In French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry’s children’s book “The Little Prince,” he writes “One only sees clearly with the heart. What is essential is invisible to the eyes.”
From that, Seymour High School Class of 2021 valedictorian Zachary Thompson said physically, we can only see with our eyes, but our eyes can be deceived by appearances, and what we see on the surface is not always reality.
Inside each of us, however, there is a heart that allows us to know what’s actually real and what’s best for us.
After Sunday’s graduation, Thompson said he and each of his 326 classmates will go in different directions, whether it be postsecondary education, military service, trade school, gap years or entering the workforce.
“I would like you all to think back to when you made the decision to go that direction and then ask yourself, ‘Did I make that decision with my heart?'” he told his classmates.
If the answer is yes, he told his classmates to be confident in going forward, put their whole heart and soul into their future and be the best version of themselves.
If the answer is no, he said they should not be discouraged, but maybe take a step back, weigh their options and go forward once they’ve decided what they want the best version of themselves to be.
“It may take some time, but our hearts always know what they want,” Thompson said. “It all depends on whether or not we decide to listen to them.”
Everyone’s time on Earth is short, so Thompson said, “Why not live how you want to?”
“Growing up, we were told we could do anything we dreamed of, so I am telling you today to go forth, look to your heart and live your dream,” he said. “Good luck in your future endeavors, and I look forward to keeping up with your journeys in the years ahead.”
In her salutatorian speech, Eleanore “Ellie” Cornn also posed a question to the senior class: What is commencement?
The dictionary defines is as a noun that means “a beginning or start.”
“I like that definition, but I don’t love it,” she said. “To put it another way, I think commencement is not only about celebrating the beginning of our adult lives but is also about reflecting on what we have achieved while here at SHS.”
She then spoke about two of these many accomplishments.
First, Cornn commended her classmates for getting through an unprecedented and crazy school year, as the COVID-19 pandemic gave them a lot of practice at being resilient and patient.
“We made the best of this bad situation,” she said. “While at school, we followed the mask mandate and social distancing guidelines because we care about the well-being of our classmates. We showed empathy for others during this difficult year. Wouldn’t it be great if we would continue to care about each other even when things return to normal?”
Second, she recognized the fact that the Class of 2021 is a diverse group that chooses to work together. SHS has students who were born in 13 different countries and have 16 different native languages, she said.
“We come together in the classroom, learning side by side, as teammates in sports, fellow club members and we make awesome music together,” she said. “When we work together and embrace differences, we can reach our full potential. And I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a lot of fun along the way.”
The class has accomplished much together, but it’s now time to move on, Cornn said.
“Whatever comes next for you, whether it be college, entering the workforce, enlisting in the armed forces or taking a gap year, you have been given a great foundation for success,” she said.
“Each of us has our own talents and unique gifts, and now, it’s time to share those talents and gifts with the world,” she said. “We’ve made it to graduation. We’ve shown a lot of character in how we have reacted to circumstances that are out of our control, and today, we celebrate.”
She closed by congratulating her classmates for graduating.
“We did it,” Cornn said. “May God bless you as you move on from here, and I wish you the best in whatever is in store for your future.”