Harlem High School said farewell to nearly 300 students at a graduation ceremony on May 22.
Graduate Anna Sterner mused before the start of the ceremony about how quickly her high school years went by.
“You’ll really miss it once it’s over, because I’ve already missed it, even though I’ve been out of it for like, a few days,” she said.
Sterner, who plans to attend Samford University in Alabama, said that the instructors at Harlem High not only helped her make it to graduation day, but have helped prepare her for her next steps.
“The teachers have been super supportive and really just taught me a lot about what I need to know about the classes in college and stuff like that,” she said.
Sterner will pursue a degree in special education, a field she was inspired to enter thanks to her involvement in the Columbia County School District’s Teaching as a profession educator pathway program.
“We were able to go into the special education classrooms and just hang out with them and play games with them and I just really enjoyed it,” she said.
‘We should be obsessed with our goals’
Valedictorian William Harper took to the podium during the ceremony, pulling a quote from the movie “Hustle” in which famed actor Adam Sandler said: “Obsession is going to beat talent every time.”
Harper went on to encourage his fellow graduates to pursue their future goals with obsessive, relentless passion.
“We should be obsessed with our goals…the future will have setbacks, but never let this prevent you from pursuing your dreams,” Harper said.
Graduate Grace Lanoue was also recognized as the 2025 Harlem High School salutatorian.
Future military service
During the ceremony, a number of students were recognized for choosing to join various branches of the military.
Graduates planning to serve in the U.S. Army include Ali Akhtar, Cristian Holland, Anthony Rocafuerte, Samaiah Presume and Taivon Williams.
Jason Feurtal is planning to serve in the U.S. Navy, Julian Arredondo is planning to serve in the U.S. Marine Corps and Jeremiah Simmons is planning to serve in the Georgia National Guard.
