Lee County High sends off more than 300 graduates

LEESBURG — An hour before commencement at Lee County High School Saturday, cars were backed up halfway to downtown. By the time some 340 red-robed seniors — 41 of them honor graduates — took their seats, the early morning sun had prompted some supporters at the football stadium to cool themselves with paper fans.

But even in their mortar boards and robes, the graduates were glad have the day.

“It’s awesome”, said Hannah Helm. “I didn’t have a doubt the day would get here. But it’s really awesome.”

Helm said she’d already been taking some classes at Darton State College, and she plans to complete her Associates Degree there before moving on to Kennesaw Sate University for her Bachelors in design.

Kyle Edmunds, class Salutatorian, is eager to get on with his material science studies at Georgia Institute of Technology.

“This is a big day for me,” Edmunds said. “I’ve been waiting for it a long time.”

Reagan Johnson also plans to attend Georgia Tech, but she plans to involved in legislation.

“I’m going to study public policy,” Johnson said. “That’s where I’ll learn to write legislative bills and to analyze them. Usually people who work in this field wind up being lobbyists and help corporations get bills passed into laws.”

Graduating senior Courtney Shirley opened the ceremony with a few words of advice for those embarking on their journeys.

“You owe it you yourself to make your days count,” Shirley said. “Have fun, breathe deep. Stretch. Dream big. Know, though, that things worth doing seldom come easy. There will be times, though, when you’ll want to turn around and call it quits. Those times tell you that you are pushing yourself, and you’re not afraid to learn by trying. Persist, because with an idea, determination and the right tools you can do great things.”

In his Valedictory address, Akinade Ojemakinde told the graduates that someone recently made a casual comment to him: “Don’t be so eager. It doesn’t get any better than this,” then proceeded to inform him of the woes and struggles of post graduation life.

Ojemakinde said he considered the comment, then decided the advice was not necessarily true.

“I’m sure that each of us will have many more fantastic memories in the future,” Ojemakinde said. “We can, no we will, do even greater things after high school, like make a difference and impact the world around us. By no means should high school be the highlight of our lives. We have just begun to climb the mountain.”

Kevin Dowling, Lee County High School principal, told the group that while he had served as their principal, he was also a father, and therefore had “bittersweet” feelings about the day.

“The father in me is proud,” Dowling said, “so I’m a little sad to see our seniors leave. I’ve watched them grow into the young men and women before us this morning. Though I will miss them, I also know the excitement and wonder in their eyes. To our graduates I give this challenge: Whatever you choose to do in this life, do it well. Enjoy every moment. There’s far too much worry in this world. Never give up no matter how hard and impossible things may seem. Don’t forget to be careful on the roads, and always wear your seat belts.”