What a crazy year, seniors of 2020!

This is a year that will forever be remembered, and the graduating seniors of 2020 all over the country will always remember it as being not exactly how they’d pictured it. I usually get a few chances to talk to the seniors one last time at Baccalaureate or Senior Dinner, but it is a different year. So, I will put my words of wisdom right here for all of you, but mostly them.

Be adaptable. You are already learning that on the fly. You have had multiple different teachers, principals and rule changes over your four years of high school, but this senior year takes the cake. What some might call lucky you all already know as the pain that this year caused you down deep, and there are still question marks for some of you that need answering. The answer for this is the perfect example of why it is not good to procrastinate. Suddenly, all your help and security was wiped away, and it was up to you and your personal resources.

What we did learn through this was, “you will be alright.” No matter what life throws at you, you will be fine. You are stronger than you think. I think back to the things I learned about you and your lives to this point. What you have already overcome. You are a class that survives and thrives. You may struggle and react badly when first confronted with challenges, but you always find a way to pull things together.

I think of students like Keziah Stice, Jazmine Rodriguez, Rosa Carter, Ida Sue, Johnathan Cante, Conner Batten and Devon Hobrecht. All overcomers. Life threw them all multiple curveballs and they kept swinging. They did not let the circumstances in their lives determine their future.

There are also students who set the marks high and kept on achieving at high and higher levels. Students like Ellie Hansen, Brianna Whybark, Wendsdae Antoine, LorRinda Richardson, Kyle Edmo and Cameron St. Pierre. Kids who kept setting the bar higher and higher and kept achieving and hitting the mark.

Then there are the students who kept true to themselves. They did not change. They were originals, one of a kind. Kids like Alexia Ryan, Tarae Bear Eagle, Jordan Flett, Adam George, Sidney Dick, Megan Abel, Mikaylah Thompson, Trevon Johnson, Nick Baker and Kody Olsen. These are the kids who knew exactly who they were a long time ago and just kept doing the things they enjoyed, doing what they needed and wanted to do. They would not conform just because they were expected to.

There are many others, too. Others who fit in to all categories but create some of their own, as well. Tyler Jordan, Soarin’ Marchand, CJ Saxon, Talia Womer, Madisyn Toulou, Kaden Griesse and Nick Engeseth — all stars, in their own right, who have different goals and will achieve.

I know I did not mention you all, and I have words for all of you. So I will get my motivational nuggets to you before you escape the Coulee to go on adventures. But here is something for all of you.

Don’t give up, never give up. No matter what it is, just don’t give up. You have already proven that you are an adapter, an overcomer, a high achiever and that you stand apart from the rest. So keep going. Some of you will change the world with your brains, some will change it with your hearts, some will affect people on a physical level, others on spiritual levels, but don’t give up. Don’t give up on your friends, on your family, on goals, on jobs, on lofty ideals or yourself. Most importantly, never give up on yourself and what you can achieve in any situation. Life will be constantly challenging you, don’t get discouraged by anything. Don’t let other’s words drag you out of what you want to get. What you need. What you deserve. Work hard, stand on integrity and aim high for what you want.

So here is to the class of 2020. I love you all. I wish this year would have been different and we could have had a few more of those great sit-down talks, but you had already left a mark on me. All of you did. See ya in the sunshine this summer.