CROTHERSVILLE
Staying up all night watching television the night before her biggest calculus test of the year wound up being a mistake for Olivia Robinson.
Waiting until the last minute to write her valedictorian speech was a mistake, too.
While these are just two of the mistakes she has made in her 18 short years of life, she said she learned from them, and that helped her grow.
As she and her 28 Crothersville High School classmates move on to their next adventures in life as grownups, Robinson said they will make mistakes.
Continuing to learn from them and growing as people, though, will be important.
“Our mistakes will become as important as our successes because they will define us,” the Class of 2021 valedictorian said during the school’s 125th graduation ceremony Friday night in the gymnasium.
“So thank you, parents and teachers, for letting us make mistakes and allowing us room to grow. Thank you for shaping us into the perfectly imperfect people we are,” she said. “Now is our time to take on the world and to find and pursue our passions.”
Robinson also expressed how exciting graduation day was for the class because their teachers, parents and friends were there to support them, just as they had done all along.
“Today is the day we have all been dreaming about for years, and we finally made it,” she said. “We could not have done it without each and every one of you sitting in here today. The support that you all have showed us over the years, especially during the pandemic, has been so amazing, and I don’t even know how to begin to say thank you.”
Robinson said it’s safe to say the Class of 2021 was in a pretty unique situation dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We were lucky enough to be able to have a prom, homecoming and even the graduation ceremony we are at today. Many schools haven’t been able to have events like these,” she said. “I am so glad we had those things, and I am so thankful for all of the caring people that made it possible for us to have an amazing senior year.”
Salutatorian Kate Frazier also thanked those present for being there to celebrate the new beginnings of the Class of 2021.
She said it seems like yesterday they were the “freshmen looking clueless” to all of the upperclassmen, and now, they are the upperclassmen who are ready to graduate and move forward in the world.
Yet in the moment, they couldn’t help but look back at all of the memories made, including going to Science Club lock-ins, doing the “Cha-Cha Slide” at basketball games, growing plants in the school greenhouse and playing sports.
“We can’t help but look back at the locker buddies that we were assigned freshman year that developed into our best friends,” Frazier said. “We’ve spent so many years waiting for this moment, and still, we don’t think we’ve had enough time.”
The class members went from measuring time spent in high school in class periods counting down the day to graduation hoping each day would go faster than the last to measuring it in semesters, she said.
Now, as their tenure of ruling the school has come to a close, Frazier said they measure their time in a much different way.
“I will measure it in all the friendships I’ve enjoyed these last four years,” she said. “Some were pretty casual, and others were much closer, but I’ll remember each one fondly, as I’m sure you all will, too.”
When many of their high school memories begin to fade, Frazier said that’s how they will ultimately measure the time they spent at CHS, not in periods or semesters or years but in the friendships they made and the times they shared together.
“However you may remember your years in high school, I urge you to remember this day,” she said. “Remember this day as an important milestone in your future. Remember all of the accomplishments that have gotten you to this point. Look back on this day knowing that you did this and you put in the work to be able to walk across this stage.”
As big as graduation day may be, though, she said for most of the class, it’s not the end goal.
“Whether you plan to go into the workforce directly after graduation or you plan to go to college or you’re completely undecided as to what you want to do, there is a new journey waiting for you,” she said. “Wherever you may go on your journey, don’t be afraid to fail, and don’t be afraid to try again. My hope for all of you is that you will not be afraid to try new things and challenge yourselves.”
Always try to answer questions and solve problems, even when you’re not 100% sure the answer is right, Frazier told her classmates.
“Make life something you want to remember,” she said. “If you go your whole life playing it safe, you’ll eventually regret the chances that you didn’t take.”