TROY -
For a moment, Troy High School Valedictorian Sara Hunsicker wanted time to stop Friday night.
She said that she wanted to continue making memories with her classmates, before they went their separate ways.
"Unfortunately, time will roll on and tomorrow will come," she said during the 144th commencement at Memorial Auditorium in Troy, as she addressed the Troy High School Class of 2014. A total of 111 graduated this year from Troy High School.
"At some point in the coming days each of us will reflect on the years that led up to graduation," she said. "Some of us will wish we had taken a certain class, played a sport, or participated in something we decided to sit out on. You are the only one that can judge what you did or did not do with your time you spent here."
With time as the theme of her speech, she told the graduates that they cannot take back time, for it shows no mercy.
"Do not regret anything for it cannot be changed; but take that situation and learn from it," she said. "If you are anything like me, you have had many experiences that served as a lesson to you. Use these lessons as a road map to guide your choices in the future."
Hunsicker told the graduates to reflect back on their high school careers, and take into consideration how fast they went by.
"Time is not going to change its pace," she said. "Your future will go just as fast as the last 13 years went. Soon we will be sitting here at our 10-year reunion talking about what we have done with our lives between today and that day 10 years from now. I hope that when we reflect on that next milestone each one of us can say that we wasted no time. As long as you are using your time to do something that you enjoy you can say it was time well spent."
She told the Class of 2014 to cherish time, and then related a personal story.
"Exactly one year ago today, my cousin Paul died at the age of 20 from brain cancer," she said. "This is the moment I realized that I needed to stop going through the motions and truly start living out the time I have been given. There were many things Paul would have liked to do before passing that he was never able to achieve. Do not let that be you."
"While you are young, go travel the world, meet new people, experience different cultures. Use the time that you have been privileged with here on earth to tackle all your goals and dreams. Do not waste a moment being bitter or angry because life is much more enjoyable with a positive attitude and a smile."
Hunsicker challenged the Class of 2014 "to wake up every day and be thankful that you are here and that those around you are here. Hold the moments with those you love close to your heart because their time will eventually run out as will yours and it may come before you think. Acknowledge and cherish your gift of life because it is truly a gift."
Hunsicker had some words of gratitude.
"If I was asked to reflect on my time here in high school, the only thing I would have wished I had done more of was say thank you," she continued. "Therefore I will leave Troy High School giving thanks to those that deserve it most. I would first like to thank the administration for all of their hard work. Next, I would like to thank my teachers. Mr. Williams, Mrs. Lathrop, and Mr. Stark, thank you for the great stories and words of wisdom. You have made my years here very interesting and enjoyable. I want to give a special thank you to Mr. Harold. Thank you for always being there for me, believing in me, and pushing me to be the best person I could be in and out of the classroom. At times I wasn't sure if you were my teacher or my father because of the way you lectured me, but either way the conversations we had greatly helped to shape and impact my character throughout my high school years. You will be missed."
And she thanked her family.
"Thank you to my sisters for being outstanding role models and leading me in the right direction. Being the baby of the family was not always easy but I would not be half as motivated as I am today if I did not always have to fill your big shoes. Marlene and Kenny, my parents, these two words will never be enough, but thank you. Thank you for being amazing parents, for giving me tough love when it was needed and dealing with the attitude I had every once in a while. Thank you for allowing me every opportunity to succeed. You have done a great job of preparing me for my future as I move away for college and enter the real world. Thank you to all my friends and family that are supporting me today and all the days that have led up to this moment. I would not have been able to do it without you."
And, of course, she thanked her fellow graduates.
"Most of all I would like to thank my class. Class of 2014, thank you for such an amazing unforgettable school experience. I wish each one of you the best of luck in whatever you do, and if you get the choice to sit it out or dance I hope you dance."
On stage, high school principal Sue Shipman presented her the William McCord Memorial Award for having the highest academic average.
Salutatorian Kayla Stephani told the Class to "not be afraid to take advantage of opportunities that come along."
She said they may seem like hard work, "but we cannot be afraid to work hard. Hard work is what makes things happen, and is what causes change."
"How we react to these opportunities, will make us better people or take us off our paths. These opportunities will shape who we are and who we will become. The success we will achieve will be based on the education we received here at Troy High School, and the opportunities that we take advantage of. As we stride across this stage tonight, as the Class of 2014, soak up the last youthful moments of bliss. Because class is finally over, and we are dismissed."
The Third Honor graduate, Kassidy Colton, told the Class that "new opportunities in life are going to force us to make life-altering decisions, and we have to do what is best for ourselves. Do not let anyone get in the way of your dreams and what you want for your future."
"Do not be afraid to make the change that is going to happen in your life, the change that you want for yourself," she told the Class.
"Class of 2014, don't let anyone discourage you and your goals in life. If you believe in yourself, others will not have a choice but to believe in you as well."
Courtney Binford, president of the Class of 2014, said she wanted to leave her Class with three words: "good, better and best."
"Don't stop until your good is better and your better is best."
Following graduation in the gym in the Commons, Wendy Owens and Renegade performed a live concert for the community, featuring local artist and 2010 Troy graduate Devon Franks, thanks to a State Farm grant.
"It feels great," Franks said of returning to Troy and performing in front of the Class of 2014 and the community.
Eric Hrin can be reached at (570) 297-5251; email: reviewtroy@thedailyreview.com.