The cloudy weather seemed foreboding on Sunday afternoon, when the Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School Class of 2012 convened at Oliveira Field for its graduation ceremony, but by the event’s end the sun beamed on the 127 gold and maroon-clad newly-minted graduates who looked ready to take on anything.
On that Sunday, June 3, Old Colony graduates – from Acushnet, Carver, Freetown Lakeville, Mattapoisett, and Rochester – received their hard-earned diplomas with their families and friends looking on.
Deborah Herrmann, an English teacher who is retiring this year, offered words of encouragement and advice to the Class.
Repeating her mantra that “Some opportunities we make, some opportunities we take” – Hermann recalled stories of unlikely inspiration, such as that of the original creators of Scrabble, the Home Depot’s founders, and breakthrough success of J.K. Rowling – all who transformed themselves to greatness through sheer will.
To illustrate her point, she dangled a five-dollar bill from her hand and asked the class what they would do with that opportunity. Graduating senior Brett Southworth took no time to emerge from his seat to retrieve the money right from Herrmann’s hand.
“You must act. Brett Southworth is a man of action,” she said.
Valedictorian Brandon M. Charles reflected that the graduation was “not an ending, but a new beginning.” He urged the class to “make a name for ourselves” and look to idols and heroes for inspiration.
“Fellow graduates, get out there and embrace the world. Get out in the world so you can make the best world possible,” he said.
Charles also shared the lyrics of the Class of 2012’s official song: “Time of My Life” by David Cook. “‘Now I’m coming alive body and soul, feeling my world start to turn… This is the time to be more than a name or a face in the crowd. I know this is the time, this is the time of my life,'” he recited.
After all the diplomas were handed out and the caps spiraled to the sky – that song blasted from the speakers as the Class of 2012 embraced each other one last time as Old Colony students.
By Laura Fedak Pedulli
