6 days ago
Catoctin High School graduates look to take on risks in spite of fears
Lillian Holden used her graduation speech on Wednesday as a case in point.
"Throughout high school, there have been countless moments where we've all felt fear," Holden said to thousands of people in Knott Arena. "For example, I get really bad anxiety when it comes to public speaking. Ironic, I know."
She added that learning from mistakes got her Catoctin High School classmates to the precipice of receiving their diplomas, with such a diverse set of skills and interests.
Photos: Catoctin High School Class of 2025
"What's incredible is that those moments of risk — those moments of fear — have been the ones that have shaped us the most," Holden said.
She referenced Thomas Edison's famous quote about successfully finding 10,000 ways a light bulb would not work, rather than being paralyzed with fear.
"Are we going to be the people that play it safe — stay in our comfort zone — or are we going to take risks? Do the hard things and learn from our failures?" Holden asked.
Holden was one of 194 Catoctin High graduates in the Class of 2025, according to a Frederick County Public Schools spokesperson.
Principal Jennifer Clements said the graduates were "each a unique and special combination of skills, personality and interests."
"Use those to your benefit and to benefit others," Clements said. "Look at each new step in your journey as an opportunity to use your powers for good."
Frederick County Board of Education member Colt Black read Linda Ellis's poem "The Dash Between," encouraging graduates to make the world a better place.
"Your legacy is your choice," Black said.
The graduation ceremony at Mount St. Mary's University's gym featured the national anthem performed by graduates Shea Long on saxophone and Kaitlyn Bartlett on guitar.
Also as part of the event, Joanna Genemans played the flute as Erin Miller performed an interpretive dance.
Blaine Marshall, 18, of Thurmont, spent an earlier portion of Wednesday taking steps toward his professional future at the Glen-Gery Rocky Ridge Plant.
Marshall said he took a drug test and performed a strength test, lifting weighted boxes, to make sure he could stack bricks at the plant where his dad works.
While he said he would miss his friends and favorite teachers, he also was excited "to live in the real world."
Aleena Wright, 17, of Lewistown, also has taken steps toward her future, having completed a year of classes at Frederick Community College online during her senior year at Catoctin High.
Wright said she expects to transfer to a four-year college after next year, but was not sure where.
She has been studying social sciences and thinks she might want to major in psychology.
Austin Miller, 18, of Rocky Ridge, said he might also want to go to FCC and is also considering the police academy.
Miller has been working at Giant Food. He said he would like to apply what he has learned there as far as leadership toward service through law enforcement.
Chloe Wiles, 17, of Thurmont, said she is graduating a year early, having taken classes online this last year.
Wiles said she is "excited for what's next," which she hopes will build on her current coaching of 2-year-old gymnasts. She is looking for internships to begin training for a career in early childhood learning to work with infants.
Chris Pineda, 18, of Frederick, said he is looking to join the Air Force and will start boot camp in July.
Pineda said he has been a "fanatic of aviation since I was a kid," when he "walked into a cockpit and got amazed with everything."
He said he has taken test flights with instructors at Frederick Municipal Airport.
Kendall Caballero-Zuniga, 18, of Frederick, said he will attend Towson University in the fall, looking to study English.
Caballero-Zuniga is working on a short story about a knight in love with a queen set to marry a far-off prince. He hopes to sell it to literary magazines.
He said he likes how Stephen King can tell compelling stories while keeping him "actually horrified while reading."
