Manning High School Class of 2014 Valedictorian John L. Tricoche ended his speech at Friday’s commencement ceremony by taking a selfie of himself and his fellow graduates.
His speech during the ceremony, however, focused on what the members of the Class of 2014 should be grateful for in moving forward in their lives.
“How many times have we heard the words, or said the words, ‘Man, I’m so ready to graduate,’ or ‘I’m so ready to leave Manning High,’ or even ‘I’m so ready to leave Manning,’” Tricoche said. “We’re now at the point of beginning the rest of our lives, and we’re looking back. We have much to be thankful for.”
Tricoche said he and his classmates had great teachers and hardworking administrators.
“We’ve about to go out, and we’re going to show the world just how special we are,” Tricoche said. “But it doesn’t mean we have to forget about the people, the things and the memories that helped mold us into who we are today.”
Salutatorian Robert Hinson had similar thoughts during his presentation.
“High school, indeed our entire education, has been getting us ready for what we will face after tonight,” Hinson said. “We made it here tonight, and we can handle what’s next because of what we learned here, and with God’s guidance.”
Hinson said it’s like “senior year has come and gone in a flash.”
“This has been the best year of my high school career,” he said. “But I could not have made it here alone. God has done so much for me over the past four years, and I know he has touched your lives as well. Numerous times I’ve felt like giving up and quitting. But I’ve taken a step back from the problems and have given them to God. He is always here to help.”
Clarendon School District 2 Board Chairman Matthew Prince told students they should “thank (their) haters.”
“No one has thanked their haters so far, or the ones that maybe got on their nerves,” Prince said. “Those people helped guide you here today, too. You did this just to show those people that you could when they said you couldn’t.”
Prince said what the future holds for each student is up to him or her.
“Some of you, this is as far in education as you will go,” Prince said. “You will go out and work, and that will be it. But I pray that’s not the end for you, and that you will continue in your education. But it’s up to you. Nobody else can hold you but you.”
Superintendent John Tindal told students to thank their mentors.
“You didn’t get here all by yourself,” he said. “First, at some point I hope you will say a prayer to God for having gotten you this far.”
“And you should think about thanking your parents, grandparents and guardians who have also been there by your side all these many years,” Tindal said. “I hope you’ll think about thanking not just the teachers at Manning High School, but all those teachers who guided you to get to this point today. You owe a debt of gratitude to a large number of people.”
Tindal encouraged the Manning High Class of 2014 to remember that “successful people always finish what they start.”
“I know that it’s been a long journey for you, but you’ve persevered,” he said. “You’ve worked your way through all the challenges you’ve had to face. You’ve succeeded. You’ve done well. You finished what you started all those years ago. Successful people always do that: They finish what they start.”
Tindal said he hopes graduates would celebrate the accomplishment, but noted that “you’re not finished.”
“I want you to realize as you leave this school tonight as an alumni of Manning High School and Clarendon District 2 that everyone here is proud of you,” Tindal said. “But we are expecting you to do great things now with the education that you have.”
Tricoche agreed.
“The bonds we’ve made in the past four years have made us strong,” he said. “It’s not the type of strength one can view physically. But it’s the type of strength that can be felt in all our hearts. I no longer want to leave Manning as much as I thought I did.”
“I’m not trying to encourage you from reaching your goals and aspirations, because I wouldn’t be a very good friend if I did that,” Tricoche continued. “But I am going to encourage all of us to remember our roots. Were about to go out, and we’re going to show the world just how special we are. And remembering our roots is going to keep us grounded on our way to doing that.”
