DALTON, Mass.—During the Wahconah Regional High School commencement on Sunday, graduates were advised to embrace the future, reflect on their past, and apply the lessons learned to navigate the path forward. 

 

Families, friends, and faculty gathered in the high school gym to honor 124 graduates and celebrate their accomplishments. 

 

During his speech, Valedictorian Aidan Garcia reflected on his last day of school during which Principal Aaron Robb announced that the "high school seniors are now dismissed from school forever."

 

He said it was at that moment the reality of their high school journey being over became real. Upon this realization, seniors felt a range of emotions. Some felt sad that they were leaving behind a place that had brought them many friendships and successes.

 

He said others were excited about never having to take a test again, and many felt relieved to finally receive their diploma and be able to pursue their plans.

 

With this famous dismissal came good news, a heavy medal, and a unique task for Garcia: the valedictorian speech. 

 

At that time, Robb explained to Garcia that the speech is about the future. With this in mind, Garcia wondered how he could speak about something that "we can all anticipate but also have no clue about?"