shared her favorite Bible verse, Psalm 118:24, 'This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.'
Valedictorian Will Delio talked about how the Concord community shaped his class.
'Concord has shaped each and every one of us into the people we are today,' Delio said. 'As we look back on this shared experience, no matter how hard it was, I believe we need to focus on the positive aspects.'
No matter how different their paths are, the graduates can take solace in knowing they are facing it as Concord graduates, Delio said.
Faculty speaker Meg Shelly said not to treat life as something to be fixed, but as something to feel, explore and embrace.
'You've all been given the tools and opportunities through education,' Shelly said. 'What you do with them is entirely up to you, whether you travel, learn more, serve others, make a difference or do all of the above. No matter where you go, remember this: 'The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams,' as Eleanor Roosevelt once said.'
