Good Evening Class of 2021. I would like to start off my speech by welcoming and thanking all those who have come to celebrate this momentous occasion, our friends, family, and all faculty who have helped us along this journey.

If you are like me, today has more or less taken you by surprise. I remember my father telling me that four years would go by a lot faster than I thought, and while I did believe him, I never really grasped how much that was true. Each year went by quicker than the last, which I'd like to partly attribute to the pandemic, but I understand is really just the reality of growing up. As I look back on my time not only within this high school, but my time in middle and elementary school, I am amazed by all the memories I have made, both good and bad, that I can take with me as I move forward into being an official adult.

I have come to realize that most of the things I worried about, really won't matter at all moving forward. That awkward interaction I had at lunch Freshman year doesn't affect me whatsoever, that history essay I stressed about won't help very much in the future. But my mom had a saying, that "Once you learn something, they can't take it away from you."

I take pride in the work I have done on my way here, I am proud of what I have accomplished. But I'll be the first to tell you I stressed far too much about most things. It was through this stress, however, that I have learned the importance of adaptability, and persistence, and their significance to one's own growth.

The world won't stop so that you can figure things out, it will always keep moving forward. When faced with hardship, you need to be willing to adapt, work around problems, and keep working until you can finish what you started. Once we get out there, we won't be given any breaks, and no matter how difficult an obstacle is, and how much you struggle, you must be willing to struggle through it.

Look at what we've gone through the last year and a half. I remember when Mrs. Dubreuil told us about shared generational experiences, where a large event occurs and everyone remembers where they were and what they did during that time. The pandemic is our first Shared Generational Experience, and we were all able to push through it. Many here have been forced to learn their trade through unconventional ways, having to rely on videos and workbooks as opposed to real hands-on experience. Some may have had a harder time than others, I know it was tough for me, but we were all able to make it through quarantine and this global pandemic and walk across this stage today.

For some, this graduation isn't the end of their academic career; they will continue along their academic path into college or further schooling. Others, like me, will be stepping straight into the adult world and begin working in their trade. A few of us will be going on to serve our countty within the armed forces, and some are still ttying to figure out what they're going to do. But for everyone, as cliche as it sounds, this graduation is a stepping stone into the beginning of our adulthood. And as we cross the starting line, it is important that we remember all the good and bad, and carry these memories with us. As life gets tougher, it's crucial that we continue to adapt and persevere, and always continue to grow. Thank you, class of 2021, and I hope you keep growing.

A Life Scout in Troop 123 from Salem, Clayton is also an accomplished violinist and guitar player. He is currently an HVAC apprentice with Millas Heating and Cooling out of Mystic. Following graduation, Clayton will continue his apprenticeship leading to an S-10 License (Limited Heating and Cooling) as his next step in the HVAC career field.