Oceanside grads celebrate their tenacity

After an incredibly long school year, Oceanside High School seniors finally had their moment together. Members of the class of 2021 gathered on the football field June 25 and were celebrated for their persistence through the pandemic.

“As a true optimist, I’m thankful that the pandemic has taught me to never take small moments for granted,” salutatorian Courtney Murphy said. “Through the past year, I hope we all have learned that our futures are unpredictable and everything in life is only temporary. Recognize that nothing horrible will endure forever, so keep moving forward, and nothing valuable is everlasting, so cherish it while it lasts.”

In his address, valedictorian Matthew Friedman thanked Oceanside School District officials for their work over the past 17 months. “Both the high school and district administrators, along with the Board of Education, have worked tirelessly over the past year and a half to ensure that we could continue to learn in a safe environment, and I would like to thank them for their efforts to fully reopen school,” Friedman said.

He challenged his fellow graduates to continue to chart their own courses coming out of the pandemic and into college and eventually their careers. “You have the potential to change and grow in any direction you choose to meet your goals, so you’ll be able to accomplish anything you set your mind to,” Friedman said. “I’m truly excited to see what you will do.”

Senior Class President Meral Eviner opened with the famous Winston Churchill quote: “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”

“This past year threw us curveballs and challenges at every corner, and it never got easier,” Eviner said. “But, most importantly, we took the time to engineer a new beginning and a new future for ourselves, for our Earth and for generations to come.” Students battled through socially distant classes, always masked, to make it to the finish line.

Oceanside Superintendent Dr. Phyllis Harrington commended the students on their resolve in a year that saw students take online, hybrid and in-person classes, while many also continued their extracurricular activities, as well. “This year you faced many tough choices,” Harrington said. “In the end, you decided that you would go from surviving to thriving, and as a result, you made the very best of a difficult situation.”

“You’ve taught many of us—myself included—what it means to navigate and pivot in a world of uncertainty. That is how I’ll remember you all,” Oceanside High Principal Dr. Brendon Mitchell said.