Perseverance theme for Royal grads

ROYAL CITY - The teacher chosen by the graduates to be their speaker talked about perseverance, and the student speakers talked about family last Friday at the graduation of the Royal High School class of 2015.

"I feel it is important to note that you have obviously figured out how to persevere - You got the job done," teacher Rinnah Skoor said. "You are ready to begin a new game, college and/or career and persevere some more."

The 78 graduates were certified as ready to graduate by Superintendent Rose Search. They were awarded their diplomas by School Board President Bob Murphy.

Skoor used the story of a polio-stricken man she knew to illustrate the meaning of perseverance. The man, named Marion, attended her church when she was in elementary school.

"He unfortunately got polio twice when he was a young person," Skoor said. "He walked with those metal crutches that wrap around your upper arm. He had to almost drag his legs behind him. Many times he used a wheel chair which was self-powered (not motorized).

"The polio almost destroyed his body; it could have destroyed his spirit. Polio took away the basic control over his body, control most of us are so used to that we don't think about it. He shook badly when he tried to complete any simple process such as feed himself; it was very painful to watch. He would also struggle to talk and communicate.

"However, he was a painter. Imagine that - painting when your arms would shake so badly it seemed to be a miracle that the paint was placed on the paper and not everywhere else.

"This is one of his paintings (Skoor showed a well-done piece she owns). He used water color.

"I remember my dad asking him if he made any mistakes. He just laughed so hard he couldn't talk for a while.

"I watched him paint once; he shook badly and yet he took his time in placing the color so that he could create this watercolor which my parents bought.

"Look at this picture. When I am struggling with a problem or trying to reach a goal, and it seems that all I do is fail and fail again, I look at this picture. And I become aware once again that if Marion could paint, with all the challenges he faced, and produce beautiful pictures, then I can succeed also.

Instead of producing two speeches, class speakers Robin Grant and Hannah Larson combined their talents. Their theme, "family," fit right in with Skoor's. They noted that those who loved them had helped them persevere.

But first Grant and Larson entertained. They celebrated before everybody else by opening some "whoopee" cans and told a few jokes.

"When Robin and I were planing out how we would set our speech apart from the others, since we're from Royal City, naturally we thought of a surprise quinceañera dance or illegal fireworks. But we also wanted to graduate. So we settled on huge confetti poppers," Larson said.

Grant said: "Graduation is a time for celebration and tears. The celebration is for your family, the tears are for the graduates once they realize they don't got no money."

Larson and Grant then became serious about the role of family, friends, health and relationships.

"These are the truly important things in life," Larson said. "You should never take them for granted because you never know when you might lose them. True friends are rare these days, and keeping them is well worth it. If everything else was gone, you'd still have these to fulfill your life."

"Material items, status, popularity and wealth are all temporary," Grant said. "The possessions we acquire throughout our lives can disappear at any point. We will have nobody to remember the person we truly are by the objects that we bought or all the parties we went to. In the end, they will not matter at all. Hold on to the beautiful people in your life, and never treat them any less than they are worth."

Larson closed: "Always keep your loved ones close, and let them know how much you care and appreciate them. Make time for them because they have always made time for you."