Speakers talk about overcoming struggles at 214 Wasilla Warriors walk

WASILLA — At a crowded Curtis D. Menard Center Thursday night, 214 Wasilla graduates walked across the stage to formally finish their time in high school with a class motto “we are infinite, ready for beyond.”

Alexander Litvinchuk earned valedictorian honors with a GPA above 4.0. He plans to attend UAA. Litvinchuk, along with three other student speakers and guidance counselor John Paramo spoke Thursday night.

“I don’t want a single one of you to ever say goodbye to learning,” said Litvinchuk. Litvinchuk noted the time they had spent at Wasilla High together and reveled in the completion of their high school education.

“Just because you say goodbye, doesn’t mean you forget it,” said Litvinchuk.

Senior class President Shyanne Massie noted the changes and difficulties she has had to endure, suffering an injury that derailed her swimming career.

“Our world has changed a lot in the last 18 years and so have we,” said Massie. “We are able to shape our own future. We are able to make our own pixie dust. Failure is necessary for success. If we never fail, we will never learn, and if we never learn we will never grow.”

The enormous crowd inside the Menard center all had to have tickets to get in, assuring that there would not be overcrowding. Even with the limited number of seats available, an entire arena of onlookers observed 214 young people take the next step in their lives toward adulthood.

Co-Salutatorians Wyatt Wallis and Isaak Bell addressed the crowd first. Wallis handled his speaking responsibilities by addressing his fellow classmates ardently.

“We have achieved the point of undisturbed freedom, but that comes with responsibilities of society. These responsibilities are inevitable and unavoidable. Life will be tough. It’ll be hell. But as Winston Churchill once said, ‘when you’re going through hell, keep going,’” said Wallis.

Bell was more reticent to address his classmates and the crowd.

Normally the number of people I’m comfortable talking in front of is in the single digits. Looking at the audience tonight, there’s at least 10 people out there,” said Bell.

Bell quoted his namesake in the closing of his remarks.

In order to succeed now after graduation you have to want to. Sir Isaac Newton said ‘if I am anything, which I highly doubt, I have made myself so by hard work,” said Bell.

Guidance Counselor John Paramo calmly addressed the crowd and students he had helped guide to and through graduation. Paramo briefly touched on the millenial plight of skipping class, playing fortnite, and texting while walking up and down the stairs at WHS.

“My only regret is that I did not get to know all of you on a more personal basis. A graduating class is much like a mama duck trying to get all her duckies across the Parks Highway,” said Paramo. “Most seniors by now have reached the magical age of 18, which means they possess all the magical wisdom of god, google, and Dr. Phil, in that order.”

Paramo then talked at length about his father, keeping his composure and not revealing whose life he was detailing until near the end. Paramo told the story of his father Antonio, who many knew as Tony, and he knew as ‘Papi.’ He detailed his life as an immigrant from Mexico who worked in Texas, did not speak english when he arrived in the United States, grew and provided for his family of 12 on a custodian’s salary, a point of pride for Paramo’s father.

“My wish for all of you is that you will negotiate the challenges of life and find peace, joy love, kindness, and share that with the rest of the world wherever you may end up,” said Paramo.

Paramo talked more about his father who would, regardless of whether he knew you or not, would extend his hand and say “hello my friend.” Paramo talked about how even though his life carried a great deal of hardship, strife, and struggle, he remained positive. Near the end of his life, he spoke with his son.

“He was pleased with his body of work and was content and felt blessed to have had the time that God had afforded him,” Paramo said. “Remember to do kind things not because you should do kind things, but because you want to and because you can.”

“Your measure of success will be defined and determined by you and you alone. Remember that the most precious asset you are in charge of is time. His name was Antonio he was my Dad,” said Paramo. “Go and be the proud fearless warriors you are in spirit in your hearts and in your actions.”