The Press-Dispatch
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/1122967
A-4 Local Wednesday, May 29, 2019 The Press-Dispatch UNION SCHOOL REUNION SUNDAY, JUNE 2 from 1:30-3:30 p.m. All former Union, Ind. school students, teacher and families are invited to our annual reunion at the Sullivan Grocery Store: 8400 W. SR 65, Hazleton. Lunch can be purchased at Sullivan Grocery COME AND VISIT PHS Alumni Saturday, June 8 Banquet Petersburg elementary Cafeteria Fellowship time 5:30 p.m. • Dinner 6:30 p.m. Purchase advance tickets at these locations: $ 12 each German american Bank Home BuildinG SavinGS Bank ANDREW KRIEG Valedictorian Speech Friends, family, staff, ad- ministrators and fellow grad- uates, it is an honor to speak in front of you. Recounting the lasting impression our graduating class has left be- hind and all that is to come is no easy task. However, sur- viving high school is no easy task either. We should all be thankful for our teachers, friends, and especially par- ents, who we appreciate, no matter how little we let our- selves believe that. Last week, as I was at- tempting to write this, I won- dered what my purpose of this speech was. Did I want to go with the traditional, sappy, emotional speech, or keep a more lighthearted, joking atmosphere? Did I want to discuss all of the greatness sitting here, and the thankfulness we feel towards you all sitting out there? Did I want to discuss the impact of Pike Central on each and every one of us, which is overwhelmingly positive, and thank the staff and administrators for that? Did I want to talk about my own personal struggles, and how this class lifted me and those around me up when each of us were strug- gling? Did I want to inspire our graduating class to go out and achieve more in life? It became quite obvious as I saw each route that I want- ed to take all of them at once, so I will. Let's start with the great- ness sitting in front of us. We are the future doctors, lawyers, policemen, fire- fighters and soldiers of the world. Graduation is not an easy accomplishment; it has required dedication and per- severance, especially these last few weeks nearing the end. We have all reached our first, and hopefully not our last, great accomplishment of our lives. We should all be proud to be where we are, and to leave the legacy we're leaving. Our class will be re- membered at Pike Central. Pike Central has been kind to us all and has left a lasting impact, even if we don't see it that way yet. We have seen a multi- tude of changes, and now we can all acknowledge that these were for the bet- ter. From backpack policy to cell phones, our safety and well-being have always been this school's number one concern, and we must applaud our administrators for that. We must also thank our teachers for giving us a safe, friendly, and comfort- able environment to learn and thrive in every single day. Our teachers genuine- ly care for each and every one of us, and although ma- ny of us were cursing their names as we stayed up do- ing homework we should've done long before, we cannot ever be thankful enough for the thoughtful and caring staff we have who are so dedicated to helping us suc- ceed. Every one of us has felt personal struggles at some point in our lives, and those around us have helped us through. For me, joining public school in 4th grade after being home schooled my whole life was the big- gest struggle. I was and am thankful to have been wel- comed by such a kind and considerate group of people sitting in front of me today, and I never would've made it here without you. You all took the tall, complete- ly nerdy, Harry Potter-lov- ing, dorky 4th grader that I was and transformed him into the slightly less dorky but just as nerdy version that I am today. I cannot speak enough to how supportive and kind this graduating class is. I said I wouldn't be all sap- py, and I won't. Often, our fondest memories of a place are what we ultimately re- member it by, and I would like to share my fondest memory with you all. Every freshman comes into high school terrified of one thing, or in this case, one person: Ms. Hedge. No, she is not that scary, but every year, students are petrified to start freshman English. My class was hard- ly an exception. On April Fools Day, a student, Kyle Williams, decided to try and play a prank on her. He brought a bluetooth mouse to school and plugged it in- to her computer, so that when she was trying to use her computer, he could con- trol her mouse and drive her crazy. Word had gotten around to most of the class, and we sat in silence as we waited for the prank to take place. A fter a few seconds of what seemed like confusion, Ms. Hedge yelled, "Kyle! To the office, now! " and all of those rumors we had heard suddenly became true. We were startled, and the room was dead silent for a full minute. Once Kyle was out of the room, Ms. Hedge got on the phone and called the assistant principal. She said "Hey, I am playing a prank on a kid, so yell at him real good when he gets up there." At that point, the class erupt- ed with laughter at her cun- ning and deceptive prank, and everyone realized that although she was strict, she wanted to have fun the same as all of us. So how does this correlate with my memories of Pike Central? Perhaps, not everything you hear about it is true. Students complain a lot, often with- out thinking. Our teachers not only wished to teach us, but to have a good time with us, or in this case, at our ex- pense, and although educa- tion is the main goal, we all had fun at some point while learning. And now, to inspire you all, as I said I would. One particular quote stood out to me in searching for the per- fect inspiration for all, and it comes from the movie Mon- eyball. "Hard work may not always result in success, but it will never result in regret." Thank you. KYLE WILLIAMS Saluditorian Speech Before I begin