FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — Family, friends and school leaders gathered on Sunday, June 8, to send off Fort Fairfield Middle-High School’s Class of 2025.
The group of 30 seniors — with only one member, Jonis Ouellette, unable to attend — marched onstage to the familiar “Pomp and Circumstance.”
Reaching for opportunities and being resilient were the themes of the day.
Class President Brianna Osterblom said the class had learned to unite throughout their school years. She encouraged the group to live in the moment and take risks. After all, embarrassment only lasts as long as one lets it, she said.
“If you have the drive to accomplish something in your life, go for it,” Valedictorian Anthony Betancourth said. “Show the world you can bounce back from hard times.”
He urged the class to always be curious and devour knowledge. Though life can be confusing, each person can be a “distant ray of light” for others and should never lose sight of what makes them unique.
Salutatorian Emma Bragg shared a few lessons she had learned from her school days. Everyone has moments when they feel they don’t fit in, she said, recalling being the last to be picked for dodgeball.
She used those moments to look inward and get to know herself, and found her niche in community service.
“It’s tough feeling invisible, but in those moments I learned my greatest strengths,” she said. “Success comes from kindness, collaboration and supporting one another.”
Class speaker John Kaleta, SAD 20 interim superintendent, pointed out the ancient Greek story of Sisyphus, who was bound to keep pushing a boulder up a hill, have it roll back and start all over again. Instead of giving in to despair, Sisyphus just kept focusing on his work and turned his punishment into a lesson in perseverance, resilience and determination.
Classmates will face both mountains and valleys in their life journeys, Kaleta said.
“Never give up. Keep pushing, keep growing and remember: everyone around is pushing their own boulder,” he said.
Before diplomas were handed out, Guidance Director Amanda Kilcollins and other presenters distributed more than 40 different scholarships, totaling $321,430.
