In his commencement address, physical education teacher and football coach Chad LaBonte called the graduates 21st century learners and role models for underclassmen and offered seven tips for success.
West Springfield High School graduate Tiffany B. Mattson moves her tassle from the right side to the left at the conclusion of the Class of 2013 commencement ceremony held Sunday afternoon at the coliseum on the Big E fairgrounds.
She also told all those gathered in the coliseum building on the Eastern States Exposition fairgrounds that they are never alone as long as they open themselves up to others.
“You are not alone when you are reaching out to someone,” she said, and added that her hope for her classmates is that they find strength within themselves when faced with obstacles.
“I hope you can all be grateful despite challenges in life,” Wang said. “When faced with challenges, instead of finding a way out, find a way through.”
Wang was followed on stage by Valedictorian Jacob S. Link who pointed out that the class is the final one to graduate from the old high school building before the new one opens in the fall.
“We’re the last class to graduate from that ancient building,” he said.
In his commencement address, physical education teacher and football coach Chad LaBonte called the graduates 21st century learners and role models for underclassmen, and offered seven tips for success.
“You have to wake up and want to be successful every day,” LaBonte said.
In striving for success, the graduates should also have a desire for it and not just go through the motions; should not settle for mediocrity; cannot let themselves be distracted; should not worry about what others think of them; recognize that everyone is entitled to their opinion and “be honest and tell the truth.”
“Moving into the future you will find many opportunities to find success,” LaBonte said.
“Use what you know to achieve it. Remember the lessons that you have learned from people that you respect, and also remember what you have learned from people that you are not a big fan of, because that helps, too.”
Most of all, he said, being a good person makes the road to success an easier, more rewarding journey on which the graduates will learn they can put others before them without allowing others to take advantage of them.
Superintendent of Schools Russell Johnston also offered brief words of advice before diplomas were awarded and relied on the band Journey to impart a message from the 1980s.
“The road ahead will be long and bumpy, but you have the power to believe in yourselves. Don’t stop believing.”