Sarah Hartman is no stranger to resilience.

She has witnessed her father, an anesthetist, face the terror of an invisible COVID-19 enemy daily during the pandemic, and her mother bravely battle cancer.

And on Friday night, a page of the Jim Thorpe Area High School Class of 2024 valedictorian’s commencement speech went missing.

Without missing a beat, Hartman continued on, urging the 113-member graduating class to stay strong during life’s inevitable challenges.

“The concept of resilience is important to me as I have used this skill immensely in my life and the most this past year,” she said. “Whether it be with the hardcomings of my sports this year or my mother’s cancer recurrence, I know that keeping a positive mind and toughness can get me through anything. As we step into the next chapter of our lives, whether it’s college, the workforce, military, or other pursuits, we will undoubtedly face new challenges. There will be times when we question our abilities, when the road seems too tough, when we feel like giving up. In those moments, remember how far you’ve come, the obstacles you’ve overcome, and the strength you’ve discovered within yourself.”

Before the Class of 2024 made their way into to Olympian Stadium on Friday night, a brief rain shower passed through the area, followed by a faint rainbow.

Salutatorian Zak Pompa emphasized the class’ similar path of clouds to sunshine over the past four years as he reflected on the early days of high school, marked by the abrupt shift to online learning due to the pandemic.

“We will never forget the memories of waking up to the Spanish teachers blasting in their microphones, ‘Hola chicos,’ or the teachers questioning why students’ mouths are moving on the cameras during online class,” Pompa reminisced.

Pompa’s speech also carried a message of optimism and personal growth as the graduates prepared to move beyond high school. He reminded his peers that change, though often daunting, is a natural and beneficial part of life.

“The change from high school to the next step in life is a great opportunity for all of us,” he said. “Each of us will have our own goals to reach within our lives that only we can define.”

Class President Noah Rosahac also acknowledged the unique challenges the Class of 2024 faced during the pandemic.

“Parents, if you are wondering why your kid became lazy, it’s because he or she just sat in bed all day and pretended to listen to Mr. Pascoe talk about how forces exert energy on other forces or something like that,” he said.

Having an early college experience beginning in January for athletic reasons, Rosahac gave the class a glimpse of what is to come.

“For the very first time in my life, I was on my own. I had to do my laundry, make myself dinner, and run all the errands my parents would run for me when I was home,” he said.

Whether it’s doing laundry, making dinner, heading to class or working that first job, Principal Tom Lesisko urged the graduates to “show up.”

“Showing up is more than just walking in the door,” he said. “You need to show up physically, mentally, and emotionally. When you arrive at a situation, bring 100% of yourself. When you show up, bring the whole package.”