Thomas Stone High School held its commencement ceremony June 3 at The Show Place Arena in Upper Marlboro, representing a new era for Waldorf seniors.
Senior Class President Taylor Stark, told her classmates, “Well everyone, the day has finally arrived. Although all of our experiences were different, we all made it. What is most important is that we learned to overcome these personal obstacles. It proved to us that you never know when life will change, so channel your negative energy into positive energy.
“Overall, our class has so much to be proud of,” Stark said. “No matter what your accomplishments may have been, in the end, our experiences make us all more unique. None of us will ever forget winning Battle of the Classes all four years. Our happy video, which had 40,000 hits on YouTube—that is the spirit that encompasses our entire class.
“Remember your senior year,” she added. “Keep these thoughts close to your heart, because now they are all memories. Bill Cosby said, ‘In order to succeed, your desire for success must be greater than your fear of failure.’ Make every moment count, Class of 2014. This is our time to shine.”
Virginia Webber, salutatorian, said, “I want you to remember your favorite class, your favorite teacher, your first athletic event, every run, dive, shot, throw; remember your friends who have been there through everything. Every challenge we faced has only helped to shape us for our future.”
Valedictorian Kaitlyn Crook noted, “In August of 2010, we walked into Thomas Stone High School as students for the first time. Today, we left our school as students for the last time. In our four years at Thomas Stone, we have gotten taller, stronger and wiser. None of us had fully anticipated that we were going to learn from ourselves, our friends, our enemies. Limits are often self-imposed. The words ‘I can’t’ become our worst enemy.
“Normal Vincent Peale once said, ‘Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars,’ ” Crook said. “Even the most successful people needed a hand to guide them through difficulty and trepidation. Jefferson said, ‘Nothing can stop the man with the right attitude to achieve his goal.’ I challenge you to continue your thirst for knowledge.”
Michael Meiser, principal at Thomas Stone, told his charges, “This day is a culmination of your high school years. You have had a lot of bumps in the road, but hopefully you will look back at your years at Thomas Stone and will never be left with the thought of ‘what if?’ Be happy with the results of your efforts. I cannot wait to see you as you return as citizens of tomorrow.”
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