Portland High Graduation Picture Perfect

Valedictorian Caroline Enright spoke of three pictures, the most recent being of the Class of 2012 standing on the brownstone rocks in front of Portland High School, It was a snapshot of what her and her fellow seniors had become since two earlier photos, one as a preschool class and the other as eighth graders.

They are young adults now and after graduating on Thursday night outdoors on the high school grounds under perfect weather conditions, the 85 graduating seniors embarked on the next phase of their lives.

“My wish is that someday, we can come back here and take one more picture,” Enright said during her speech. “We can compare it to the picture of us from 2012 and laugh about how much we still have to learn. I hope that this new picture will come to represent the people you will all be.”

Principal Andrea Lavery gave the greeting, reminding everyone of the two "bullies" that came to town early in the school year, one a tropical storm, the other an October snow storm. The students persevered and things calmed down by November, allowing the Class of 2012 to be the earliest graduating class in Portland in the past eight years.

Class President John Anton Clark then gave the welcoming address and was followed by co-salutatorian Rachel DeBarge, who cautioned against seeking external validation, saying that awards, titles, status and recognition should be kept in perspective.

“The fact that you get there is what matters, “DeBarge said, “not the approval of others you may or may not get along the way.”

Kevin Paley was the other salutatorian, and he talked about 10 lessons he learned based on his memories of the last four years.

His list ended with graduation.

“All of the rehearsing is done,” Paley said. “It is time to step out and perform, to show the world all of our talents. … Hopefully, the men and women we become will be successful as a result of the young adults we grew to be during our time here within the halls of Portland High School.”

After diplomas were handed out and the Alma Mater was sung, Silly String, or its equivalent, shot across the air from different directions, bringing to an end a picture-perfect evening.