Good evening and welcome to the Class of 2020 graduation ceremony. I know this has been an extremely unusual end of the year, to say the least. To the seniors and their families, I would like to say I am sorry. Sorry that you have missed so many end-of-the-year activities. I know this is a big moment in your life, and I am sad that you did not have a traditional end of a high school experience.

That being said, I would like to take a step back and ask you, for a moment, to focus on the big picture and think about all the wonderful opportunities you have had over these last four years. Think of all the fun times you have had during spirit week, at school dances, on the fields of play, performing on stage, and in your classes. Focus on those memories and cherish them, for they will feed your soul for many years to come.

As we all go through life, there will inevitably be times of ups and downs. How will you handle them? You could spend your time thinking about all the negative parts of what you are experiencing OR (and this is what I would recommend) you could look at all the positives around you and be grateful for what you have and not focus on what you don’t have. I am sure you all have heard the question: when you see a glass of water at the halfway mark, how do you describe it? Half empty or half full. Either answer would be correct; it is just a matter of how you chose to look at it. As you leave us today, I would ask you to consider your time with us as a glass half full as opposed to half empty.

You will experience more challenges as you move through life, and you will face situations where you have little to no control. I present to you that in those times, what you do have control over is how you view that experience. Focus on the positives and make the most of the situation. Winston Churchill once said, ”A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”

In my opinion, the best way to handle the hard times and disappointments that life throws your way is to be positive and thankful. That is such a powerful tool. Tony Robbins, a nationally renowned motivational speaker, shared, “When you are grateful, fear disappears, and abundance appears.” So be thankful for your health. Be thankful for your family and friends. And be thankful for having a community such as East Lyme that cares for you and supports you.

I am asking that you go out into this world with a positive attitude and make a real difference. Staying positive has a way of being contagious and uplifting to those around you. Make a habit of doing random acts of kindness. Seek those opportunities to help others and stand up for what is right. If you approach life in this manner, you can make a significant positive impact on the lives of others and make our world a better place.

Yes, you have missed out on some memorable events these last few months, but you have accomplished many great things over these four years, and I want to compliment you for keeping your heads held high and rising above the disappointments and challenges you recently experienced. We are so very proud of you. As you take this next step in your life, please join me in looking at the glass half full and go forward and make our world a better place.

(Michael Susi is the principal of East Lyme High School.)