Oh, the places these Fitch grads will go!

Austintown Fitch High School
graduated 400 seniors Sunday.

NINETEEN AUSTINTOWN FITCH HIGH School Class of 2007 valedictorians had a tag line for each of their vignettes: “Oh, the Places You’ll Go.”

Here’s an excerpt from the Dr. Seuss book, often given as a graduation present, “Oh, the Places You’ll Go:”

“Congratulations!

Today is your day.

You’re off to Great Places!

You’re off and away!

You have brains in your head.

You have feet in your shoes.

You can steer yourself

any direction you choose.

You’re on your own and you know what you know.

And you are the guy who’ll decide where to go.

You’ll look up and down streets. Look ’em over with care.

About some you will say, ‘I don’t choose to go there.’

With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet, you’re too smart to go down any not-so-good street.”

The valedictorians’ short speeches, a few said through tears, included thanks to those who helped them along the way and words of encouragement, each ending with “Oh! The places you’ll go!”

A fond farewell

Sunday afternoon, Fitch graduated 400 seniors, girls in red, boys in blue, in the high school gym. The bleachers were filled to capacity with family and friends. Huge, industrial-strength fans positioned by the gym doors helped with the heat.

Before the ceremony, Angela Moser and Patrick Stuhldreher, on their way to don their caps and gowns, said they were excited to be graduating. Moser is headed to Kent State University, and Stuhldreher will study auto mechanics at a technical school in Trumbull County.

Both said they’ll miss seeing their friends every day.

“We’ll keep in touch, for sure,” Moser said of her classmates.

“I’m going to miss all my friends,” said Miranda Shaughnessy, destined for Youngstown State University. “It’s sad — everyone’s going their separate ways.”

Becoming alumni

Coree Jacobs said she will study childhood education and psychology at Bowling Green State University.

“I’ll miss the atmosphere, the students, the teachers,” she said, her eyes welling with tears. “Yes, I think I will cry but I’m trying not to.”

No tears for Michael Holt. He said he wants to join the military, probably the Army. He said he’s not going to miss anything and he’s glad to get out.

Before commencement, the class lined up for individual, assembly-line cap-and-gown photos on stage in the auditorium.

The boys and girls then sat in assigned seats so they’d be in order for filing into the gym.

One boy, his photo done, took the opportunity to shout from his seat to those on stage: “I done learned me an education.”

The mood was light-hearted, with a round of applause when at 3:30 p.m. came the announcement: “In an hour and 15 minutes you’ll be alumni.”