O'Gorman High School's Class of 2020 is resilient, brave and strong, according to co-valedictorian Payton Lauzon.
In a graduation ceremony video shared online, co-valedictorians Lauzon and Tammy Courville relayed a speech, at times in-sync, about the last four years.
"We overcame the lockdown of 2018, the traumatic loss of a fellow classmate, the removal of the bathroom doors and the insurmountable hoarding of toilet paper due to COVID-19,” said Lauzon, laughing about the cell phone ban as well.
Courville also makes light of the pandemic.
“We all thought we had 2020 vision, but I bet none of us saw this coming. Through these difficult times of social distancing and school closure we have never come to a bigger realization. Unable to spend our last few months together before going our separate ways into the world, we’ve come to miss our OHS family,” she said.
Today, O'Gorman started its grad week celebrations.
School administration is dropping off diplomas and handing out awards to the 72 graduates at the Timmins high school in unique ceremonies in front of graduates' homes.
The virtual graduation ceremony video features a welcome from salutarian Kierra Lessard.
While they can't get together to celebrate their accomplishments, she notes they're forever united as members of the O'Gorman family.
“The class of 2020 has been challenged in so many unique and unexpected ways, but even in the midst of a global pandemic we have kept our faith and persevered,” she said.
The video also features messages from Most Rev. Bishop Serge Poitras, Timmins Mayor George Pirie, Northeastern Catholic District School Board chair Glenn Scheculski, and director of education Tricia Weltz.
OHS principal Ted Weltz also talks about how this week isn't how they expected things to happen, but that they have to make the most of situations moving through life.
“You will be faced with challenges and obstacles. Take these problems head on, deal with these problems, don’t let them define who you are. You are strong, we are all proud of you,” he said.
As vice-principal Lauri-Ann Loreto Neal plays piano and sings Humble and Kind, you can see each of the 2020 graduates in their cap and gown, as well as a snapshot of their younger self.
