Gordon Central High School’s twenty-fourth annual commencement took place in the company of hundreds of family and friends at the Dalton Trade Center, Thursday May 21 at 8:00pm.
“As Dante Alighieri advised, ‘remember tonight for it is the beginning of always,” said Senior Class President and Salutatorian Ricky Bharat Doshi in his welcome speech.
“Graduates as you walk across this stage tonight remember that this path will be the last time you follow each other. For after tonight, every one of us will follow our own path,” he said.
Gordon Central Chorale senior Tara Clance performed “Star Spangled Banner” after the Calhoun National Guard carried the U.S. and Georgia Flags to the stage.
The Gordon Central Chorale performed Greg Gilpin’s “Live Your Dream.”
The theme for graduation came from Mark Twain’s prose: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do that by the ones you did. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Valedictorian Sarah Marie Talley and Salutatorian Ricky Bharat Doshi presented a dialogue centered in the theme. “Tonight we two stand before you, the products of decisions of our own two families. My family was originally from Ireland,” said Talley.
“And mine from India,” Doshi added.
“Graduates, tonight may be the only night when all of us look the same….But tonight we do not know the future. Just the past,” said Doshi.
Talley shared with the audience, “Explore. Decide what you want in life and so for it.”
“Dream,” stated Doshi, “lay the foundation of your dreams with hard work and perseverance.” Doshi also stressed to “remember that your education was not meant to be an end unto itself. It is a means to ac-tion.”
“Discover. The next few years of your lives and the decisions that you make will help to shape your character. Discover that you must listen to the voice of your conscience, because your actions will inevitably lead to conse-quences. Never sacrifice the integrity of your soul,” said Talley.
Principal Betty Holland recommended the senior class with words of encouragement.
“We have watched many of these students grow from wide eyed ninth graders to seniors with pride and purpose,” she said. Superintendent Bill McCown, Gordon County Schools Board of Education members and Principal Holland pre-sented diplomas to 213 graduates.
Student Body President Tara Rochelle Clance presented a farewell speech, saying, “In this class we hold future doctors, farmers, lawyers, teachers, policeman and soldiers among many other diverse occupations; however as we enter this new phase of our lives and travel our separate ways, know that we are all united as one tribe, under one cause, setting out to leave our imprint and make a difference in this world.”
All present sang the school’s alma mater and the graduation recessional followed as the Gordon Central High School Class of 2009 stepped from the stage with a unified sense of Warrior pride, excited for the individual paths of opportunity ahead.
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