BY CLIFF SMELLEY
Bradford High School Salutatorian Jessica Brown expressed her belief that she and her fellow Class of 2025 members have been prepared for the future and have already proved they can accomplish great things during her speech at the May 23 commencement at David Hurse Stadium.
Brown described graduation as “bittersweet,” saying, “We are leaving behind familiar classmates, faculty and friends who feel like family, and memories that will remain with us forever. From spirited pep rallies to those unforgettable lessons — not just in textbooks, but in life — we have grown together, laughed together and supported one another.”
Yet she and her fellow graduates, she said, are ready to move forward into the future.
“Our high school years have been a testament to resilience, whether it was adapting to change, facing setbacks or pushing ourselves beyond limits we never thought possible. We proved that we are capable of extraordinary things.
“As we step into this next chapter of our lives, whether it’s college, careers, services or pursuing dreams that may not even have a name yet, let us carry with us the lessons we’ve learned. Let us chase passion over perfection, embrace failures as steppingstones to success and never lose sight of the power of love, kindness and hard work.”
Brown said the members of the Class of 2025 are ready to step out into the world, “not because we have all the answers, but because we’ve learned how to ask the right questions.”
“We are ready to take on the world, and I have no doubt that each and every one of us will leave our marks in ways that will inspire generations to come because we remember that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by God, and He has equipped us with everything we need to be successful in life,” Brown said.
Like Adams, Brown took the time to reminisce, first by asking her classmates if they remembered getting lost or pretending to not be lost on their first day at BHS and how seniors “looked like actual adults.”
“Four years ago, we stepped into high school full of nerves and maybe a little excitement,” she said, adding, “It felt like the beginning of something big, and it was.
“As I look across this stadium this evening and across this field, I see a sea of faces, each carrying a unique story — stories of perseverance, challenges, laughter, late nights and triumphs. What started as a sea of unfamiliar faces became friendships and memories that will last a lifetime.”
Meeting challenges, reaching potential
BHS Principal Chris Coffey and Bradford Superintendent of Schools Will Hartley both talked of obstacles and how they can be overcome as well as beneficial.
“As you step out into this big and sometimes challenging world, remember, life won’t always be easy,” Hartley said. “Embrace the hard moments, face challenges head on and see them not as obstacles, but as opportunities to grow.
“Never let a setback define you or deter you from your goals.”
Coffey said, “Understand there will be challenging days ahead. The good thing about life is we are not defined by those challenging days, but by how we respond and grow from those times.”
The principal told the graduates to be “resilient enough to persevere when you want to quit,” while also advising them to “identify your gifts, abilities and passions and find a career that aligns with those.” He encouraged students to continue to exemplify the BHS pillars: Present, Respectful, Responsible, Productive and Safe.
Coffey said the students are not going out into the world alone.
“As you continue this journey, remember that you have the belief, love and support of your family, friends and teachers,” he said. “Although you are leaving Bradford High School, you will always be a member of the Tornado family.”
