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She’s right: Graduation is not a solo adventure

Alpena Community College kicked off the 2019 graduation season on Thursday as about 150 of their 337 graduates turned their tassels in the college’s commencement ceremonies.

The photo taken by News reporter Crystal Nelson showed the joy, excitement and nervousness in students’ faces as they prepared to enter the next chapter of their lives. But it was a quote from business faculty member Lois Darga’s address to the Class of 2019 that caught our attention.

“You did it,” she told the grads. “You crossed the finish line, but you did not do it alone. It was not a solo adventure.”

We agree wholeheartedly.

Every student who makes it onto any stage to accept a diploma or degree did so with the help of an army of family members, peers, teachers, coaches, mentors, employers, pastors, teammates, neighbors, and others who, little by little, formed the student into the young man or woman they are today.

We all affect each other at every crossing, in good ways or bad ways.

Today, students, as you take your final steps in your school hallways, we encourage you to look back at all of the people who helped to inch you along to this place. And, as you begin to take on the mantle of leadership in this community or other communities, think about how you might so help the next generation.

And we encourage each of you, readers, to make every interaction with every young person a positive one, knowing you’re with them on this great adventure called life.

(THE ALPENA NEWS)

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