Moses Lake seniors reach milestone

MOSES LAKE - The class of 2012 rang down the curtain on high school in ceremonies at Lions Field Saturday.

Principal Josh Meek told the graduates they had achieved a milestone. "My only prayer is that we (Moses Lake High School staff) have done our jobs," he said, and taught the seniors to think critically and for themselves.

There are many people who have influenced the lives of the students, he said, but none more than their parents. At his invitation the seniors stood and applauded their families.

Seniors chose three of their classmates as speakers. Ashley Donaldson, the honor speaker, said at first she thought about a speech about friendship and inspiration. But that would be a "very boring, cookie-cutter speech" that's been done already.

Ashley said she did want to make sure her speech had one attribute, and asked everyone in the stands to place a hand on the shoulder of the person sitting next to them. "Now I can officially say everyone in the crowd has been touched by my speech," she said.

Donaldson remembered the early days in high school, when she was "a little band geek" afraid of the upperclassmen. "We have grown and grown together," she said. The class of 2012 laughed, cried and played together, worked together to get to graduation, and now we're celebrating together, Ashley said. "It was a memorable roller coaster ride," and she wouldn't have wanted to do it with anyone else, she said.

Her classmates had the foundation to be successful, she said; the only question was whether they had drive. "I think so," she said.

The class of 2012 was signing off, she said; "hashtag, swagger."

Adriana Carbon said she had an answer to the question every kid asks while struggling with math and science and English - what good all of this studying is since students forget most of the facts once the class is completed.

Science and math teach kids how to analyze, she said, citing cases where there's one math homework problem left and American Ninja coming on any minute, or science lab with one thing left to do and class about to end. Students frantically consider all those theorems and techniques they've been taught, she said, and don't necessarily realize all the considering and analysis is the point. English taught her teamwork, she said.

So when students ask when they will use what they learn, "All I can say is, every day," Carbon said.

Kristi Brown looked back over the things the class of 2012 has experienced in their lives. The 9/11 attack occurred while they were in second grade. "We were in second grade. Isn't that weird? Because I can remember it like it was yesterday." The repercussions of that day are still being felt, and she expressed gratitude to veterans and military personnel on active duty, asking them to stand for recognition.

She remembered her first weeks at Moses Lake High School. "Did you get lost? I know I did." Brown remembered a teacher's unfortunate attempt to make popcorn that started a fire and caused an evacuation of the school, and the arrival of a television news crew when a rumor surfaced that camouflage clothing would be banned.

The students have made some great memories, she said, but they're still ready to move on. However, they should enjoy today, because the time may come when they wish they could have it back, she said.

They've all been warned about texting and chewing gum in class, and had teachers refuse a request to go the bathroom, she said. So they've learned how to text without looking, chew gum without moving the jaw and wait until the end of class. People who can do that will be successful, she said.

Each year students choose a teacher to be recognized as honored staff member, and the class of 2012 chose math teacher Tami Edwards. She shared the stage with administrators.