The Solanco High School (SHS) Class of 2021 valedictorian, Faith Redcay, and salutatorian, Kayla McCauley, addressed their classmates during the SHS commencement ceremony on June 11.
The daughter of Robert and Patricia Redcay of Quarryville, Faith has been selected for the Professional Horticulture Program at Longwood Gardens. Kayla, daughter of Kolin and Amanda McCauley of Quarryville, will attend the Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, where she will major in nursing.
Faith noted she was a little overwhelmed to learn that she would speak to her classmates, those in attendance at graduation, and those watching on YouTube. "Like a lot of you, I had a difficult year, but I am truly thankful for the struggles and adversity that we've lived through," said Faith. "I know first-hand this class has grown. Our relationships with each other, our families, and community have grown."
Faith included the most important lesson she has learned this year in her graduation speech. "When going through struggles, no matter how much we can try to muster up our own strength, the only source of joy that helps us through comes from Jesus Christ," she stated.
In her speech, Kayla encouraged her classmates to remain true to themselves. "We are resilient, we are driven, and we are extraordinary. We are the Class of 2021," she said. "Once we enter the real world, it can be easy to stray from ourselves and our goals. We should not feel pressured to turn into someone who we are not, but feel confident in ourselves and our capabilities to find our own happiness."
Graduation speaker Michael DeBerdine, Solanco Class of 1983 and CEO of Rhoads Energy in Lancaster, met with seven SHS students a month ago to talk about Solanco and the atmosphere of southern Lancaster County. DeBerdine noted that he was impressed. "This school is blessed with future farmers, teachers, military service, HVAC technicians, pilots, to name a few, and some that are taking a gap year because it's the right thing to do," stated DeBerdine.
When Solanco School District superintendent Brian Bliss addressed the Class of 2021, he quoted author Lois McMaster Bujold: "Experience suggests it doesn't matter so much how you got here as what you do after you arrive." Bliss assured students that they are prepared to begin their post-Solanco life. "Please know what you have with you today you will have tomorrow and each day after that," he said. "Amazing experiences await you."
Graduation ceremonies for the Solanco Class of 2021 can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/solancosd.
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