The Hogwarts of the Valley sends off its finest

WASILLA — Some 55 Mat-Su Career and Technical High School seniors walked across the stage at the Menard Sports Complex as high school students to start and young adults with their futures ahead of them as they left the stage.

The Class of 2017 commencement exercises included co-salutatorians — Amy McDougall and Sierra Hicks, along with valedictory remarks from Lucas Arthur. Class counselor Jeanine Sparks, noted that each of the three will enjoy a full-ride scholarship to their respective college/university. Career Tech’s philosophy allows students to indulge in eight pathways — building, business, fitness, health, human services, natural resources, tourism and transportation. The ceremony included representatives from each pathway who were on stage to greet their respective graduates.

Hicks addressed the audience stating years from now, not many will remember what speakers said at their graduation. For a vast majority of her fellow classmates, she took a few moments to deliver some of its most commonly associated reflections--becoming adults, a new beginning, a bright future. She said for the one in 20 who do remember the addresses, she wanted to focus on two things. First, it’s okay to be awkward. Lastly, quoting Albus Dumbledore of Harry Potter fame, Hicks stated, “Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak!”

“All late nights and early mornings have finally paid off,” said co-salutatorian Amy McDougall as she took the podium. Sharing what she said almost became her senior quote, McDougall quipped, “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it. So I hope you’re successful in life. I don’t feel old enough or wise enough to be giving advice or eloquent enough to give a motivational speech so I’ll just say this. Do good things and be kind. The world needs more of that.”

Arthur followed beginning his address by stating “...as far as reflecting or look forward, that’s what yearbooks are for. I knew right off the bat, that’s not what I wanted to talk about. But he said the prerequisite about giving life advice is you have to be good at something and the only way to do that is through years of practice.”

“Years that we don’t have,” he continued. “I’m about as qualified to give life advice as a precocious monkey. It might work at first, but at some point, something’s bound to go haywire.”

Instead, he shared a Leo Tolstoy parable about the king who wanted to know three things in life — when was the right time to begin something; who were the right people to listen to and to avoid; and above all, if he always knew the most important thing to do, he would never fail at anything he might undertake.

There is only one time that is important and that time is now, Arthur said.

Career Teach teacher Zack Lanphier told the grads they’ve heard everything he’d have to say likening them to random clichés.

“All I have left is to tell you how doggone proud of I am you. You make me so proud. Proud to be here with you. You are mine, you have been mine for four years, from day one you were mine you will always be mine. I have been humbled and honored by your admiration,” said Lanphier. “The most important lesson I have, and I want you to remember, is you are loved. I want the very best for you, especially if takes work, perseverance. You will not value what you do not work for. Drive fast. Take chances.”

Fellow teacher Gary Howell told the grads they are at a point of moving from mandatory education to selective education.

“You are no longer told what you need to learn but you get to learn but to select what you want to learn. With this transition comes the most notable change in your entire life...the ability to make your own decisions,” Howell said. He said all too often high school graduation is seen as a moment of completion. “I would espouse this a moment of beginning...the focus of my advice is decisions.”

Howell said some decisions notable others seem consequential. He suggested the grads ask themselves whether a decision make their life or the life of somebody else, better. If yes, he said follow through, especially if it makes someone else’s life better. These he called external motivators.

“Follow your heart...I challenge you first generation of free thinking adults to not only know right path, but choose it. Knowing the difference between right and wrong is not difficult. The decisions of today and tomorrow have the power to erase those of yesterday. Nobody’s perfect. It’s never too late to do the right thing...so pick what is right for you, never look back and live life with no regrets.”

Mat-Su Career and Technical High School Class of 2017

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