Good morning, my name is Jorie Benjamin and my name is Zack Silvey. We want to begin by welcoming our valued friends, families, school staff and community guests and the resilient and remarkable Class of 2025. Today we are standing on the edge of a new chapter in life, reflecting on a journey that has been as challenging as it has been rewarding. Together, we have navigated the rollercoaster of our teenage years, the stresses of schoolwork, and the unpredictability of life. Moreover, we experienced a pandemic — remember those days of drive by birthdays and three-hour classes? Crazy times! Each one of us up here has a story of growth, perseverance and triumph.
To our families, you guys were there from start to finish as our alarm clocks on those days where sleeping in seemed like a good option even though we had two projects and a test all in one day. You were our chauffeurs to extra-curricular events taking us all over the island, and most importantly, didn't let us back out of hard situations. Thank you for being our number one fans through all the ups and downs.
Many of us have grown up side by side, sharing memories that go from trading Pokémon cards and Shopkins at recess, to the more recent challenges of scholarship applications and preparing for life beyond high school. Growing up in a small town has allowed us to create lifelong friendships and community, giving us a place we can call home during any stage in life. Collectively, we’ve supported each other through challenging P.E. runs, study group chats that came in clutch on days we missed class, and countless group projects.
Standing here today, it is an honour and privilege to be able to reflect on all our achievements that have led us here. Whether it was the artists of the school filling our hallways with captivating pieces, the student-athletes leading us to victories, the improv group keeping us laughing and smiling, or student council planning exciting theme weeks, gym riots, and special events. We could go on and on, but these are just a few examples that highlight how everyone has added to the amazing diversity of this grad class.
As LSS students, we have been given the message time and time again, “Try your best, get better each day, do the right thing, it's the 49er way”. But what does this motto mean? Beyond the classroom, the incredible staff at LSS have been showing us over the past five years what this truly means. They have instilled in us why it is important to stay accountable for your actions, teaching us that owning our mistakes is the first step to growing, not just as a student, but as a person.
Our athletics department reminded us that as student athletes, there is a reason “student” comes first. With us both being students who were part of these teams, we can say from our own experience it takes discipline, time management, and a deep drive to not give up, even after hearing the dreaded three word phrase “on the line”, Right D Rod? Ms. G encouraged us to find joy in the challenging times through laughing and dancing, reminding us that attitude can mould our experiences.
The careers and counselling team opened our eyes to see the possibilities of life beyond high school, helping us explore universities, future job opportunities, and teaching us to shoot for the moon and chase our dreams. And our lively office staff taught us that fun and professionalism can coexist. Most importantly, yutustanaa:t taught us that kindness is a strength, not a weakness, and that empathy can bridge any gap. These are the values of the 49er way. So, to all of the LSS faculty, thank you for shaping more than just our minds, you have prepared us for the next chapter.
As we begin to head down different paths of life, whether it be furthering our education, the workforce, or other grand adventures, let's keep the lessons learned at LSS close to our hearts. Let's remain accountable, kind, disciplined, joyful, and ambitious. Let’s remember that success isn’t measured by your achievements, it's measured by the positive impact you have on others and how well you maintain your own personal integrity throughout life.
Before we finish, we want to thank each and every person in the LSS graduating class of 2025. You are the kind of people who make every moment count. You’ve made the good days great, and the hard days easier to get through. Our memories from the playground, field trips, late night drives, hangouts at the beach and everything in between, are the memories that we’ll carry with us for the rest of our lives.
“You’re off to great places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, so get on your way!”
Hay ce:p ‘qu! Thank you
