BETHEL – Jessica Dine, co-valedictorian of the Telstar Regional High School Class of 2016, urged classmates Friday evening to temper their expectations following the ceremony.

“The thing about graduating is that it’s treated like this huge celebration, but people put so much weight on it that I know for some of you it’s probably kind of frightening too,” she said. “It always seems to be bound up with questions about what we’re going on to do, and where we’re going to do it, and I know for a lot of people those answers aren’t simple.”

She continued, adding that she believes “a lot of people are overly influenced by expectations,” whether its “theirs or those of the people around them.”

“They think their only option is to fulfill them—and that trips them up because it isn’t, and that’s ok,” Dine said. “People try to do big things all the time, and they can, and they do, but it isn’t something you can force and it’s not going to happen overnight.”

Dine said that graduation won’t be the hardest part of their lives.

“In fact, for most of us this was probably comparatively easy, but that’s ok,” she said. “That’s how it’s supposed to be. You spend your first eighteen years becoming a real person, and now you have the freedom to help anyone and do anything. Just don’t worry about the specifics, because even if right now things don’t seem to be falling into place, they will eventually, whether or not it’s the way you expected.”

The 52 seniors were reminded by other classmates and some of their teachers to be proud of their time at Telstar, and to accept any changes that come following graduation.

Co-valedictorian Becca Howard reminded fellow graduates of the numerous changes they’s seen in the past 13 years.

“Our friends have changed, our music and fashion styles have changed, and we’ve had a new principal seven times in our 13 years in the school district,” she said.

“They’ve helped shape us into the people we are today,” she continued. “I hope you all go forward with the intentions of making it a better place, and of never giving up on your dreams. And always accept change, because it’s inevitable.”

Cassidy Smith, the third Honors scholar, told graduates to “be proud of what we’ve done,” and to “be proud of the accomplishments and all that we did, despite the bad grades and detentions we may have gotten.”

Telstar Middle School teacher Mark Kenney emphasized “pride:” something graduates should think about when they’re walking out of the school for the last time.

“Hold your heads high with pride for this milestone you’ve achieved tonight,” Kenney said. “Have pride in your community that helped you get here, in your immediate and extended family that are here to support you, no matter what,” he said.

“Have pride in the feeling you get when wearing a sports uniform, in your academic successes and failures,” he said. “Most of all, have pride in the person you have become.”

Hayley Peterson sang the national anthem at the start of the ceremony.

Graduate John Walker offered a brief message to classmates following the presentation of diplomas, saying he appreciated them and encouraged them in their pursuits.

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