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Neosho, Mo. —
A total of 272 Neosho High School seniors received their diplomas Friday night and became the latest graduating class.
Keynote speaker was Barbara Lombardi, a math instructor at Neosho High School who is leaving at the end of the school year to pursue a doctorate degree. In his introduction of Lombardi, Dr. Richard Page, superintendent of schools, said the mother of eight enjoyed physical pursuits such as hiking and making her own yogurt.
Lombardi told the students about a question they have likely been asked all their lives: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
“Determining your life’s work is more of a process than a decision,” she said. “What do you want to be when you grow up? That shouldn’t be the question. The question you should be asking is ‘Who do you want to be when you grow up?’ Spend some time thinking about who you want to be. Do you want to be that person who has big plans and makes rash promises? Do you want to be the one known for quietly taking care of business? Do you want to be the life of the party? Visualize who you want to be.”
Lombardi told of a friend who, when she found out the math teacher was giving the keynote address, said she had always wanted to do that, and had what she wanted to tell students all ready to go.
Asked what that was, the woman told Lombardi that students should save $10,000 a year starting in their 20s so they can retire as millionaires, and to moisturize.
“That way, the next time you guys will get together like this, it will be your 20-year reunion and you will still look young and hot!” Lombardi joked.
Lombardi told graduates to take care of their health, to exercise and to eat healthy food, as healthier people tend to make more money and spend less on medicine than sickly people.
“Fruits and vegetables taste better and cost less than medicine,” she said. “Time spent exercising is better spent than time spent in waiting rooms.”
She also told students to go out and seek opportunity instead of waiting for it to come to them.
“Opportunity is not like the pizza man,” she said. “It’s like the unimproved trail at Morse Park. Finding it takes exploration or a little luck or a friend to lead the way. Don’t sit at home waiting for the knock. Get out there and off that paved trail.”
Valedictorian MacKenzie Hutchins and Salutatorian Courtney Wood also addressed their classmates after being recognized by Darren Cook, high school principal. Diplomas were then conferred on the class of 2011 by members of the Neosho R-5 Board of Education. At the end of the ceremony, graduates lifted their mortarboards skyward, then accepted congratulations from friends, family and faculty.
A total of 272 Neosho High School seniors received their diplomas Friday night and became the latest graduating class.
Keynote speaker was Barbara Lombardi, a math instructor at Neosho High School who is leaving at the end of the school year to pursue a doctorate degree. In his introduction of Lombardi, Dr. Richard Page, superintendent of schools, said the mother of eight enjoyed physical pursuits such as hiking and making her own yogurt.
Lombardi told the students about a question they have likely been asked all their lives: “What do you want to be when you grow up?”
“Determining your life’s work is more of a process than a decision,” she said. “What do you want to be when you grow up? That shouldn’t be the question. The question you should be asking is ‘Who do you want to be when you grow up?’ Spend some time thinking about who you want to be. Do you want to be that person who has big plans and makes rash promises? Do you want to be the one known for quietly taking care of business? Do you want to be the life of the party? Visualize who you want to be.”
Lombardi told of a friend who, when she found out the math teacher was giving the keynote address, said she had always wanted to do that, and had what she wanted to tell students all ready to go.
Asked what that was, the woman told Lombardi that students should save $10,000 a year starting in their 20s so they can retire as millionaires, and to moisturize.
“That way, the next time you guys will get together like this, it will be your 20-year reunion and you will still look young and hot!” Lombardi joked.
Lombardi told graduates to take care of their health, to exercise and to eat healthy food, as healthier people tend to make more money and spend less on medicine than sickly people.
“Fruits and vegetables taste better and cost less than medicine,” she said. “Time spent exercising is better spent than time spent in waiting rooms.”
She also told students to go out and seek opportunity instead of waiting for it to come to them.
“Opportunity is not like the pizza man,” she said. “It’s like the unimproved trail at Morse Park. Finding it takes exploration or a little luck or a friend to lead the way. Don’t sit at home waiting for the knock. Get out there and off that paved trail.”
Valedictorian MacKenzie Hutchins and Salutatorian Courtney Wood also addressed their classmates after being recognized by Darren Cook, high school principal. Diplomas were then conferred on the class of 2011 by members of the Neosho R-5 Board of Education. At the end of the ceremony, graduates lifted their mortarboards skyward, then accepted congratulations from friends, family and faculty.
