Sunday evening, Valedictorians Adam Bruce Link and Kelly Jo Blythe, gave final remarks to long-time classmates of LaHarpe High School, and their families and friends.
The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.
Sunday evening, Valedictorians Adam Bruce Link and Kelly Jo Blythe, gave final remarks to long-time classmates of LaHarpe High School, and their families and friends.
"I guess I have been listening to Bruce Goettsche for too long, because I have three things I want to share with you," Adam Link said.
"Be true to yourself and know who you are," he said. "Be true to yourself by knowing your capabilities and morals. Know what you do well and the things you don't do so well. Stay firmly attached to your morals as you travel on the path of your lives. Don't ever give those up; because when you do you lose a vital part of yourself. Your morals make you the way you are and the way you go about life. When life calls upon you to do something within your capabilities and morals, go for it. Do it wholeheartedly, and never look back. Doing these things help establish you as a person."
Adam also told his classmates that he has learned not to take life so seriously and not to worry constantly. "Worrying only causes more stress, and stress is never good. Try to eliminate as much of that as you can in your life."
The final point Adam made, "I want you to find happiness in whatever life hands you. Too many people nowadays sit around and sulk. I hear too often, "I wish I would have done it differently," or "I wish I could start all over again."
"I'm sure all of you have had your parents or someone close to you say to make the right choices, because once they're made, it's over with and you can't change them. They're speaking from experience."
Adam says the fact is everyone will make mistakes and wish to change them at some point, but he challenged the audience "to look at the other side of the spectrum.
"Instead of sitting with a frown saying, "I wish I could change some of the choices I made," say this: "Look at what I have! I have a great family, great kids, a job, money, food, a home, and the ability to do pretty much whatever I want. Think about all of the positives in your life. I'm sure they will outweigh the negatives.
"Too many adults complain about the bad things in life, and they don't realize what they have."
Adam told his classmates when they get down, depressed and discouraged, "work at your problems, eventually they will go away." He said, "True happiness lasts forever and is one of the best things in the world."
Adam said he always seems to come up a little short in being #1, but he still is content in what he has done.
"Life will throw you curves," he told his classmates. "You will get bucked off, kicked, stomped, spit on, and injured. That's life. The true worth of a person is how quick you get up and get back on for another ride."
Adam challenged his classmates to get back on, time and time again.
"Once you're done, you can look up at the sky, bloody and bruised from all the punishment you've taken, but with a smile on your face, and say "I did it!" That's what makes you different from everyone else. Class of 2003, I love you guys!"
Adam is the son of Dan and Rebecca Link, with a grade point average of 4.122. He will attend Western Illinois University this fall with a major in history with a possible minor in math.
Valedictorians Kelly Jo Blythe, daughter of Gary and Cheryl Blythe, with a grade point average of 4.125, plans to attend Drake University or Butler University majoring in pharmacy. In her speech, Kelly thanked the teachers, parents, family, friends, and her classmates for being so supportive. "Without your guidance, I would not be where I am today."
She said, "The school is changing.....new things to come. Even though this school will no longer have a co-op name of Thunder, the memories we have of Thunder will never be forgotten."
"This is a new beginning for our school and community, but even more so for us graduates."
"We have more mountains to climb, more thrills to capture, and probably more hardships along the way.
"Do not become discouraged when you feel like you have hit a low point..... Trust in the Lord and He will guide you."
Kelly referred to their experiences thus far as just one chapter in their life's story.
"Some of the greatest lessons I have learned," she said, "include responsibility, self-discipline, and determination."
"The future holds tremendous promise....but we must be willing to go after it. It may look scary at times, but if we don't face our fears, we may miss out on some of the best things in life."
Kelly also told classmates not to put too much stress on themselves that they cannot enjoy life.
"Be serious but keep things in perspective. When we run around so fast.....we miss half the fun of getting there. Life is not a race. Slow down and take time to enjoy the blessings of each day. We've learned the past four years not to take life for granted...so, listen to the music of life before the song is over." Kelly closed with, "We all have the potential to reach the sky and touch the stars. All we have to do is believe. I wish you all the best!".