Gretna grads ready for choices

Class Salutatorian Samuel Corbin Bond highlighted the singularity of the moment for his classmates.

“Today we stand in the center of one of life’s intersections,” Bond said during commencement Saturday morning at Gretna High School’s football field.

Along the way, there are choices, Bond said.

“Some choices will lead us to dreams, others will lead us to difficulties,” he said.

GHS’s class of 2008 will face challenges in a world that can “spit you out,” he said. But holding onto one’s dream with perseverance will enable graduates to make the right choices, Bond said. Though the world can be a hostile place, graduates need to find the good in it, Bond said, referring to the 2004 film, “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events.”

“We must choose not to admit to defeat,” he said.

“No matter what the real world may throw at us, we must choose to stay true to our dreams,” Bond added. “Though we may face life’s challenges alone, we must remember we’re together in spirit.”

Valedictorian Anna Swanson simply summed it up for the class’s 167 members — no more class bells, no more locker combinations and no more time-sectioned lunches. They have shared experiences during the last four years, she said. They’ve laughed together, cried together and have seen sunny skies and cloudy weather, she said.

However, on a scorching Saturday morning, the graduating seniors and their loved ones also sweltered together amid scalding temperatures. The constant chatter of attendees drowned out much of Swanson’s lower-volume speech. People constantly trickled from the event due to the heat or after their loved ones received their diplomas.

To quell rude behavior, the county passed a policy allowing only ticket holders to attend graduation ceremonies. Those who left during the event were not allowed to return.

But that didn’t stop people from screaming, yelling, clapping and stomping their feet when their loved ones’ names were called.

Six seniors, who were playing in the state girls’ softball championship finals in Radford, were absent from the ceremony. The team won the championship.

Contact John R. Crane at jcrane@registerbee.com or (434) 791-7987.