Bedford High School Class of 2015: Congratulations, Graduates!

June 5, 2015
Graduation 2015 - Image (c) Linda Pollitz and Gene Kalb, 2015
Graduation 2015 (c) Linda Pollitz and Gene Kalb, 2015 – Click for a slightly larger image

Compiled by The Bedford Citizen

The traditional post-ceremony 'Cap Toss' - Image (c) Linda Pollitz and Gene Kalb, 2013
The traditional post-ceremony ‘Cap Toss’ – Image (c) Linda Pollitz and Gene Kalb, 2013

In the 58th Bedford High School graduation, School Committee Chair Bradford  Hafer conferred diplomas on the Class of 2015 (Click to see a list of the Class of 2015) during ceremonies at the Tsongas Arena in Lowell on Thursday, June 4.

After the school’s combined band and orchestra played the Radetzky March, the Class of 2015 processed into the arena to the strains of Pomp and Circumstance. Senior Class President Emily Nell Moss welcomed faculty, guests, families and graduates. The 2015 Graduation Essay was presented by Madeline Claire Allen. Principal Henry J. Turner, Ph.D, presented this year’s Principal’s Awards to Anshuman Das and Mary Margaret Kalb, then introduced the 2015 keynote speaker, David Boffa, a 1993 graduate of Bedford High School who has gone on to become Regional Vice-President for the Americas at Rapid7, an IT security company.

The 2015 Graduation Essay
By Madeline Claire Allen

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Madeline Allen, ready to graduate - Courtesy photo
Essayist Madeline Allen, ready to graduate with her mortarboard signalling her college choice: Vanderbilt University – Courtesy photo

At the end of my sophomore year, I asked one of my teachers to sign my yearbook. While flipping through the pages to find a free space, he paused on an entry from one of my graduating friends who wrote, “Don’t ever change.” He frowned and said, “I hate it when people say this. That’s not the point of life.”

At the time I didn’t really understand what he was talking about. As soon as he finished signing his name under the word “change” I hastily picked up my yearbook and left the room, annoyed that he had turned what I believed to be a compliment into something negative. A few months ago, something reminded me of that conversation and I replayed it in my head. I realized that I used to think “change” had a negative connotation. I thought that if something needed to be changed, that meant it wasn’t good enough as it was. Now I understand how far from the truth that is. Change doesn’t necessarily mean to “improve” or to “make better.” It means to adjust, to revise, to evolve, to grow.

At that moment I realized that every experience I’ve had, every person I’ve met, every song I’ve listened to, every road trip I’ve taken, even every Bedford Farms ice cream I’ve had – has made a difference in my life. True, some of these changes are tiny, like having my pants feel a little tighter after finishing a cookie dough frappe; but some of these changes are essential to who I am today. This past year alone holds dozens of moments that have had a lasting impact on me; moments I will remember forever: winning the pep rally and running down from the bleachers to celebrate; walking around the school wearing sheets as makeshift togas during spirit week; having a huge handful of snow days during this crazy winter; watching the Mr. BHS contestants strut around in their “beach outfits,” walking in our prom stroll; staging a rock-paper-scissors fight in the cafeteria; the list goes on and on.

These are all snapshots of our journey during which we have formed a unique bond:  one that has taught me the value of being surrounded by people who inspire me to dream bigger. We each have a list of memories like this from our time at BHS, filled with moments of stress and of sadness, as well as those of laughter and of love. These highs and lows and everything in between, have transformed each of us into different people than we were when we walked in the front doors of BHS for the first time.

Whether you’ve been at BHS for one year or for four, each one of you has had an impact on my life, and I simply could not imagine a friendlier or more compassionate group of people to be dressed in caps and gowns with today. So let’s embrace these next steps in our lives and welcome the many changes they will bring.  I will miss you all so much and I’m positive that the next time I see you, you will have grown to be even more incredible, interesting, and inspiring. In the words of Dr. Seuss, “You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So get on your way!”

Class of 2015, here’s to us! We made it!

Thanks to Bedford TV for this video of Thursday’s ceremony

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