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Glad to be grads
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
CANFIELD
A former graduate of Canfield High School told a tale of four students who met up with a little man dressed all in green.
The man, she said at Sunday’s commencement, offered to help the students achieve their dreams faster than they would otherwise. Three asked for success in the areas of wealth, fame and travel. But the fourth didn’t know what to ask for. The little man gave each a box.
The first three got their wishes, but were unhappy. The fourth never opened her box and went on to a successful and happy life with family and friends who loved her.
The little man explained that the first three would have been better off if they had waited until they were wise to open their gift boxes.
“You are about to receive the gift that will start you on your journey,” author and professor Juilene Osborne-McKnight told the 233 graduates. “And the back of that diploma will be blank. But if you are wise, you will write on the back of it ‘your life will become the story you tell to yourself.”
Live a life that matters, she encouraged the graduates.
“Your life will become the story you tell yourself,” Osborne-McKnight said. “May you reap the blessings of a well-told tale.”
Jessica Tseng is ready to start her story.
In the fall, the 18-year-old will be a pre-med major at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn.
“I’m excited for that,” Tseng said. “I’m worried that I’m going to be so far away from home, because it’s nine hours away, but very excited.”
She’s looking forward to college life and living on her own.
“I’m a little bit worried about college classes, but I know we’ve been prepared,” Tseng said.
At Canfield High, Tseng participated in band, student council and drama, and was president of the Leo Club, a volunteer organization. She also was a class valedictorian.
“I will miss my friends and my family the most,” Tseng said. “Just the community here, it’s so great. Everyone just loves each other, and we’re all very supportive of each other.”
Fellow graduate and valedictorian Mark Dalvin said, “It’s bittersweet.”
Dalvin will attend Youngstown State University through the Northeast Ohio Medical University program.
“I definitely feel prepared,” he said. “I feel the teachers have paved the way, my siblings have paved the way, and my parents have really prepared me.”
Dalvin was a member of the National Honor Society and was on the swim and tennis teams.