Saturday, May 30, 2015
173 graduates leave Hubbard High School to make their mark
YOUNGSTOWN
Valedictorian James Harding had some interesting news for the Hubbard High School Class of 2015.
“You have peaked,” he said, “These were the best years of your life.”
He was, of course, kidding.
Graduates don’t get off that easy. They have quite a long road ahead of them, and they have to hit it running. It’s going to take a lot of hard work to get their dreams off the ground, and no commencement keynote speaker lets the opportunity slip by without pointing that out.
Making an impact – after much consideration, Harding and Macey Sarisky, salutatorian, chose that as the real topic for their speeches.
“No, this is just the beginning,” Harding told the 173 graduates gathered Friday evening in Stambaugh Auditorium on this city’s tree-lined Wick Park District. He talked about talents, likening them to a superhero power.
“We all have unique talents,” he said. “We should embrace our talents and put them to good use.”
Whether it’s an electrical or mechanical ability or a deep compassion and a knack for helping troubled people, talents can make an impact, he said.
“It would be great to know there are superheroes in our world, but they were born out of a wish to solve problems quickly,” he said. “It’s important we recognize in ourselves a God-given talent, and it’s a shame to waste it.”
“We have a special ability, big or small, to impact the world,” he continued. “Whether to make a significant scientific discovery, help heal a shattered life or brighten someone’s day – make the world a better place.”
Sarisky posed this question: How can a Hubbard graduate who doesn’t rise to any special fame or power make any kind of impact in the world?
“We can — once we believe in ourselves,” she said. “It doesn’t matter what we do, as long as we do something,” she said. “Do what matters to you.”
Some members of the Class of 2015 will stay right here, while others will travel a lot farther to pursue what matters to them.
Former Eagles center Frank Cimmento is planning to stay in the area and pursue a career in real estate.
His teammate, Matt Jones, an Eagles guard, will be a guard or a center for the Mountaineers at West Virginia University. He’s thinking about majoring in criminal justice.
Alexis Camuso is going to Wright State University in Dayton to study biology with a pre-med focus. She’ll be in the honors program there.
“I’ve always wanted to be a doctor, my whole life,” she said. “I’m really interested in science, and they have a really good program there.”
Melissa Baker will go to Ohio State University to study medical-laboratory science, where she’ll learn to test blood and tissue samples and could also branch into cancer research.
Areej Ahalul, who was here from the Philippines, will go back home to pursue a degree in international studies. She is interested in becoming an ambassador and communicating with people in other countries.
She’ll also go to law school, she said.
Wherever they go, Sarisky wants them to remember one of her favorite quotes: “You can’t fall if you don’t climb. But there’s no joy in living your whole life on the ground.” (Author unknown)