my actual speech, I'd like to thank my parents, teachers, coaches, and friends and family for all that they have done for me. Without them, I wouldn't be where I stand today. A few days ago, I was in the hallway when a teach- er stopped me. We quick- ly talked about my college plans and how ready I was to break out into the world, but at the end of our conver- sation, she said something that stuck with me, she asked that I "never stop be- ing your own man." I later sat back reflecting on what it meant. I realized that my best self was when I was my own man, as noth- ing held me back. I worked to overcome things on my own and that has made all the difference. The future needs indepen- dent minds, and as the Class of 2019, we are the future. It is important that we act as individuals and on our own accord, as those who are courageous enough to do so are happier and more suc- cessful than the conform- ist. If we conform to an easy lifestyle, the world will not change, but if we stride into the world with our unique- ness, we can bring great change into the world. To be independent, we must also be comfortable with ourselves. When we can look in the mirror and be proud of who we are, that is when we are the strongest. It is important that we care for ourselves, as no one can ful- ly substitute caring for you. No one else will know you as well as you know yourself, so no one can take care of you like you can take care of yourself. So don't worry about finding someone to love you to overcome the in- ability to love yourself. Be- ing yourself is the quick- est way to love yourself, as it seems like most peo- ple who don't like who they are is because they are be- ing the wrong person; they should just be themselves. To be yourself, you must make your own decisions. No one else can live your life for you, no matter how hard they might try. Sometimes when I was making my own decisions I may have made the wrong decision. But mis- takes are always a learning experience. These mistakes make you stronger and also make you who you are. If we each leave here with the individuality we pos- sess and confidence in our- selves, we will be catalysts for change. Pike County and the high school have high expectations for the Class of 2019, and I am confident that we will not let them down. Thank You. MADISON FETTINGER Senior Speech Hello, Class of 2019! I am extremely honored to be wrapping up this chap- ter in our lives and to stand up before my peers and the teachers who have stood by me whilst I learned and struggled and thrived dur- ing these lengthy four years. And if I am to be quite hon- est, my nervousness is insur- mountable. But as I tear my wavering gaze away from these sweat-stained note cards and look among these adoring family members - especially the teary eyed ones - it hits like a powerful reminder of the accomplish- ments that the 2019 graduat- ing seniors have overcome. We've fought against the currents of drama, the break-ups and the make- ups, the late nights staying up cramming our brains so full of information that it gives us migraines because we didn't study the way we were supposed to. A fter hours of our noses stuck in textbooks or our glassy eyes glued to a T V screen, we still drug ourselves out of bed five out of a long sev- en day week: and it was the same routine for four years. If you had told me fresh- men year that I would be up at this very podium on this day, giving THE senior ad- dress and trying not to look out over smiling, proud faces because I'll start to cry, well first I would probably ask, "who are you and why are you talking to me? '' Then I'd assume you were nuts. I started out my high school career as a kind of shy nerd. I played the clarinet and bragged about superheroes and comic books. I never re- ally considered myself one of the "smart kids." I melt- ed seamlessly into the back- ground, fairly under the ra- dar and merely trying to be the best student and friend I could be. I worked on my character and confidence, and now look; I'm commemorating this celebration of the grad- uating class and looking at this gym for the last time, studying every inch of paint and every board. When you fail that test or get in that fight or just struggle mak- ing yourself decent, you re- alize just how difficult high school can be. That's why I want all of you to touch the tassels on your grad cap. That is physical, tangible ev- idence that you all succeed- ed. You've all survived ev- ery one of your worst days, and now you're here at one of the most significant cere- monies of your young lives. You made it; you're gradu- ating and becoming your own beautiful, independent person. Whether you're go- ing right into college or the workforce or the military or whatever you decide to do, you're closing a lengthy, but important, chapter in the book of your life. It doesn't matter if you struggled or breezed easily through your classes, you made it. You've come so far, accomplished so much. If you ever doubt that for a single second, look around you at this overwhelming sea of grins and tears, and twinkling eyes. These teach- ers and parents that pushed you only did so because they believed in you. Albert Einstein once said. "Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid." He was right; we're all geniuses in our own way. But now it's time to write the ending, wipe your eyes, and finish this chapter. I hope one day I'll be able to read your books. Thank you ev- eryone, and thank you, Pike Central, for everything. Three seniors lead 2019 ceremonies Andrew Kreig gives the Valedictorian speech for the Pike Central Class of 2019. Photos by Harting Studio Photography Kyle Williams looks out to the crowd as he gives the Salutatorian speech during graduation Friday night. Madison Fettinger gave the Senior Address for Pike Central's graduation on Friday. They graduated 130 seniors in the Class of 2019.