Friends, family of the Class of 2024 at Pleasant Valley High School celebrated with teachers and administration the graduation of 338 seniors on Friday night at the stadium.

After the national anthem and the Alma Mater were performed by the PVHS band, Daniel Janiec, salutatorian, gave the first speech. It was a prequel, of sorts, to the speech by Alyssa Kroeger, the valedictorian.

Janiec crafted his speech around the theme of life being a process of writing your own story.

“For all of us sitting in the field right now, in these past four years we have only just begun our

story. When we step off this field tonight, when the sun sets on this May evening and rises in

June, we will become authors of our own story. And eventually, we will be given the chance to tell it,” Janiec said.

He asked his classmates what story they would tell. Is it about a nurse tirelessly caring for her patients, a soldier fighting for freedom, or a carpenter building his own home?

Janiec said the people in their lives will help shape their plot. They will have challenges in life to overcome, but happiness as well.

“I don’t know what story you or I will tell. Nobody writing a story of life does. But that uncertainty is what makes writing it so much fun,” he said. “So, Class of 2024, my final request to you as your salutatorian is: When you step off this field tonight, go out there and start writing your story. No matter how scary it might be. And in a few moments, our valedictorian, Alyssa, will tell us to always say yes, so don’t let anyone or anything tell you otherwise.”

Alyssa Kroeger stepped forward to begin her speech after the class officers presented the class gift. Madeline Worden, president of the senior class, announced that the gift would be a mural to be painted inside the high school after the renovations are completed. The officers included Debbie Luna, vice president; Kroeger, secretary; and Molly Sobers, treasurer.

Kroeger encouraged her classmates to go beyond what they know and say yes to trying new things.

“Growth comes from each opportunity and each unknown, just like the fear we felt on the first day of kindergarten and the growth we experienced thereafter. We would not be where we are today without those experiences and all of the things we’ve said yes to in the last 12 years,” she said.

“So as we prepare to embark on the next chapter of our lives, I urge you to say yes. … say yes to the opportunities that come your way, even if they seem daunting or out of reach. Say yes to challenges that push you beyond your limits. Say yes to moments of joy, laughter and celebration. But perhaps most importantly, say yes to stepping out of your comfort zone, where in these moments we truly come alive, discover who we are and who we are meant to be,” she said.

“Seniors, we would like to congratulate you on an amazing statistic that has never been achieved before at the high school,” said Co-Principal Brian Boylan. “One hundred eleven of you have earned an all-time high of $7.6 million dollars in monetary funds for postsecondary plans.”

Boylan noted the following statistics about the Class of 2024:

• 68% of you will be attending a two or four-year college;

• 12.4% of you will be entering the workforce;

• 4% of you will be entering a trade or technical school;

• 8.6% are undecided, and;

• 7% of you have decided to join the military.

“We applaud you for all you’ve accomplished throughout this past year,” Boylan said.