With Mixed Emotions, PHS Grads Celebrate Commencement
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Class President Mary Tullock addresses the class of 2017 during graduation exercises at Tanglewood on Sunday.
"We are all diving into what feels like our first mid-life crisis," Tullock said as she addressed the class of 197 students from the Tanglewood stage at Sunday's commencement.
She praised her family, friends, and staff at PHS for helping the students not only get to graduation but set the foundation for each student's future.
"Today is the beginning of the rest of our lives. I don't know about you guys, but I'm pretty excited. We have spent the past 12 years building the foundations of our lives and today we begin to build our houses," Tullock said.
The graduating class will all go separate ways, and Tullock said, "we are jumping into adulthood and it is a little scary. But we are all experiencing the same thing, for one last time. After 2,160 days of school — yes, I did the math — we have finally made it to this ending."
Being both afraid and excited is how Superintendent Jason McCandless feels about the students. He said while dogs "focus like a laser beam on one thing at a time," humans are a "complex web of emotions." That's why the students looked forward to graduation, while at the same time dreading it. They were excited sitting in seats at Tanglewood while bored listening to McCandless. They are excited about what is next but also scared of it. The superintendent said he is both scared and excited for the students as well.
"I'm jealous of you, collectively and as individuals, you have so much talent, so much promise, so much courage, so many choices, so many opportunities that lay behind you and you have a hundred times that many choice and opportunities that lay in front of you," McCandless said.
"On the other hand, I am very afraid for you. Coming of age in the second decade of the 21st century in America is no joke. You're wise if you are feeling afraid of entering the adult world at this point in time. It shows you have a sense of history, a grasp of current events, and a good dose of common sense."
McCandless praised the students for helping him grow as a person as well, and he recited a number of lessons he's learned since taking over as superintendent when the graduating class was entering 9th grade.
"Thanks for being a daily reminder that hope is always better than fear, knowledge is always better than ignorance, love is always better than hate, acceptance is always better than alienation, and that our hopes for our best Pittsfield, our best Massachusetts, our best United States, our best world lie with you, our newest high school graduates," McCandless said.
Mayor Linda Tyer recapped a passage of the novel "Lonesome Dove." She told how Texas cowboys were driving cattle across the country looking for unpopulated lands. One character, Lorena, joins the trip because she believes Jake, another in the cattle drive, would bring her to live in San Francisco. However, at one point Jake leaves her alone for days, leaving Lorena upset and crying.
That's when Lorena is told that "life in San Francisco is still just life" and that if you want something too badly, it is going to be a disappointment.
"The very best way to thrive throughout all of life is to avoid the lure of your San Francisco and savor the journey," Tyer told the class.
The lesson from the book is to enjoy the journey of life.
"Many things will be out of your control, especially the behavior of other people. The only sure thing is that unexpected things will happen, some of it exquisite like falling in love, other things will be difficult to accept," Tyer said.
She hoped the Generals now leaving high school will embrace a love for the joys in life, and the show kindness and gratitude.
"Throughout your life, you will cross paths with people fighting a battle you know nothing about. Be kind, always. Toss it around like confetti," Tyer said.
As the students do travel through life, Principal Matthew Bishop hopes they take this important lessons from coming of age at a downtown school, "if you get to crossroads in your life, use a crosswalk," Bishop joked. Tullock had also joked about the crosswalks, a lesson the students have heard frequently over the last four years, as the mention of it evoked laughter.
"Today, we leave behind everything we loved about PHS — the fires, the unknown species of bugs in the basement, and the unpredictable temperature changes," Tullock also joked.
The humor brought out smiles and laughter from the class members, who tossed beach balls around and broke into into song. Retiring Band Director Ronald Lively earned a standing ovation on Sunday as he led the band in the song "Tribalesque," as his last performance as conductor. The honors chorus, with soloist Alyssa Puntin, sang "The Parting Glass." And various awards and honors were passed out, including awards to Vincenzo Coppola and Tyrell Boire for perfect attendance from kindergarten through Grade 12, an accomplishment that wowed many in the audience.
This year's class also the first in Berkshire County to have students graduate with a seal of biliteracy, a new program for those who master multiple languages.
After receiving diplomas, the class then moved out onto the lawn to celebrate with families and friends. School Committee Chairwoman Katherine Yon recited a number of ways in which the students had demonstrated courage. As they leave high school, she encouraged them to take that courage with them.
And she told them that the "best exercise of the heart is to bend down and help someone up."
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