PHS Class of ?05 graduates

Twenty-seven Posen students received their diplomas, turned their tassels, and officially became the Class of 2005 at last Friday?s 64th annual graduation exercise. Principal Clifford Kelly presented the class to Posen Board of Education president Ken Wozniak, who awarded the diplomas after each name was announced. The class had 13 students graduate with honors, seven members of the National Honor Society, and 24 of the 27 are college-bound, Kelly said. In addition, 24 scholarships have been offered to the outgoing class. Class valedictorian Matt Ponik reflected back on his early days in high school.

?I REMEMBER MY freshman year being so scared of all the upperclassmen, that when they walked down the hall, you were sure to be on the other side of the hallway,? said Ponik. ?Sophomore year we all seemed more confident in ourselves. Junior year we all fit in and our senior year, we dominated the school.? He said, while high school life is over, and everyone will be taking different paths ?our memories will live on.

?Do not lose sight of your dreams and may you strive to achieve those dreams. To the Class of 2005, have a very enjoyable life, and best of wishes.? In her speech, salutatorian Jaclyn Szczerowski talked about the dream of graduation day finally coming true. ?I know that every one of you sitting in front of me has wished for this day many times throughout our high school career,? Szczerowski said. ?We?ve all said ?I can?t wait to be a senior? and then that day came all too fast.?

Szczerowski commented on how the class has excelled in sports, academically, and artistically. ?We?ve grown from shy children to independent individuals, from nap-taking kindergartners to nap-taking seniors,? she said, which brought several chuckles from the audience. Following the speeches, Brittany Romel performed the song ?Breakaway? by Kelly Clarkson, a song which she believed would make an excellent song to perform on graduation night the first time she heard it.

BEFORE RECOMMENDING the class for graduation, Kelly had some advice. ?We are imperfect creatures, so don?t give up when you make a mistake, or the burdens of life seem like an endless series of unsolvable problems,? Kelly said. ?Make room in your life for people whose origins in life are different than yours so you may experience the enrichment of being exposed to different lifestyles, different political thoughts, and different cultures. Keep broadening your horizons by seeking diversity in

your life.? Wozniak told the seniors seated in front of him that life as they know it is about to change and that every one of them would have a chance to make an impact on the world.

?You can make it happen with hard work,? Wozniak said. ?This will be difficult, but if you make good decisions, and never lose sight of your long term goals, each of you young men and women have the capability to become very successful.?

IN SUPERINTENDENT Dennis Stratton?s concluding remarks, he wished the Class of 2005 happiness, health, and continued success in whatever they chose to do in life. He also offered this thought:

?Remember, life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.?