Thursday, March 28, 2024
Byron High School Graduate Alexandra Green, along with her fellow graduates gave hugs to those who supported them over the years after graduation Sunday.

Byron High School graduates Class of 2019

The Byron High School Gym was filled with family, friends and community members on Sunday to celebrate the Byron Class of 2019.

Tara Dunken, a teacher at Byron who was picked by the class to give a speech during graduation used the time to talk about the different lessons that the class taught her over the years.

“You taught me how incredibly talented you are in other areas of your life.” You taught me how to you can embrace a new environment after moving to Byron in your high school years,” were just a couple of the 28 examples she gave during her speech.

Dunken wore a t-shirt during the graduation with the word “grateful” on to visualize what her main message in the speech was.

“While I could be discouraged with the countless number of nights I woke up and stayed up thinking about what I would say, I am going to choose to be grateful.  Grateful for the opportunity to share this moment with you in your life,” Dunken told the graduating class. “ Throughout life, if you find what you can be grateful for you are going to lead a positive and happy life.  The people in this room have helped you get to this point in your life and remember to be grateful.”

Also giving a speech to the graduating class was Byron Class Officer Phoebe Barnes.

“Very rarely do we see a moment like this in our lives. This is the direct accumulation of our effort and time; this is the moment where a single body of students becomes a relative unit of society. Where our linear path of life ricochets into a brighter future. This is a congregation of future college attendees, future employees and employers, and future servicemen and women that are preparing to propel themselves towards the times to come. And although we, a uniform system, are moving towards this change together, we are all on different paths. We are of the same system, but we are individuals, unique and personalized,” Barnes said.

“ I have always believed that our strengths lie within the differences between us. Nobody in this room has had the same life, or the same classes, or the same experiences or successes but that is precisely why I think this group of students is so extraordinary. The differences we have allow us to introduce new and complex ideas, to innovate the old and the new, to discuss the issues that we have faced and will face, and to find success in all areas of life, no matter what we define success as. My fellow classmates, family members, friends, and staff, I'd like to thank you for being part of this moment today.”

 

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