“Time flies,” Superintendent Robert Brown told the Twin Rivers 2023 graduating class Sunday at the Black River Coliseum in Poplar Bluff.
The older students get, the more they will understand this, said Brown, adding what he called free advice graduates could take with them as they continue.
He challenged each student to “be a person of high character” with values and integrity in all these things.
Embrace failure, Brown said.
“You’re going to encounter failure,” he said. “Learn from it, but don’t dwell on it.”
His third piece of advice was to take the time to travel and step outside their comfort zones.
Following Brown, valedictorian Hannah Patterson thanked her parents who molded her into the person she is today. She praised several teachers for teaching her to be kind and how to fight the tension she could never see in herself. While other teachers showed her how “to do greater things than I ever thought possible,” Patterson said.
She thanked the teacher “who showed me not to be a teacher, but the teacher that God has called me to be.”
“God not only did it, he got me to where I am today. He blesses me with all the people I trust,” Patterson said.
Patterson felt like everyone had high expectations of her, but was waiting to watch for her not to meet them.
Then one morning, she was late for school. When she arrived, she found people were worried.
“They told me they were so glad I was there,” Patterson said. “I realized, people didn’t care about my account. They cared about me. In high school, I spent so much time building up the walls, I don’t think the world wants to tell us that. When we show compassion, when we notice other people, those are the moments we’re looking for.”
She dared, “In a world, make sure people know how much you care about the simple, extraordinary things.”
Salutatorian Caitlyn Deken urged his classmates to remember they aren’t waiting on the opinion in class.
It is up to the individual to decide if the past will determine their future, Deken said. Just go for it, he said.
She asked her fellow classmates “to take a look around. This is it. I know they’re saying goodbye. I’ve had a great day and I will miss you all very much.”
Twin Rivers students of the class of 2023 walked away with memories and their diplomas, plus $888,580 in scholarships and awards.