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Once freshmen as the world closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ripon High School class of 2023 graduated together and in-person last week Saturday.
Class president Sheridan Zimmerman opened the ceremony, followed by speakers Hailee Scheier and Anya Duffy.
Hailee Scheier delivers her speech, “We Grew Up” to her classmates. Listening behind her are, from left, fellow classmates Anya Duffy and Sheridan Zimmerman, staff graduation speaker Brad Roost, Principal Randy Hatlen, Assistant Principal Bill Kinziger, Superintendent Mary Whitock, and School Board members Nicole Dash and Denise Martinez.
“To my fellow graduates: We grew up. All we’ve ever wanted was to grow up,” Scheier said. “We grew up sharing endless laughter and inside jokes within the walls of our classrooms since 2010. We craved becoming older, taller, wiser and stronger. Tall enough to ride the rollercoasters and free to drive on our own with the windows down on warm summer nights. All we wanted was to grow up.
“We grew up anxiously waiting for the bell to ring at the beginning and end of each day. We grew up reading picture books which turned into chapter books. Now, here we are closing on a chapter of our lives and turning the page to a new one.”
Scheier continued to reminisce on moments in Barlow Park Elementary School, like going to the computer lab or watching “The Polar Express” while sipping on hot chocolates; transitioning to Murray Park where recess consisted of playing tetherball or “Lava Monster” on the playground; and then the middle school, where they would look down the hall at the high schoolers whose shoes they wanted to fill one day.
“Now, four years later, even those days are coming to a close,” she said. “We grew up learning wisdom from the teachers we’ve had over the past 13 years, who ignited something in us to be our best selves.
“What we didn’t realize was how fast we were growing up, and somehow the past 13 years flew by. Years of waiting for this very moment turned into months. Months turned into weeks. Weeks turned into days. Days that have now come to an end, but the growing that we did was ever-changing. We grew up dreaming about the day we get to go off on our next adventure, joking about how we couldn’t wait until graduation, eager to explore the day.
“And here I stand before you today, as we take our first steps down divergent paths. We grew up overcoming unforeseen difficulties, we went through all sorts of ups and downs over the past 13 years. Through experiencing the unknowns of COVID freshman year, wondering if we’d ever be back in the building of Ripon High School, to the unspoken hardships and even losing loved ones. When virtual learning got difficult, our honorary senior, [Principal Randy Hatlen’s dog] Coach, shined a light within the dark times. Even through these difficulties, we still made it to this day.”
Scheier concluded by saying “even though we grew up full of dreams and disappointments, difficulties and successes, tears and laughter, we know that we still have growing to do. But here we stand today, grateful for all of the moments that brought us here. Today is one of those days for all of us. Today, we say our goodbyes and part our ways. But as Winnie the Pooh once said, ‘How lovely we are to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.’ Congratulations, Class of 2023. We grew up.”
Duffy’s speech looked back on a question many students have asked over the years, specifically in mathematics: “What’s the point of all of this?”
Anya Duffy gives her speech, which was titled “The Point of it All,” last week Saturday.
“It seemed to me that my peers could find no response that would satisfy them. So what was the point of all of this? Well today, Class of 2023, you’ll find your answer,” Duffy said. “Learning the Pythagorean Theorem goes much further than memorizing A squared plus B squared equals C squared. I can recognize that information might not be entirely relevant to our day-to-day lives, I mean, how often do you actually need to find the hypotenuse of a right triangle? But the equation is much more complicated than that.
“The Pythagorean Theorem taught each one of us to assess an issue, recognize missing information and work diligently to apply previous knowledge to, quite literally, problem solve. I don’t know about all of you, but to me that sounds like a life lesson disguised as mathematics.”
Duffy continued her speech in finding valued life lessons in what they were taught over the past four years, including references to “Oedipus Rex,” “Romeo and Juliet” and the vast travels occurring through history.
“We, as the Class of 2023, have equipped ourselves with the problem-solving tool that will aid us greatly in our future successes,” she said. “We learned that sometimes taking the dangerous route, riddled with uncertainty, can lead to life-changing success and prosperity. After today, if you don’t remember how to balance ionic equations for oxidation and reduction reactions, or each individual step to the Krebs cycle, chemistry and biology at the bare minimum taught us that the little things matter — even the smallest molecules, the smallest of organelles can lead to something big.
“Although we learned many literal life lessons in high school, including how to flip an omelet, find an apartment within budget, use a table saw and maintain a healthy, happy lifestyle, it’s the deep-rooted narratives within our curriculum that has taught us the most. Remember, when you find yourself asking ‘What was the point of all of this?’ Look back to Ripon High, and I’m sure you’ll find the right tools in your toolbox. I wish each of you the very best of luck.”
Staff speaker Brad Roost addresses the class of 2023.
The class of 2023 chose science teacher Brad Roost to be its staff speaker, as he was also new to the high school scene at the same time it was. Beginning as a long-term substitute in February 2020, through COVID Roost completed his coursework to become a full-time teacher for these students.
“You have watched me over these years trying to figure out my place here,” Roost said. “My role as a teacher, my struggles with classroom management, differentiating assignments, becoming a confidant and an adviser, sifting through all the messiness. You might have found it annoying, you may have found it comical, you may have found it curious, but I found it essential. You taught me how to teach. You showed me what you as students need.
“You showed me friendship and support; you showed me teaching isn’t just spewing content and grading papers. It’s arguably more about guiding you into adulthood and helping you find your place, and providing you with a safe space. It has been a very vulnerable and challenging time, but it has also been the most rewarding job I have ever had. And for that reason, I will be eternally grateful to this class for helping me become the teacher and trusted adult I work every day to become. You will always be my first class. Thank you, each and every one of you. I’m sure going to miss you guys.”
Meanwhile, Hatlen gave his final speech in his role as principal, reminiscing on his own accomplishments while reminding students to cherish everything.
“Throughout your life, you will probably accumulate certificates, awards, keepsakes, photos of family, friends and coworkers. You need a place to keep them. I keep them in my bin,” Hatlen said. “The items I’ve kept mark special professional, personal occasions, relationships or accomplishments that have happened throughout my life and career so far.
Principal Randy Hatlen holds a few of his cherished pictures as he delivers a speech to the class of 2023.
“The items you keep signify how you spent your time doing what is important to you. Everyone here has the resource of time. What will you do with yours? After this day, the schedule is gone. The bells are no longer ringing, and no one can force you to do anything. What will you do with your time? At the end of your time, what will be in your bin?”
And as students made their way across the stage, Ella Weiske also accomplished her feat of walking across the stage with the help of an exoskeleton she’s been working on using for the past several months. This accomplishment was met with a standing ovation and cheers through the entire gymnasium (for more information on her feat and the emotions of Weiske and her family, see next week’s Commonwealth).
But one thing Roost alluded to in his speech was to do good for others without losing sight of your own journey.
“Anyone who has been in one of my classes knows I keep a saying on the white board at all times. What does it say? [It says] ‘Don’t concern yourself with other people.’ If you stop being preoccupied with how other people live their lives, you will be able to focus more of your energy on how you choose to live your own. The coming years will be a time of self-discovery for you. You don’t have to be who someone tells you to be. Be yourself, fly your own flag, don’t be rude, take care of the people around you and take your plate to the kitchen. There are people that don’t have what you have — let them get it.
“Hurt people often hurt other people. Fortunately, free people free other people. Save people, shelter others. Good people do good things for other people. That’s it. It’s just that simple.”
