4 days ago
Urbana High graduates 'slay the dragon' to finish high school
In a speech to her Urbana High School graduating classmates on Friday, Kaela Zamora compared completing high school to slaying the final boss of the video game 'Minecraft.'
'It was time to defeat our Ender Dragon, also known as our senior year,' Zamora told Urbana's graduates, all dressed in blue robes with white stoles. The Ender Dragon is an enemy that players can battle in 'Minecraft.'
Urbana's graduates, she said, faced many challenges along the way.
'We unveiled our not-so-literal enchanted swords and plunged at this dragon,' she said. 'Slash after slash, we charged, attempting to avoid our worst tendencies: procrastination, cramming until 2 a.m. and scrolling on our phones.'
Students in her class came into high school after the COVID-19 pandemic, while being further behind academically and needing to work past social awkwardness, she said.
'Then, somehow, we slayed the dragon, won the battle and successfully — or even just barely — finished high school,' Zamora said.
Zamora plans to attend the University of Maryland to study economics.
The graduation, held at Knott Arena at Mount St. Mary's University, was the school's 27th annual commencement ceremony, graduate William Knepper said in a speech to the class. Knepper was the class president.
There were 475 graduates in the Class of 2025.
Luc Lugez and Doyoon Seol played the national anthem on violins. The graduation also featured performances from the school's choir and band.
'Today is more than just a celebration,' graduate Daniel Solomon said in a speech. 'It's a moment that asks us to pause, take a breath and to really look at how far we've come.'
High school was about 'stepping into our identity,' said Solomon, who plans to study aerospace engineering at the University of Maryland.
'Be yourself,' Solomon told his fellow graduates.
Urbana Principal Donna Clabaugh encouraged her former students to seek the life they desire.
'Up until now, much of what you have done and determined for yourselves has been very limited, and that is what really changes when you leave this ceremony today,' Clabaugh said. 'That is simultaneously amazing and overwhelming, and it is rarely easy.'
Graduate Owen Barkley said he felt great after the graduation. Though he will miss hanging out with his friends, he said he is excited for the future.
Barkley said he was planning on getting a job in retail, with a goal of attending Frederick Community College and one day becoming a scientist.
'There are a lot of good people at Urbana,' graduate Megan Lawrence said, describing her school experience as good.
Now, Lawrence is set to go to the University of North Carolina at Charlotte to study elementary education.
She said programs at Urbana allowed her to get experience teaching kids, and she wants to continue afterward.
Her favorite time in school, she said, in her film studies class.
'I'm going to miss seeing my friends every day,' she said.
Tristan Thompson said his favorite part of school was playing basketball. He plans on playing at St. Mary's College of Maryland.
He said that 10 years from now, he wants to be 'living in my own house, with my wife, as a millionaire.'
He added that he wants to play basketball professionally, too.
'Well, you know how I said Minecraft's end goal was just to defeat the Ender Dragon?' Zamora asked. 'That's just the tip of the iceberg.'
Just like the game, she said, high school is about taking agency beyond defeating the final boss.
