Rain fails to dampen Alleghany High School's graduation spirits

In spite of the unpredictable weather forecast, the Alleghany High School Class of 2006 marched onto Woodruff Field May 26, not deterred by the rain that fell during portions of the ceremony. As with previous years, the decision of having the ceremony on the field or at Sparta School remained in question. Despite the onset of darkening clouds, the annual ceremony was held on the football field of the students' alma mater.

After members of the Bruce Wayne Osborne Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 7034 presented colors, Salutatorian Zachary Carico spoke of lessons learned over the last four years.

"For the past four years...we have determined where we stand on matters of spirituality and politics and have had to figure out how to maintain a healthy balance between work and play," he said. "We have made friends, lost them, made them back and made new ones, and learned the importance of showing up to school on time." He continued, stating the night of the twenty-sixth was "payoff time" for all the hard work the students had done through the years.

"Tonight is as much a celebration of the future as it is a celebration of the past," said Carico. "We are all headed in different directions after tonight. Our individual destinies, do however, hold one thing in common. The world is a mess right now, and it's our responsibility to fix it. Unless we work our hardest to reach this goal, the full potential of our futures will never be realized. Tonight is all about us, the graduates. It is the celebration of the accomplishments which lie behind us and the opportunities which lie before us. We have come a long way on our individual journey and have much farther to go." As Carico concluded his speech, he quoted Dr. Seuss' "Oh The Places You Will Go."

"Congratulations, today is your day," he read. "You're off to great places, you're off and away." Continuing reading the passage, he reminded his classmates, "You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own and you know what you know, and you are the guy who'll decide where to go."

Commencement speaker Jim Harrell III advised seniors not to give up. Harrell is presently serving as the 90th District N.C. House representative. "I am now a resident of Alleghany County and proud to say it," Harrell said with a big grin. "I want to say congratulations. Normally, I'm speaking to your parents begging them for their vote. Tonight, it's a great pleasure to be congratulating you on your success and I'm honored to be here with you."

Harrell told the students in preparation for the commencement address, he spoke to a couple individuals, whom he hoped would provide advice. Speaking to his wife, she frankly told Harrell the only thing she recalled a speaker telling her to use sunscreen. "While I think that's a great tip, it's not the message I

Graduates spirits did not appear to be dampened on May 26, despite rain falling intermittently during the ceremony.

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