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Mission High School Class of 2008 unleashed

By B.L. Azure

The many facets of the wonder of high school graduation are etched on the faces of the Mission High School Class of 2008. (B.L. Azure)"

ST. IGNATIUS — The 25 students of the Mission High School Class of 2008 received a healthy portion of food for thought from former Mission Elementary School teacher Linda Werdin at Saturday’s graduation ceremonies.

Werdin, the keynote speaker, said the education heretofore was like a well-made sandwich. The bread represented the first five years of life when the parents taught the students the basics of life. The good old Montana beefy center was the sum of what the students learned in school. The added on veggies represented the good things they added on to their educational experiences like art and music. Other additions to the sandwich of life may not be tasty but if they digested them they gained strength from them. The addition of more tasty things the sandwich ingredients were the social relationships the students established in school. And the mayonnaise and mustard were friendships that bound everything together.

Graduating seniors Staci Udall and Shelby Fraker and Mission High School Principal Jason Sargent figure three noggins are better than one when it comes to solving computer technical problems. (B.L. Azure photo)

“Here in my hand I hold the experience of your life,” Werdin said as she held up the sandwich of life that would make Dagwood drool. “But it all means nothing if you don’t use it.”

Werdin said that being a teacher is like being a student for life. “Each year I learned so much from you (students),” she said. “You taught me. You made me laugh. Thank you.”

Werdin said students in small schools have a better opportunity to learn because of the interaction between everyone in the halls of learning. The small school environment has a myriad of ways for students to become involved, be it in the classroom or in extra curricular activities.

Senior Vince Shepard has his ticket to adulthood in his left hand and judging by his facial expression it must feel real nice. (B.L. Azure photo)

She advised the graduates to remain involved in their communities as adults and to stand up for what they think is right whether it is with a group or by ones self. “You need to pick your battles, make a stand and work together,” she said. “Other times you must stand alone for what is right.”

Werdin said learning does not end with graduation - it never ends. “You have to learn all your life. You’ll have to retool often,” she said. “Remember the heart of this community that helped shape you. We are all with you. Today begins your tomorrow.”

Senior Class President Robia Conko moves her mortarboard tassel to the right signifying completion of her Mission school system education. (B.L. Azure photo)

Salutatorian Joshua J. Callahan took the light-hearted route in his address to his classmates. “Wherever you end up at and whatever you do try to have fun,” Callahan said. “Because let’s face it things could be worse. We could still be in high school.”

“Now comes the hard part,” said Valedictorian Sadie Frey referring to the Class of 2008’s future as adults. “The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”