“Looking back, many hours were spent working, but maybe an equal amount were spent waiting — waiting for the end. Waiting for the end of a class, waiting for the end of the day and the end of the year. And after all that time waiting, I wish I could just wait a little longer now. However, the end is here, so we have a choice to make: Do we resent the end, or do we appreciate the time that we had?”
These were the words of Emmalee Kiser, salutatorian for Columbus East High School’s Class of 2020.
On Saturday, May 30, Kiser and the rest of her class graduated in a pre-recorded virtual ceremony that was streamed through Facebook and YouTube, due to health and safety concerns over COVID-19.
In their speeches, Kiser and valedictorian Allison Mack thanked their classmates, faculty and staff and family members for supporting them during their four years at East.
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“Although we may have missed some traditional and exciting end-of-the-year events, ultimately, we will remember our time at East not by canceled experiences, but by the relationships and memories we formed with each other,” Mack said. “Through the struggles we have faced in high school, we have learned to be leaders, to take ownership of our futures, and most recently, to cherish every moment we experience."
The next speaker was Principal Mark Newell, who encouraged the senior class to seize the opportunities that await them while also being there for the people around them.
“As you get ready to take this next step in life, I would encourage you to be true to yourself,” he said. “Appreciate people for who they are. You are an individual. You are valued for who you are. Believe in yourself, and stay persistent. There will be ups and downs in life, no doubt about that. Stay focused on your goals, and do not be afraid to reach out and ask for help. Together, we are stronger.”
The next speaker was Superintendent Dr. Jim Roberts, who noted in his speech that this school year has been unlike any other, saying that, in the words of John Lennon, these have been “strange days indeed.”
“Regardless of the challenges we all have faced during these past few weeks, now is a time of celebration,” he continued. “It is a time to celebrate the many friendships developed, to celebrate the multitude of memories created, to celebrate important lessons learned, to celebrate perseverance and fortitude demonstrated, to celebrate the end of this stage of a life while also celebrating the beginning of another.”
Next, the graduates were announced as their names and pictures appeared onscreen and the traditional “Pomp and Circumstance” played in the background. After the entire class had been presented, the senior class officers presented this year’s senior gift — canned food and a donation of $1,000 to the Columbus East High School Food Pantry. According to class officer Allana Whiteside, this gift provided food for more than 200 families.
After Whiteside spoke, counselor Andrew Taube rang the senior bell, then four class officers explained four “fundamental virtues” that the graduates should carry into their futures: loyalty, honesty, respect and unselfishness. Each virtue was followed by a symbolic ringing of the bell.
Then Kiser led the class in the traditional turning of their tassels, followed by an outburst of applause from faculty and staff, who recorded their congratulations over video chat to congratulate the students.
There is little that can be said to fully encompass the bittersweet nature of graduation, especially in times such as these. Still, each speaker brought positivity and hope to the occasion.
“The uncertainty of the situation is truly intimidating, but as we look back on our high school careers, this feeling is not different from what we have faced and overcome before,” Mack said in her speech. “Ultimately, our lives and world are always and will always be changing, but choosing a positive and creative response to those changes is what creates the path to success. So I encourage you to always remember how far you have already come and to use that growth and resilience to embrace the inevitable uncertainties in your future as opportunities.”
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Number of graduates: 277
Valedictorian: Allison Mack
Salutatorian: Emmalee Kiser
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Columbus East High School’s graduation video is available on Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp.’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.
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For more photos, go to therepublic.com.
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