Embrace every single memento, Twin Rivers R-X Superintendent Dr. Ben Johnson told the school’s graduating class of 2022 Sunday afternoon at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff.
Johnson challenged them to not be afraid of failure, since that is where they would grow.
“Brace for those failures,” Johnson said before sharing Frederick Douglass’ quote, “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”
Graduating senior Mason Russell’s invocation thanked God for providing the class with “wisdom, friendship and skills.”
Principal Misti Lovelace welcomed the graduates, their families and friends and explained the vacant white chair among the students filled with a graduation gown, a diploma and other memorabilia, along with cowboy boots resting in front of the chair, was in memory of beloved classmate Dominick Alejandro Esquivel.
He was 17 and a junior at the school when he passed away Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020. Counselor Christina Miller introduced valedictorian Emma Kristine Thurman and salutatorian Gracie Yarbrough, who spoke to their classmates, friends and families.
Thurman congratulated everyone on making it this far.
Thurman said, “Four years later, and here we are. I have spent a lot of my time studying, doing homework and stressing over my grades, which I have always put first. Ever since I can remember, I’ve strived for nothing but perfection. Every ‘A’ that was stressed over was so that I could stress even more with having to make this speech.”
While Thurman admits, “it felt really good for about 20 seconds. Hearing that all of my hard work had finally paid off left me with complete bliss. And then those 20 seconds passed. I thought to myself, ‘Well, is that it?’ I was left with a cool stole and bragging rights. So, what was all of this for?”
Since entering high school, Thurman admitted, her opinions and perspectives have completely changed.
Not everyone is born great or has greatness thrust upon them, but “the opportunity to achieve greatness is within our grasp,” Thurman said, as she challenged everyone to remember that to “leave a legacy and to achieve greatness is not to get money and recognition, it’s to leave those with whom you cross paths with a little more happiness and hope.”
Thurman reminded her fellow classmates everyone has different goals and different ideas of success, but the one thing they all have in common is that none of their goals are going to be handed to them. Everyone has potential to accomplish big things and she reminded them they control what happens in their future.
Yarbrough described graduation as an honor, but admitted “I never really thought that graduation would have arrived so soon, but here we are.”
She thanked all the teachers “who have impacted my life, all of my best friends and most importantly, my family. I know that without these individuals, I would not be where I am today.”
Yarbrough shared one of the most difficult obstacles in her life was her grandfather passing away. During this experience, she learned the importance of cherishing every moment. Yarbrough said she and her classmates are cherishing or holding dear their memories of the past four years.