MONTGOMERY: ‘World to get a lot bigger’ for graduates

By Charley Falkenburg, Staff Writer
   MONTGOMERY — More than 400 green robes and mortarboards filled the Montgomery High School gym on Wednesday evening as the Class of 2012 stood side by side — ready to see 12 years of hard work come to fruition.
   Cameras flashed, friends whistled and parents beamed as they watched the school’s largest class yet to graduate.
   Victoria Moffit, the senior class president, compared their eighth grade graduation to the ceremony that would make them all Montgomery High alumni.
   ”Today can’t be more different — I don’t see a crowd of children, I see a community of young men and women,” said Ms. Moffit. “Our world is about to get a whole lot bigger and I hope you never forget the friends from home — these are the people who have known you from the very beginning.”
   Ms. Moffit explained that the town was named after Gen. Richard Montgomery, who fought in the Revolutionary War.
   ”He’s considered our first national hero. When I look out at this crowd, I see heroes who stand up for what they believe in,” she said. “Today is celebrating you and every small heroic act you have accomplished.”
   After Ms. Moffit’s address, Principal Paul Popadiuk introduced salutatorian Mitchell K. Ng and valedictorian Kai Eiji Okada.
   Mr. Ng, who will be attending Princeton University, acknowledged they would all be moving on, with many attending college and leaving Montgomery.
   ”Our parents won’t have to deal with our petty teenage problems anymore, they’ll just have to pay a $50,000 check,” he said, eliciting laughter from the audience.
   However, Mr. Ng became more serious as he told his fellow classmates that he believed the class of 2012 would be the ones to produce solutions for the economic and social problems the nation faces.
   ”We are going to be America’s future leaders. We may not have the answers yet, but one day we will find the solutions no matter what it takes,” said Mr. Ng. “We celebrate today, but tomorrow the real work begins.”
   Mr. Okada brought up the subject of labels and stereotypes — often known to be negative in the high school setting.
   But Mr. Okada said some labels are positive, especially being part of the class of 2012.
   ”The class of 2012 is our shared experience. I am proud to be here and call myself a member of the class of 2012,” he said. “ Thanks grads, for giving this class the character it has.”
   After Vice Principal Damian Pappa recognized more than 40 students in the top 10 percent of the graduating class, Mr. Popadiuk offered the graduates a few words of advice: to trust, face fear and then take action and to stay true to themselves.
   The final piece of advice was to focus on the process rather than the results.
   ”Choosing the path knowing what you want to do is more important than what you want to be,” said Mr. Popadiuk. “You have left your mark on Montgomery forever and have truly made Montgomery High School a better place — I wish you the best of luck.”
   Mr. Popadiuk presented the class of 2012 to Superintendent Earl Kim, who certified the seniors had met all the state and district requirements. Mr. Kim praised the seniors’ accomplishments, citing various artistic, academic and innovative achievements.
   ”You have excelled as a class in so many ways and emerged as arguably the most successful class in Montgomery history,” said Mr. Kim.
   Mr. Kim told the seniors to live lives that are worthy — adding that this can be done through doing simple acts whether it’s checking in on an elderly neighbor or confronting bigotry and oppression.
   ”This class has shown what it takes. Simple acts like these become habits of mind and habits of heart,” said Mr. Kim. “When these actions come together, it shapes a community.”
   Before distributing the diplomas, Arun Rimal, the Board of Education president, emphasized that anything is possible if they set their minds to it.
   ”There will be unexpected challenges, but they are all part of the learning process,” he told the graduates. “Come out of your shell, find what truly inspires you and let nothing get in your way.”
   The gym burst with applause as tassels moved to the left and mortarboards soared high into the air — officially giving hundreds of Montgomery’s young adults the green light to take on the world.