The Poplar Bluff High School Class of 2021 chose Surgical Mask Blue as its color. As graduates crossed the stage, the source of its inspiration was nowhere to be found.
“Last year was really hard for the seniors with COVID, but this year, we could have had our year cut at any time,” said Sierra Sievers, who was named Most Inspirational and received a robe signed by all the seniors. “We had the mask mandate and that was a struggle because people don’t want to wear it, but we had to. We went through it together, so it was Surgical Mask Blue.”
In his speech, Poplar Bluff R-1 Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill reminded this year’s graduating class of 299 students that 12 months ago, graduation was postponed. When students returned to class in the fall, nobody was sure how long the school year would last.
At one moment, he asked everyone in the audience who worked for a school district anywhere in the world to stand and be recognized.
“It’s because of them we were able to keep our doors open all year,” Dill said. “And offer you some semblance of normality.”
That’s what the graduating class of 2021 got Thursday, normality. The crowd was loud in the Black River Coliseum. A few came with air horns. Students’ caps were festive. The speeches were upbeat, humorous and occasionally self-deprecating.
“It was great to be back to normal. You can see people’s smiles, so that’s a good thing,” Sievers said.
Dill ended his speech as he always does, reminding the seniors, “Welcome to the real world. It is hot in the summer. It is cold in the winter. And as far as I know, there’s one main rule you have to be aware of, and that is you have to be kind to one another.”
Sievers wasn’t expecting to be named Most Inspirational and didn’t vote for herself because she was working the senior banquet and didn’t have time.
As to why she won, Sievers thought about the amount of time she’s put into the school, from clubs to sports, running the Mule Barn and being the senior class historian.
David Sievers, her father and head football coach for Poplar Bluff, joked that during voting, he told students he was going to make them do up-downs if they didn’t vote for his daughter.
“She’s just a great kid. She’s got a huge heart. She’s always willing to help people,” he said. “It surprised me, but I was really excited for her … It kind of threw me. I was not expecting that.”
Kindness was a highlight of senior class president Jordyn Shearrer’s speech.
“I stand here today, proud of the people that myself and my classmates have become. We have been through a lot together, making many memories and accomplishing many milestones, including getting a frozen yogurt machine the last month of our senior year,” Shearrer said, getting her loudest applause from the senior class. “I would like to thank my parents for constantly encouraging me and pushing me to do my best. I would like to thank my teachers for preparing me for the real world and for always being there when I needed help. I would like to thank my friends for always being there for me and being my biggest supporters. I would also like to give a special shout-out to Kinzie Buenaga, who helped me write this speech yesterday.”
Shearrer also focused on her personal growth from the shy, timid freshman she remembers being.
“I would look at (the seniors) in admiration from the top of the bleachers, wanting to be the senior that sat in the front row at the sports games. I wanted to be the person who wasn’t afraid to do something stupid or funny in front of everyone. But as a freshman, I tried not to draw attention to myself,” Shearrer said. “Along the way, I found out that school isn’t all about the good grades and your class rank (even though it is still important), but it’s about being yourself, and that’s what I accomplished.”
She reflected on doing a cartwheel on the football field in her clown costume during the homecoming football game and singing “Bohemian Rhapsody” at FBLA District in front of six other schools. She gave shoutouts to wrestling state qualifier and football leading rusher Gavyn Hays, who can make a mean cheesecake. And also “brainiac” Zoe Savat, “who likes to break it down on the dance floor.”
“PBHS has shaped everyone into who they have become and paved a way for what they will become,” Shearrer said. “As I walked out of the doors of PBHS on my last day, I looked back at the school, content with the person that I have become.
“As we enter the next chapter of our lives, I look forward to seeing where each one of you go. It has been an honor being your president. Once a mule, always a mule. Class of 2021, we did it!”