Graduating OSS students offered advice on living the rest of their lives

Valedictorians Parveen Chauhan and Cameron Kelm recall anecdotes from the grad class’s experiences during their valedictory address at last Thursday evening’s graduation ceremonies at Osoyoos Secondary School. A total of 43 students graduated. (Richard McGuire photo)

It was a proud evening for students, parents and teachers as 43 graduating students at Osoyoos Secondary School (OSS) received recognition last Thursday.

Wearing mortar boards and walking arm-in-arm in twos and threes, the graduating class filed into the school’s gymnasium, decorated with backdrops and flowers.

After speeches from dignitaries and the presentation of certificates by Principal Mike Safek, more than 70 scholarships and bursaries were handed out to deserving students by local businesses, organizations and individuals.

Then teacher Peter Gajda delivered the keynote address, as in previous years, followed by valedictorians Parveen Chauhan and Cameron Kelm before closing remarks by Safek.

School District 53 Chair Marieze Tarr led off the dignitary speeches by citing Mark Twain, who said: “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.”

She advised students to step outside their safety nets and support systems and to be bold.

“You will never know what you are capable of until you try,” she said, advising students that they won’t find their passion in “things or money.”

Instead, follow your heart and dream big, she said, and be curious and keep learning.

Try to make a difference, even if it’s just by being a kind and caring person, she said.

MP Alex Atamanenko said this was his last ceremony as a Member of Parliament. The federal representative for B.C. Southern Interior is not running again in the election expected in October.

“I guess I finally graduate,” he quipped.

Atamanenko urged students to recognize that the strength of this country is its democratic process and to “cast your vote for your country.”

All political parties would love to have young people take part, he said, adding that one day some of the students may decide to run for political office.

He pointed out that in the 2011 federal election, one of the new MPs, Pierre-Luc Duisseault, was only 19 years old when elected.

Mayor Sue McKortoff, a retired teacher, told the students that she taught some of their parents in grades 1 and 2.

She advised them to become lifelong learners and to volunteer. Not only does volunteering help the community and provide physical and emotional rewards, but it also looks good on a resume, she said.

In Gajda’s keynote address, he spoke about fear and overcoming it.

“Everything you want is on the other side of fear,” he said, quoting Jack Canfield and George Addair.

Gajda added that when people run from fear, they are running from the chance to be their best selves.

“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously that you might well not have lived at all – in which case, you fail by default,” he continued, quoting from J.K. Rowling.

Playing it safe will get you nowhere, he advised, continuing with a quote from Jim Carrey: “You might as well take a chance on doing what you love.”

Gajda concluded with a final comment on fear: “Once in a while don’t be afraid to turn your damn cellphones off and put them away,” he said, eliciting knowing chuckles from the students and parents.

Valedictorians Chauhan and Kelm pointed to numerous anecdotes about members of the grad class and their time shared together as they took turns speaking.

Safek chastised some students for poor punctuality, advising them not to continue this habit in their lives.

He then went on to praise the class for not starting out as one of the stronger cohorts academically, but for becoming one of the strongest at the end.

With their new freedom comes responsibility, he said.

“I urge you to persevere and not quit,” he said. “Quitting is easy.”

He told students that the greatest influence on them has been their parents, who sacrificed much for them. When the students have children of their own and need to lay down the law, they will appreciate that their parents’ rules were actually good for them.

“You’ll always be part of the OSS family,” he concluded. “Seize your opportunities and make the most of them.”

RICHARD McGUIRE

Osoyoos Times

Isadora Bastos, Colten Thorsen and Jenn Newth make their entry into the gymnasium. (Richard McGuire photo)

Parents proudly look at the graduating class of 2015. (Richard McGuire photo)

School District 53 Chair Marieze Tarr offers advice to the graduating students. (Richard McGuire photo)

MP Alex Atamanenko urges students to participate in the democratic process by casting a vote, volunteering and perhaps running for office. (Richard McGuire photo)

Principal Mike Safek presents a certificate to graduate Manuel Mora. (Richard McGuire photo)

Principal Mike Safek presents a certificate to graduate Jenn Newth. (Richard McGuire photo)

Students Manuel Mora, Viveka Jensen, Mercedese Jeffries and Gurshan Sandhu are proud of their accomplishments. (Richard McGuire photo)

Students Jenna Kelly, Nick Silva, Keenan Holz and Parveen Chauhan are proud of their accomplishments. (Richard McGuire photo)

Teacher Peter Gajda presents the Dogwood District/Authority Award to Jenn Newth. (Richard McGuire photo)

Teacher Ivor Langley presents the Secondary School Apprenticeship Scholarship to Nicholas Silva. (Richard McGuire photo)

Basketball coach and firefighter Casey Brouwer presents the Osoyoos Volunteer Fire Department award to Shayden Stark. Stark was on the Osoyoos Rattlers basketball team that Brouwer coached and is also a volunteer firefighter. (Richard McGuire photo)

Teacher Peter Gajda presents the South Okanagan Similkameen Teachers’ Union award to Cailyn Mocci. (Richard McGuire photo)

Linda Bolton (right), the managing director of the Osoyoos Times, had the honour of presenting the Osoyoos Times Scholarship to Amneet Brar Thursday night at Osoyoos Secondary School’s graduation ceremony. This was just one of a number of scholarships and bursaries given to deserving students by local businesses, organizations and individuals. (Richard McGuire photo)

Len McLean of McLean Construction presents Robby Rosa with a McLean Construction scholarship. McLean was up four times to present awards on behalf of his company. (Richard McGuire photo)

Judy Miller-Bennett, outgoing president of the Rotary Club of Osoyoos, presents a scholarship on behalf of her club to Kelsey Loura. (Richard McGuire photo)

Garry Sutton, representing the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 173, presents an award on behalf of the Legion to Kelsey Loura. (Richard McGuire photo)

Teacher Ivor Langley presents the Secondary School Apprenticeship Scholarship to Connor Hass. (Richard McGuire photo)

Teacher Peter Gajda presents a Dogwood District/Authority Award to Allana Davis. (Richard McGuire photo)

Len McLean of McLean Construction presents Cameron Helm with a McLean Construction scholarship. McLean was up four times to present awards on behalf of his company. (Richard McGuire photo)

Garry Sutton, representing the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 173, presents an award on behalf of the Legion to Viveka Jensen. (Richard McGuire photo)

Teacher Peter Gajda delivers the keynote address. (Richard McGuire photo)

Valedictorians Parveen Chauhan and Cameron Kelm recall anecdotes from the grad class’s experiences during their valedictory address. (Richard McGuire photo)