By Emma Rausch
emma@thepaperofwabash.com
WABASH, Ind. – Wabash High School co-valedictorians Nicole Adams and Mary Guisewhite sent off their graduating class Friday night, June 2, with a few laughs and a walk down memory lane.
The pair shared the stage and set the tone for the night’s ceremony as they started their farewell, thanking everyone who arrived at graduation to support the class of 2017.
“Thank you to the audience for being here tonight regardless of any other event or occasion, like First Fridays,” Guisewhite said with a smile. “I mean it’s not like graduation is important or anything.”
Adams thanked Wabash’s educators “for getting us through these four years” and added a special thank you to the 2017 senior class sponsors, Lauren Millspaugh and Niko Macaluso.
“Hey Mr. Mac,” the co-valedictorians shouted at their teach and Guisewhite continued, “Nice of you to show up tonight instead of going to that Sam Hunt concert.”
There are aspects of Wabash High that Guisewhite and Adams admitted they would miss.
“We’ll miss being beside our peers everyday,” Adams said.
“We’ll miss those unplanned, yet meaningful conversations with teachers and staff,” Guisewhite chimed in.
“And who can forget chicken three days a week and cardboard pizza every Friday,” Adams added.
However, jokes aside, “I think we can all say that we have staff and peers that truly care about us,” Adams continued. “We’re each going to take a moment, reflect on high school and look at the future.”
Each member of the graduating class faced one “universal truth” Friday night, according to Guisewhite.
“The time has come for us to face one universal truth despite what background we come from, what sport we play or what friends we have,” she explained. “This truth is that this chapter in our lives is officially over.
“As much as I have looked forward to this day, I can’t help but feel like a part of our lives is going to be missing when we all say goodbye to everything that is familiar to us.”
With her valedictory, Guisewhite said she hoped it marked the beginning of change for her peers and would give them momentum toward wanting the best.
“Every day, people settle for okay relationships, okay jobs and an okay life,” she continued. “Why? Because okay is comfortable. But okay is not forever. It isn’t passionate, life changing or unforgettable.
“Class of 2017, we can’t be known as the class that settles. It’s time to stop worrying about our grades, popularity and amount of likes or favorites we get on social media. At this moment, our potential is boundless. The ability to achieve greatness is just within our grasp.
“Class of 2017,” she continued, “if there’s anything that you take from today, I encourage you to be brave, be bold and be you. From the bottom of my heart, I wish you all the very best.”
As the newest Apache alumni said goodbyes and prepared for the future, Adams said she understands if her entire class is feeling a little overwhelmed.
“Wabash High School’s class of 2017 is about to go off on their own and part from this close-knit community and our emotions probably couldn’t be any more mixed up than this,” she continued. “Although someday, and it might not feel like it now, but in a few months or a year or maybe even a decade from now, we’re going to miss this day. Like how we remember times from our elementary years now, one day we will be sitting on our own porch steps and remembering all of these moments that we’ve had with our peers.”
While the high school experience is different for everyone, Adams pointed out that their time spent in Wabash High’s halls have been a defining moment in all of their lives.
“Thank you Class of 2017 for being a worthwhile and irreplaceable part of my life,” she continued. “We have grown together and now it’s time to move on together, but we should never forget having been together.”