A commencement address 35 years in the making

“…living life day to day is never like it seems. Things get complicated when you get past 18.” The Statler Brothers, “Class of ’57,” 1972

Thirty-five years.

Oh, my aching back. Has it really been 35 years since I walked across that stage at the McMinnville Civic Center, handed Dr. Bentley Rawdon a marble (we all handed him a marble for some reason) and was given the magic piece of paper that made me an independent adult, free from all childish things and ready to take on the world as a full-fledged grown-up?

To be honest, it has – sadly – been 35 years since I joined the rest of the WCSH (not a typo; we were “Warren County Senior High” back then) class of 1990 for our commencement ceremony. But that and the marble were the only honest bits of the above paragraph.

The paper I left the Civic Center with that night did officially make me a Warren County alumnus. But that’s all it did. And if I were ever able to make a commencement address (sadly, your friendly neighborhood EIC didn’t get the call 35 years ago), I’d love to let the kids graduating tonight know that very thing. It wouldn’t be the typical graduation night speech, but it would be from the heart. And it would go something like this:

“Class of 2025, make no mistake; every single one of you walking this stage deserves to be showered with praise and pride for what you’ve accomplished. You’ve worked hard in the classroom, many have also excelled in various extracurricular activities along the way. You’ve represented your community, your families and your alma mater with style.

“But seniors, the only real change happening instantaneously tonight is you no longer are a student at WCHS. You won’t even feel very different until that August morning when “they” have to go back to high school, and “you” don’t.

“Will you take hundreds of happy memories away from your time at WCHS? You absolutely will. You’ll recall the friends you made along the way, and day after day of fun times on Pioneer Lane.

“But more friends and fun are yet to come, as well. These have been great days, but don’t let them be the greatest days of your lives. It’s my hope you remember the good times spent in school fondly while forming countless more precious memories as your lives continue.

“Does tonight make you an adult? Heck, in the eyes of the law, many of you are already adults. Hopefully the next time I see you, you won’t be getting tried as one. And yes, tonight takes away some of your “kid” status, but just a bit. You’re not being pushed off a cliff like some sort of cap and gown-wearing lemming. You’ll grow into the man or woman you eventually become, but it’s a process. It takes time and help from those around you. God willing you have plenty of both left as you decide in which direction you’ll go.

“Celebrate yourselves tonight, Class of 2025. You’ve reached a true milestone in your young lives. But life continues, and there are many more milestones yet to be reached.

“I leave you with the words of the late John Lennon, who wrote ‘Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.’ Don’t let your plans for life interfere with your enjoyment of it.

“Congratulations, graduates. Now let’s get across this stage and out of this rain.

“Mr. Hobbs, here’s your marble.”

Editor-in-Chief Rob Nunley can be reached at rob.nunley@mainstreetmedia.llc.