Mat-Su Central School 2021 grads ‘chose grit’

WASILLA — Mat-Su Central School’s class of 2021 celebrated their graduation May 20 at the Menard Sports Center.

“Graduates, you came to Mat-Su Central looking for something different, and so did I,” Mat-Su Central principal John Brown said. “There’s no doubt in my mind you’ll be successful in the future endeavors you’ll take.”

Student speaker Victoria Fetters gave a senior address to her fellow graduates, emphasizing the importance of savoring the sweetness of little moments without letting them pass by.

“Live a life without regrets,” Fetter said. “The possibilities from today on are endless. As we enter the adult world, don’t forget to enjoy the little things and keep hold of them. Life can get stressful, and crazy, and overwhelming. Enjoy the lilac sunsets where the sun drips like honey across the sky. Enjoy the funny cat videos on TikTok. Enjoy the late-night drives with loud music and the windows down. Enjoy talking to someone you haven’t talked to in a while. Enjoy the excitement of hooking into a big fish. Enjoy passing all of your college classes. Because when the world tastes bitter and you feel like giving up, those things may add just the right amount of sweetness to make life more bearable.”

Student speaker Elsa O’Neill said that she transferred to Mat-Central during her final year of high school to take control of her education amid the uncertainty of COVID-19. O’Neill successfully juggled online classes, a part-time job, and multiple college classes during her journey to graduation. She plans to attend Montana State University in the fall to study microbiology.

“I know a lot of students, myself included came to Mat-Su Central this year to help ease the tension that hung around our final year of high school. What an amazing choice that has proven to be,” O’Neill said.

O’Neil said their class went through so much together. She marveled at their strength and determination to persevere through the pandemic and countless other challenges.

“The fact we are here today is a testament to our grit… We kept pushing forward and accomplished our goals,” O’Neill said. “Nobody could have predicted how long the pandemic was going to last… I had never dealt with anything like this before. None of us had. It was out of our hands. It kind of felt as if we had no choices left. But even when we feel as if we’ve lost all hope, we always have one choice: the attitude in which we face our challenges. I can confidently say the class of 2021 chose grit.”

To view the Mat-Su Central 2021 graduation, visit vimeo.com/event/962180/videos/545273684.

To view other ceremonies online, visit the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District website at matsuk12.us/Page/47462.

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com