When Michael Price began at East Newton High School, he didn’t want stay in school.
He did not think he would make it to walking across the stage and receiving his high school diploma.
“To tell you the honest truth, I didn’t want to stay in school. I wanted to go ride a tractor or go play in the dirt,” Price said. “Here people just helped me get through it, it is kind of hard going through high school by yourself. You kind of need the help of others.”
Price stated that he would miss his friends, teachers, principals and especially Mark Knight, the district’s president of the school board.
“I farm with my buddy, Mark Knight,” Price said.
Asked if Price gives Knight high praise, he said, “Yes, he is kind of like a father figure to me.”
Price was one of 96 seniors who graduated on Monday night at the high school.
Shortly before the diplomas were awarded to the graduating seniors, the keynote speaker, Alan Cook, president of the East Newton Charitable Foundation and father of salutatorian Chelsey Cook, gave the address.
“I would venture to say that all of you that are graduating, say from elementary school through junior high and even high school, had those big dreams,” said Alan Cook at the opening his speech. “That last winning basketball shot before recess is over, running in the wind like the fastest person in the world, dressing up in high heels as a princess, singing in the shower or in the car as the next ‘American Idol.’ There are some of you that I know tonight are still dreaming and even fulfilling some of those dreams: Katie playing basketball, Tinika playing music, Frank and Jesse as NASCAR potentials, Lindsey running track, Dustin as a great country singer, Megan and Chelsey owning their own dipped pretzel store…. you don’t have to know in high school that is what you want to do with your life.”
Alan Cook mentioned five key points. The points were: set achievable goals, but continue to dream big. Second, don’t focus so hard on the goal that your priorities are out of order, but continue to dream big. Third, be willing to adjust your goals, sometimes you will need to change courses, but continue to dream big. Fourth, don’t let the world’s definition of success and failure discourage you, find the positive in every accomplishment and continue to dream big. And his final point was, you need to have the determination to be successful and continue to dream big.
“When I got out of high school and started college, I didn’t know what I was going to do, but I did know that math and computers would be useful in life, so I started out with a very broad idea, hoping it would lead me to where I needed to go,” Alan Cook said on the first point. “It might seem that it would be easier to decide what you like, but it turns out to be pretty hard, partly because it’s difficult to get an accurate idea or picture of most jobs. Some professions are not as glamorous as the way they are portrayed on TV…the world changes fast and the rate at which it changes is speeding up. In such a world it’s not necessary to have fixed plans. Don’t worry about having every detail of your future mapped out from the beginning.”
On his second point, he gave some pointers.
“Don’t hold on so tight to a goal that you get your priorities out of order,” he said. “You need to rely on your faith when you’re not sure what to do; don’t let your career come before your family; … and stand up for what is right, be heard, but be respectful.”
Alan Cook explained his third point talking about his love of running, especially one particular race – the Tulsa Run 15K.
“As I considered it, I looked at the past year’s results. In looking at the top 25 places where the prize money was given, I realized that their times were much faster than I was capable of,” he said. “But I noticed while reading an article in the paper, it mentioned that commemorative coffee mugs were given to all of those who finished under one hour. That would be my goal. I ran the Tulsa Run three years in a row before I was successful. The year that I received the mug, I was hanging around the finish line when I saw a young boy finish in just over two hours and tell his father with a huge smile on his face, ‘Dad, that was 11 minutes faster than last year.’ Sometimes we forget that there is more than one way to do something or get somewhere.”
Jumping ahead to his final point about being successful, Alan Cook stated successful goals require work, and there is no such thing as a goal without the work and effort to make it come true”
Finally, Alan Cook told the graduates, “Good luck and may God bless the class of 2010.”
With cameras flashing in a crowded gym full of family and friends, the graduating seniors heard a duo-address from salutatorian Chelsey Cook and valedictorian Tinika Maize. They told their fellow classmates about memories from the last four years.
“We have all had some great times throughout the last four years, I remember when we played ‘Survivor’ in Mr. Holt’s class and everyone was afraid they would have to eat pig’s feet or a sardine soup,” Maize said.
“Yeah, it reminds me of the time when Mr. McCrackin began morning announcements with the lunch menu for the day…all I heard was, ‘good morning chicken tenders,’” said Chelsey Cook.
“I remember when the science club went to the St. Louis Zoo, the Science Center and Six Flags all in one day. We left at 3 a.m. and got back at 1 a.m. the next day, but we had so much fun,” Maize said.
“I remember going to all of the ballgames and screaming until we were hoarse the next day at school,” Chelsey Cook said.
They also thanked their teachers, counselors and others for being there.
In closing, the two seniors passed along some advice.
“Class of 2010, this wouldn’t be a graduation speech if I don’t remind you that this is only the beginning of the rest of your lives. Congratulations on making it though high school and I wish you the best of luck in whatever your future plans may be,” Maize said.
“And I just want to say to the senior class of 2010, it has been an absolute blast,” Chelsey Cook said. “These are the moments that last a lifetime, so we need to remember these times because this will probably be the last time that this class will all be together. I wish you the best of luck in the future, and I hope you find your passion in life. I’m really going to miss all of you.”
After the commencement, graduate Josh Taylor stated his plans include vacation and college.
“I am going to go to Crowder College, major in computer and networking services,” Taylor said, as his mother, Cheri, kissed him on the cheek. “I am going to miss football.”
Taylor’s advice to others is “do your work and pay attention.”
Price also passed on some advice to the underclassmen.
“I would advise them to stay in school as much as possible, pay more attention, learn more math especially, because there is a lot of jobs out there that you need math for,” he said. “Just don’t skip.”
Senior Shea Hounshell was happy.
“I am more than excited. I am ready to get (on with life),” she said as she got ready to receive hugs from family and friends.
