Springfield High graduates urged to follow their hearts

Senior Cody Stevens said it was “all so surreal” that he and fellow Springfield High School classmates were graduating Saturday.
Aditional photo: Jennifer Stein, Salutatorian

http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20130609/NEWS02/706099935


Christian Avard / Staff Photo Alexandra Pacheo,left, and Courtney Page listen to commencement exercises at Springfield High School graduation on Saturday.

Published June 9, 2013 in the Rutland Herald
Springfield High graduates urged to follow their hearts
By Christian Avard
Staff Writer

SPRINGFIELD — Senior Cody Stevens said it was “all so surreal” that he and fellow Springfield High School classmates were graduating Saturday.

“I can’t believe this is the last time we’re all going to be together,” he said.

Salutatorian Jennifer Stein was standing right next to Stevens, trying to hold it together.

“Oh, I’m going to cry already,” Stein said with a laugh, and then they gave each other a hug.

The students were all smiles once they entered the Riverside Middle School gymnasium to the tune of “Pomp and Circumstance.” Superintendent Zach McLaughlin welcomed students, faculty and staff and families. Then Stein, holding back her emotions, delivered sage advice to her classmates.

“Always be kind, stay true to your friends and lastly, dream,” Stein said. “Dream big and follow your heart. Do what is right for you and do what will ensure happiness.”

David Cohn, director of curriculum, assessment and instruction, spent three weeks preparing his commencement address. But in the end, he said it all came down to a simple message.

“Figure out what you love, your passion and what gets you out of bed in the morning,” Cohn said. “Once you know what your passion is, pursue it with wild abandon and don’t let naysayers or yourself get in the way of your success.”

Valedictorian Lawrence Bolduc told his classmates they can achieve most of what they want in life, but the paths they will take will become “more difficult.” The key to succeeding, according to Bolduc, is self-acceptance, confidence, forgiveness and understanding.

“If you can just learn to be comfortable with yourself and love yourself, your entire perspective will change,” Bolduc said. “Challenges will become easier, problems will worry you less and the things that go right will be far easier.”

Bolduc will attend Clark University in Worcester, Mass., in the fall. His twin sister, Lauren, is senior class president, and will attend Elms College in Chicopee, Mass.

Although the Bolducs are going separate ways after graduation, they said they will always remain close and support one another. But most of all, they will miss fellow classmates who supported them through thick and thin. “How well they’ll know me is what I’ll miss most,” Lawrence Bolduc said. “They’re always able to make me laugh no matter what. I’m going to miss bonding with them.”

His sister Lauren agreed.

“They’re really funny and friendly to be around,” she said. “They have incredible energy. They all contribute back to society in a positive way and they were great people to spend time with.”



Springfield High School

Class of 2013

Katrina Allen, Alexandra Anderson, Kodi Andrews,
Adam Beam, James Beam, Bethany Bennett, Cameron Benson, Kiana Blair, Lauren Bolduc, Lawrence Bolduc, Julie Bombria, Austin Broome, Joseph Byrne,
Jade Carr, Tashina Champney, Emily Chevalier, Erika Christman, Brianna Condon, Stanley Connor, Alyssa Cooper, Abigail Cox, Jordan Crowley,
Ronni Daniels, Angelo DiMauro, Alexis Dodge, Kassandra Donovan,
Kelsea Edwards, Gordon Eglintine, Rachel Ells, Rachael Facteau, Bryan Fairbrother, Archie Farmer, Miranda Fogg, Danielle Foley,
Seth Gammon, Steven Garfield Jr., Anna Haines, Mark Hall, Shawn Hart, Timothy Hildreth, Jerica Hill, Scott Hillock, Ashley Hopkins, Tia Horton, Asia Hosten,
Jamee Johnson,
Taylor Knoras, Kaylene Labadie, Megan Neet, Ashley Lawlor, Christina Lawrence, Michael LePage, Sky Lucerno-Keniston, Codi Lynch,
Lenore MacQuarrie, Jason Martin, Mariah Mason, Alexander McCormick, Angelina Mei, Jacob Minotti, Jeremy Moore, Matthew Morin, Michael Muther,
Devyn Nadeau,
Austin O’Connor, Mariah Olmstead,
Alexandra Pacheco, Courtney Page, Levi Parker, Tiffany Pellerin, Saiana Pianka, Emily Pinz, Jennifer Putnam,
Lee Ranck, Shelby Reardon, Manolis Rentumis, Nicole Rheaume, Caleb Rohane, Brandon Roldan, James Rousse, Jillian Rushton,
Brandie Sargent, Jacob Scott, Crystal Sharpe, Nikole Snow, Jennifer Stein, Michael Steiner, Clarrissa Stevens, Cody Stevens, Sarah Stiles, Jacob Stone-Humphrey,
Jacob Therrien, Amelia Thomas, Dakota Thompson, Crystal Thomson, Easton Thorpe, Amanda Todt,
Sawyer Trevorrow,
Kenneth Vandenburgh, Laura Vogell,
Carly Weeks, Christopher Whaley, Corey Wheeler, Baylee Williams, Matthew Wright