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George F. Baker High School's Class of 2018 drives off to face the future

| 28 Jun 2018 | 05:48
    Photos by Ed Bailey The George F. Baker High School Class of 2018 stand with their teachers at the beginning of graduation exercises on June 21.
    Photos by Ed Bailey The George F. Baker High School Class of 2018 stand with their teachers at the beginning of graduation exercises on June 21.
    The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Gerard O'Reilly, James O'Reilly and Heidi Willins.
    The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Gerard O'Reilly, James O'Reilly and Heidi Willins.
    George F. Baker High School Principal Jason Schrammel congratulates Valedictorian Justin Alexander Luna.
    George F. Baker High School Principal Jason Schrammel congratulates Valedictorian Justin Alexander Luna.
    “I would like you to remember,” Superintendent of Schools Nancy Teed told the graduates, “the power of positivity and to keep in mind that if you think you can, you can and you will.”
    “I would like you to remember,” Superintendent of Schools Nancy Teed told the graduates, “the power of positivity and to keep in mind that if you think you can, you can and you will.”
    The National Anthem was performed by the High School Voice Ensemble.
    The National Anthem was performed by the High School Voice Ensemble.
    The processional to the 87th Commencement at George F. Baker High School in Tuxedo last Thursday, the first day of summer.
    The processional to the 87th Commencement at George F. Baker High School in Tuxedo last Thursday, the first day of summer.

TUXEDO — Twenty-eight young men and women graduated last Thursday evening, June 21, during the 87th commencement of George F. Baker High School.
In her remarks to the students, Superintendent of Schools Nancy Teed used the analogy of learning to drive a car with a standard transmission. Consider:
“The standard requires you to drive while shifting gears with a clutch, gas pedal and brake. Most cars today are automatics, but there is such an importance to the ‘stick shift.’
“When you are learning to shift gears while pushing on the gas and clutch in synchronization, there is a chance of the car stalling ... but you keep going, starting out in first gear slowly, gradually shifting to second and so on until you are at a cruising speed appropriate for fifth gear.
“Life typically starts out in first speed as you transition to new things such as college, a job or the military. You have visualized in your mind what the next chapter holds for you, just as you would sit in a car with a stick shift knowing what you have to do to move forward. You move ahead, maybe bucking a little as you go, just knowing you will get there with dedication, hard work and persistence.
“As you move on in life you are going to be faced with many opportunities as well as many challenges.... You will need to be persistent and go after those goals that you set out to achieve. As Brian Dyson stated, ‘Nothing is really over until the moment you stop trying.’”