By SALINA POST
Sunday afternoon, Tony's Pizza Events Center saw a huge gathering of Mustangs as family, friends, and USD 305 personnel gathered to celebrate the Salina High School Central Class of 2022.
"I remember sitting where you are as I graduated from Salina Central. Dr. Brungardt (current Central principal) was seated nearby waiting for his diploma on that day as well. My guess is that many of your family and friends are also Mustangs. If you graduated from Central, would you stand at this time," Linn Exline, USD 305 superintendent, said to those assembled.
A number of people in the audience stood.
"Class of 2022, look around. You are about to join many of us who are incredibly proud to be alumni of Salina Central High School. The really special thing about CHS is what you've heard over and over. Once a Mustang, always a Mustang," said Exline, who was selected as this year's graduation speaker.
Exline said that what stands out about the Central Class of 2022 is its resilience.
"No other class has been asked to exhibit the kind of flexibility, independence, and maturity that was thrust upon you during a global pandemic. Resilience is what characterizes your class," Exline told the class. "You had opportunity after opportunity to adjust to outside demands and you're stronger for it. Your high school years could have been defined by the pandemic, but you didn't allow that to limit your success."
Exline offered the Class of 2022 the following four lessons.
Lesson One
"I want you to take with you as leave the network of support at Salina Central is to surround yourself with people who make you better. Find people who challenge your thinking. Find those who will cheer you on but will also have the guts to tell you when you have terrible ideas," she said.
Lesson Two
"Sometimes, you have to take risks and create your own path. In those times, be true to yourself. There are times when you're making decisions that others won't understand," Exline said. "When I took my current job, a friend gave me a small card with a speech that Teddy Roosevelt had given in 1910. I read that speech often and I want to share that wisdom with you.
"He said, 'It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.'"
Exline said, "Roosevelt means take risks. Get in the arena. With risk comes great accomplishment and fulfillment. Life isn't meant to be lived from the sidelines. Know that the reactions of others aren't always about you. In fact, they rarely are. It's easy to make a decision when you aren't the one who has to make the decision. Remember that!
"Try something new and find out who you are. Keep pushing forward and accept that struggle, and sometimes failure, is part of a life well-lived," Exline continued. "If you aren't experiencing any setbacks, you really aren't living. It's OK to feel overwhelmed with the unknown. Just don't let the unknown keep you from moving forward."
Lesson Three
"Dig deep and stretch yourself. If you had told me I would be standing in front of you speaking at a graduation when I was a high school student, I wouldn't have believed it. In fact, I probably would have felt sick to my stomach. In high school, when I was supposed to give oral presentations, I stayed home every single time. I was terrified of speaking in front of a group," she said. "So I want you to make a list of things that scare you and I want you to be brave enough to tackle those fears because that opens doors. Don't wait for opportunities to come to you, actively seek them. Know that sometimes, opportunities mascarade as challenges, sometimes as a pandemic."
Lesson Four
"Be gentle with yourself and others. You don't have to be perfect. In fact, you can't be. You will have easy decisions and hard decisions. You're gonna have easy days and hard days. Listen to your inner voice and control what you can. There are times when you're going to need to simply make the best decision you can and move forward," Exline said. "Most importantly, decide what you stand for and then stand for it. Advocate for others. Show kindness. And in the end, be true to your own values. Your integrity is priceless."
Exline continued, "My hope is that you will come back to Salina at some point and make this your home. Our community needs strong leaders, strong parents, strong citizens. We need Salina Central Mustangs."
Exline's classmate, Salina Central Principal Matthew Brungardt, emphasized that Salina Central has prepared members of the Class of 2022 academically, socially, and emotionally, for the next phase of their lives.
"In fact, you are better prepared than many previous generations because of the skills you've learned during the pandemic, such as perseverence and flexibility. Last year alone, you had to deal with three different bell schedules," he said.
Brungardt also told the soon-to-be graduates to not be afraid to take risks.
"Go ahead and apply for that job that seems out of reach, and if you fail to get that job, keep persevering. Abraham Lincoln lost eight elections, yet still became the 16th president of the United States," Brungardt said.
Class of 2022 member Rashada Smith congratulated her classmates.
"It's been a long road for our class, but we've finally made it. Each class has its obstacles, and we had plenty ourselves. The world just decided to do a bunch of crazy historic stuff during our high school years, and it was a wild and rough ride. I want to personally congratulate every single one of you and praise you for your patience, dedication, and focus these past few years. No matter if your plan is to attend your dream college or tech school, join the workforce, fight in the armed forces, or even if you don't know yet, you've a lot to be proud of," Smith said.
She continued, "My best advice to you is whatever you plan on doing, build confidence in yourself, your ability, and your judgement. Take up space wherever you go. Know that you matter. And when you walk into a room, you have the right to be there. The world is full of opinions, but that shouldn't stop you from presenting your true and authentic self."
Another student, Joshua Warner, said the Class of 2022 was truly special and that he was honored to be a part of it.
"Today is a day that we have been working toward the last four years. All we need to do now is step on the stage and receive our diplomas. And then, just like that, high school has ended. And for some of us, this may be a relief and for others, it may be bittersweet. But I think there is one thing we can all agree on. The past four years were nothing likewhat we expected," he said.
Warner said that in looking back on the Class of 2022's accomplishments, he could almost forget that the COVID-19 pandemic existed.
"We can look back with Mustang pride as the Class of 2022 earned two state tennis titles, two girls state basketball appearances, and arguably the greatest girls basketball team this school has ever seen, a rejuvenation in our football program, several state appearances and medals from both boys and girls swimming and diving, a new school record time for cross country, Mathlete medals, top honors for choir, band, and orchestra, and state championships for theatre, Mustang Media, and the Pylon. Most classes can't accomplish that in four normal school years, let alone two," Warner said.
He continued, "Today, our next chapter begins. It's up to us what happens from here."