Bunnell Class of 2013 Ready for Next Step

Before Courtney Lynne McHale dived into her commencement speech Wednesday, the class president for the Bunnell High School Class of 2013 requested a round of applause.

The crowd gave it to her.

“We have been an outstanding class,” said McHale, who plans to attend Marist in the fall where she’ll study math.

McHale acknowledged that the journey to graduation was a culmination of many efforts. She thanked the teachers, guidance counselors, coaches, administrators and parents.

“Behind every grad there’s a team of people providing tremendous support,” she said.

McHale entreated her peers to continue to achieve and when things don’t pan out, be determined and don’t get defeated – a message also shared by Stratford Mayor John A. Harkins in his address to the graduating class.

“Refuse to be a victim of circumstance,” he said. The mayor told the Class of 2013 that “saying ‘it’s not my fault’ or ‘it’s not my problem,’” is not a viable option.

“Leave here tonight and claim the successes you deserve,” Harkins said.

Valedictorian Samantha Jeanne Carroll, whose 4.21 GPA was only two-hundredths short of the maximum at Bunnell, challenged her peers to “face life head on.”

But she also spoke of the qualities that make a good person, such as being kind and honest.

“Life is not all about the big houses,” she said. “It is the small things that we do that make the biggest difference.”