Friday morning it was North Augusta High School’s time to celebrate its graduating seniors.
During the ceremony, Aiken County Public School District Superintendent King Laurence encouraged the graduates to make a difference in the world as he read from one of his favorite books, “Maybe” by Kobi Yamada.
“Have you ever wondered why you’re here,” Laurence read. “You’re the only you there ever will be. You have so much to offer…your life is yours. Try as many things as you can try and see as many things as you can see. Wherever you go, take your hopes, pack your dreams, and never forget that it is on journeys that discoveries are made…there will be struggles and there will be fears and it won’t always be easy. At times it will feel really hard, and you might make a mess of things. You may fall down, you may fail, but you will also get back up and you will arrive a little stronger and a little taller.”
NAHS salutatorian Jessica Lawson spoke about how the class of 2023 started their high school education off strong with a brand-new building and excellent teachers to guide them through the process. But that all changed when they left school on March 13, 2020.
“Little did we know it would be the last time we were together until almost six months later, and then only half of us at a time separated by plastic shields around our desks,” Lawson said. “Hybrid learning was difficult for many, and we couldn’t get together and participate in all the usual activities. Class of 2023, we are a resilient class. We began our junior year with the hopes that these last two years of our time in high school would be normal. We were successful. We came back from a rather strange year and a half to make the most of the short time we had left as students at North Augusta High School. These classic traditions and assemblies were brought back. Clubs returned along with some new ones, and we truly got to live the high school experience we all want. To each one of you graduating, thank you for making these last two years of high school the best yet.”
Valedictorian Ryan Lowe spoke about all the hard work that his fellow students put into getting to graduation and how they have continued to work hard.
“For many of us this is a significant milestone, the culmination of years of hard work and dedication and sacrifice. While this is certainly a cause for celebration, it’s also a time to look forward, to think about the future and to consider the opportunities that lie ahead. Each of us has faced our own challenges along the way. Whether it be academic struggles, personal obstacles or family difficulties and yet despite these challenges we have persevered and have arrived here today. We are ready to take on the next chapter of our lives.”
Aiken County Board of Education chair Cameron Nuessle encouraged the graduates to not be afraid to fail and that it’s okay if they don’t know their plans are for the future.
“If you haven’t figured it out, don’t sweat it,” Nuessle said. “Some of the most interesting people I’ve met didn’t figure it out until they were 40. You’ll figure it out. I encourage you to try different things. I encourage you to be uncomfortable, and I encourage you in some cases to fail, that’s how you learn, that’s how you grow and don’t be afraid to do that.”
North Augusta Principal John Murphy offered his congratulations to the students and wished them the best of luck in the future.
“Graduation is the culmination of many years of hard work and dedication,” Murphy said. “Today we commend you on your many accomplishments and celebrate with you this special occasion.”
During the commencement ceremony, the Paul Knox Endowment announced the 2023 recipients, who were Emma Carter, Lilian Enter, Blake Jiunnies, Jessica Lawson, Ryan Lowe, Lauren Lusk, Davis Neal, Greer Worley. The endowment has given 512 NAHS students over $1 million in scholarships.
Stephanie Hill is a staff writer covering Columbia County government for The Augusta Press. Reach her at stephanie@theaugustapress.com.
