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The faculty of Brentsville District High School was met with cheers and applause as they proceeded to their seats at Nissan Pavilion Thursday.
Yet it paled in comparison to the welcome received by the 356 graduates of the Class of 2009. The graduates looked proud but the parents, grandparents, brothers, sisters and friends looked prouder.
“Your memories now will truncate as you grow. They will become snapshots of who you were or who you thought you were in high school,” said Principal Robert Scott. “If you want to hang on to today, be in this moment and enjoy the ceremony. This is your moment and you have earned it.”
Nicolas Sparks was the class valedictorian and had earned a 4.4 grade point average. Salutatorian Molly Hilberg graduated with a 4.3. More than two-thirds of the Brentsville class graduated with a B average or better. “I am so proud of that,” said Madre Mack, assistant principal, before the ceremony.
“We are the future and only through hard work can we ensure it stays bright,” said Ryan McManus, senior class president.
The class chose former U.S. Rep. Tom Davis, R-11th District, as its guest speaker. Davis gave the class three rules to live by:
-- Follow your instincts. “Every one of us has a gift that makes us a little better than most people in one thing or another,” Davis said. “Follow that talent. It comes from above.”
-- Don’t give up easily, set high standards and learn from your mistakes. “Stick with it. Just don’t make the same mistake twice,” Davis said.
-- Always give back to your community. “No matter how well off everybody else is or bad off you think you are, you are going to feel better when you give back to your community,” Davis said.
In his conclusion, Davis quoted the movie character Ferris Bueller. “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around, you are going to miss it,” Davis said. “Good luck and God speed.”
Staff writer Aileen Streng can be reached at 703-878-8010.
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