Editorial
By:
Members of the Class of 2003 said their farewells to Hightstown High School last week.
The graduation ceremony June 19 at Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton was full of speeches and jitters, a chance for classmates to ruminate about the past and ponder the future.
There were speeches from the class valedictorian and salutatorian, from the class president and three school officials. And there was the distribution of diplomas a symbol of 12 years of hard work and a tangible reminder that one chapter in their lives is ending and a new one beginning.
Most of the graduates will be heading off to two- or four-year colleges, some to work and others into the armed forces.
But all will be forced to take on new responsibilities.
So we have some advice: Make the best of what’s ahead and take the time to pursue your passions.
While the decisions you make in the next few years could determine the course your life will take in the future, do not allow yourselves to become forced onto a life path that you will not be able to live with when you are older.
To put it simply, now is the time to try out new interests, to learn as much as you can about the world and to see what it is you really want to do.
Find what you love or are passionate about and follow it though. It is your time to map your future and embracing that opportunity will keep the inevitable second-guessing to a minimum.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions not just about what you see or what you are learning in class, but about yourself.
Many of you may know what path you want to follow. You plan to paint or teach or open your own business. You’re going into medicine or law or maybe you want to program computers, fix jet engines, patrol your hometown as a police officer or serve your country in the armed forces.
Many more of you and many who do not even realize it yet are unsure of which road you should travel. You are looking at the future with nothing but questions.
And that’s OK. Don’t be discouraged. You still have plenty of time to figure out where you want to go and how to get there. Just remember to make the most of every opportunity that comes your way, whether it be in school or in the work force, in the military or even in the Peace Corps.
Learn everything you can learn from every situation. You may not realize it now, at 17 or 18, but all of these experiences will be valuable when you are older.
And don’t be afraid to ask for help from friends and teachers and parents. Their advice just might get you through the inevitable rough spots.
And one more thing: Remember to have fun, especially during this last summer before the rest of your lives begin.
You deserve it.
Congratulations Class of 2003.