Graduates encouraged to create their own path
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Family members and classmates of the Sequatchie County High School Class of 2026 gathered at the school stadium May 15, congratulating and supporting 103 graduates for completing 13 years of education.
This year’s Valedictorian, Harrison Smith, said he would make his speech short and sweet. Smith said he originally wanted to focus on the many accomplishments and achievements of the senior class throughout the years.
“We should always be thankful for the years we spent together,” Smith stated. “However, this is only the beginning of the rest of our lives. It is now our turn to create our own paths and forge our way into the future.”
Smith said the class is celebrating their graduation after pushing through adversity. He added, self-determination will be a key to achieving success in the next stages. Everything we did in high school was to teach us to have the desire to strive for something.”
Salutatorian, Haley Frizzell stated, “If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that success doesn’t always look the way you think it will. It’s being able to make progress toward something meaningful, and this can look different for everyone. The truth is, we don’t have to have everything figured out right now. There’s a lot of pressure to know what you’re doing after this, what your plan is, and who you’re going to be. But it’s okay if you don’t know yet. Most people don’t and you figure it out as you go.”
She added, “Things aren’t always going to go as you plan and that doesn’t mean you’re doing anything wrong. For me, my faith helped me accept that. I didn’t have all the answers but I knew I wasn’t on my own. Just keep going forward.”
The members of SCHS Class of 2026 will move on into the job world, to college, to trade schools, internships, and for some the military. Each forging a new chapter in their lives.
