So many things in life are beyond control, but Pilgrim High School principal Toby Gibbons reminded the 263 Pilgrim graduates what is within their control at the June 10 ceremony inside the University of Rhode Island's Ryan Center.
"...you do have control over your character, attitude, your professionalism and integrity. You control whether you show kindness and respect. You control how you make others feel. You control what impression you make and leave on people...," Gibbons told the graduates.
And with that, Gibbons introduced a list of speakers that included Warwick Schools Superintendent William McCaffrey, Warwick Mayor Frank Picozzi, school department member Sean Wiggins and senior class advisor Karen Mather.
It was Mather, though, that introduced the audience to Class of 2026 valedictorian and class vice president Cameron Gavitt.
"Our freshman year was the first full year of school not overshadowed by the Coronavirus," Cameron reminded her peers and the families and friends in the crowd. "All classes met in in person. I could see my friends' and teachers' smiling faces again, and we could experience life outside of a virtual space. Each of us has faced our fears and we will continue to as we enter adulthood.
"I can say with confidence that there is so much joy in high school... many of us formed bonds with new people, finally stepped out of our comfort zone and joined that club or tried out for that sport."
High school is, without a doubt, a time in a young person's life when growth is significant. One enters as a child and leaves as a young adult having learned much more than science, English, math and history. High school students learn about pressure - peer pressure and testing pressure - scheduling around work, sports and academics, and they learn about dealing with adversity.
In short, they truly begin learning life lessons. High school graduation, as McCaffrey emphasized, is a beginning much more than an end. It begins the next phase of life whether that be college, a job, the military or trade school.
"Change is the only constant in our lives and we must learn to live with it," Gavitt emphasized.
With diplomas now in hand and their high school careers over, life is changing for the 263 Class of 2026 members. Hopefully, lessons learned in high school will help Pilgrim graduates adapt and thrive.