Caps in the air for NHS graduation

The Naselle High School Class of 2018 finished their last assignment on Saturday, sitting through speeches, and collecting scholarships and most importantly, their diplomas.

Valedictorian Samanta "Mayrel" Franco Monroy, though young, had wisdom to share with her classmates, and students still in school.

"It doesn't matter what you say, it only matters what you do," she said. "Life is like riding a bicycle, to keep your balance you must keep moving. I know things will work out if you work hard. I'm very proud of my high school and I'm grateful for every one of my teachers."

She encouraged everyone to find work they love and to work hard. She also espoused the goodness of math, which she learned from her dad.

"You will always need math for everything," Monroy said. "It's everywhere, it defines how you handle problems, it improves your concentration, increases memory power..."

English teacher Diane Bennett spoke warmly about the class. She spoke of some of the books they read together over the years, Green Eggs and Ham, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Outsider, Call of the Wild, and 1984.

Quoting a character from The Outsiders, by S.E. Hinton, she told the class to "Stay gold," encouraging them to show care and concern for others, to develop kindness and inner strength.

Class speaker Carson Bergeson announced that he had decided to test out the advice and imagine his audience naked.

"In some ways these four years have been short and long," he said. "Long being high school drama, late nights and early mornings, stressful tests, those 6 a.m. practices. Short being the lifelong friendships, the everlasting memories, and those truly amazing things you learn and see between periodic bits of grunt work. Good or bad, I will remember this place."

Before presenting scholarships and awards Principal Quinn Donlon had a few witticisms for the group.

"Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there," he said. "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. If you can find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn't lead anywhere. Go into the world and do well, but more importantly, go into the world and do good."

After diplomas were handed out, Superintendent Lisa Nelson spoke some final words to the graduating class.

"We are happy to be sending the Class of 2018 into the future," she said. "I would say very happy."

The class, and the crowd that gathered to celebrate them chortled knowingly.

"As I've been around education for quite awhile now, I've heard various conversations in staff rooms," Nelson continued. "This class did this and that class did that. And can you believe those kids? Well, yes, Class of 2018, that is you.

"May your success be many and your troubles be few."

And with that, the tassels were turned, the class was presented, and caps flew in the air.