Pandemic, need for racial justice influence NHS graduation

NEELYVILLE — The global COVID-19 pandemic and recent calls for racial justice in America heavily influenced the Neelyville High School Class of 2020 commencement Saturday evening at the NHS gymnasium.

Thirty-two seniors received their diplomas in the ceremony, which was less attended than usual because of social distancing mandated to slow the spread of COVID-19. Graduates sat apart from each other on the gymnasium floor, with seating for spectators limited to a handful of relatives of the graduates.

“Remember this — you will always be the class of 2020,” Neelyville High School principal Justin Dobbins told the graduates at the beginning of the evening. “Remember, you are always together, no matter how far apart they’ve sat you.”

Dobbins also admonished the seniors to go out into the world and work hard for what they want.

“You have to learn that when you walk out of here today, when you leave this gym, this world owes you nothing — it owes you nothing,” Dobbins said. “Go out, figure out what you want to do, what you want to be, you work hard for it and you own it — don’t expect it to be given to you, because it won’t be.”

The principal also credited the Class of 2020 for being very talented as they head to the next step in their lives.

“The room is filled with unbelievable talent in many different directions,” he said. “Use that talent — love it, own it and know nothing’s going to be given to you, not by (any means).”

Dobbins also indirectly touched on the recent calls for racial justice in the wake of the death of George Floyd and other African-Americans in racially-charged incidents.

“If you don’t do anything (else), be a part of the positive,” Dobbins said. “Love your neighbor, love the person beside you — whether they’re like you or not like you. … Love them and don’t be a part of that hatred. It’s not what it’s about.”

NHS valedictorian Taylor Asher said her speech was more serious than she originally intended. She credited the Class of 2020 for its resilience, having been born in the shadow of 9/11 and now graduating in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“This just means that we are incredibly strong and we have the means to accomplish great things … ” Asher said. “I choose to believe that every single one of us is destined for greatness. We are the future of the world.”

Like Dobbins, Asher touched on the issue of racial justice in her speech.

“We need to speak out against injustice and we need to speak out against racism,” Asher said. “We are the generation that has the power right now to do this. … The future is in our hands.”

Salutatorian Emily Dollins also, like Dobbins, admonished her classmates to go forth and work for their goals.

“It’s time to suck it up, buttercup,” Dollins said. “It’s time to move on and not dwell on the past. These last few months, we’ve seen things happen that we thought were impossible. I urge you to get out there… (and) make the impossible possible.”