This is the beginning of a new era. Your high school graduation has arrived. You have had an amazing journey since the beginning. Your education journey took you from Pre-School, which is: Twoodles, Building Blocks and Stepping Stones, Coal Creek Elementary, Louisville Middle School and finally to Monarch High School (MOHI) and the adventure was amazing.

COVID, insurrection, devastating weather and fires, and threat of war were all obstacles you had to overcome, and yet you persevered. The learning process has filled you with hope for a better future, and the desire to make the world a better place.

You met a multitude of amazing people and teachers along the way, with Legos galore, Robotics, TSA competitions, and a fantastic trip with the band and choir to New York City on Spring Break! Your learning excelled, creating who you are today, a person prepared for higher learning. Marching band competitions created a sense of belonging to something bigger than an electronic world. My gift to you is communications skills. You can communicate with anyone, any age, any size, any race and any gender, and your ability to maintain multiple different and dynamic groups of friends. Your Dad’s gift to you is your ability to understand the inner workings and processes of a computer. Lifetime friendships will remain in the future for you. College will help you continue to grow, and you will make another group of friends, while holding the ones you already have close to you and in your heart forever.

With “Buzz Lightyear” on your side, you are ready to advance to “Infinity and Beyond.” You will achieve greatness once you apply yourself to your finest endeavor. You will fight the good fight and win the battles that are important. And all the while we will stand by you and support you.

Seniors, you all went through heartbreak and tragedy these past few years and still excelled, despite all the tragedy – it was more than us parents went through in our entire lives.

Be grateful for a world that embraces you and allows you to change things that need changing.

Love your parents and family no matter what happens in the future.

Love your life and reach out to others who need your help and embrace them.

“Learn as if you will live forever, live like you will die tomorrow.” – Mahatma Gandhi

“Success usually comes to those who are too busy looking for it.” – Henry David Thoreau

“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” – Carl Sagan

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

AND…. “Overthrow selfishness and replace it with kindness.” – Dru Tieben