JAY — Spruce Mountain High School’s 115 seniors entered into the gymnasium Sunday afternoon under the direction of class marshals Chloe Flagg and Nathan Billings.

Principal Thomas Plourde welcomed the graduating seniors, staff and guests, saying, “A graduation ceremony is always such a special occasion. It is the culmination of years of hard work.” He spoke of the journey that may have started with tentative steps but took the seniors to remarkable heights.

Class salutatorian Samuel Brenner shared the two most important lessons he learned in high school: to set goals and accept failure as a path to success. “Setting goals is one of the most important aspects of becoming a successful person,” he said.

Originally intending to attend the Naval Academy, Brenner was not accepted there and will now enter the Air Force Academy where he will set new goals and ambitions. “Do not be afraid to fail,” he said, adding, “If you give something your all but don’t achieve it, you haven’t really failed but learned a valuable lesson.”

History teacher Nathan Purrington was humbled to have been asked to be the commencement address speaker. Thirteen years ago, almost to the day, he was a graduating senior at Jay High School. He racked his brains for what to say, but finally came up with the “Top 10” pieces of advice he wished he had been given then.

His list includes: have patience; life is awesome and beautiful but it’s not always fair; learn to cook; what other people think of you is none of your business; travel everywhere and as often as you can; be passionate and love with everything you have; be kind — karma is real; learning and being knowledgeable is cool; find balance — life is stressful; and go home, the place where you are comfortable, find balance, feel patient, know the people and love your surroundings.

Valedictorian Nicholas Esty shared a list of some things he learned at Spruce Mountain in the past four years. “We learned that we’re able to overcome adversity and to make it work in our favor,” he said. The senior class is an incredibly talented group of individuals, even if some need parking lessons. The seniors are a class of dreamers.

Class President Emilly LaFleur spoke of her first trip on a school bus and the new “first day on the bus” her classmates will soon experience. “So many lasts have come our way this year, it’s hard to believe that there will still be firsts,” she said. She said letting go of ‘last’ high school experiences doesn’t mean they are gone for good.

The SMHS Jazz Band provided the prelude and the SMHS Band played the processional, the “Star Spangled Banner” and the school song. The SMHS Senior Chorus sang “Best Day of Your Life” and “It’s My Life.”

Thomas Gould presented the first Diane Gould Memorial Scholarship to Amanda Castonguay.

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