PITTSFIELD — The gloomy weather forced Maine Central Institute to move its graduation exercises indoors Sunday afternoon, forgoing the traditional outdoor observance on the Pittsfield campus.
But the mood was sunny in Wright Gymnasium as valedictorian Andrew Schanck congratulated his 116 classmates, noting that many of them had to overcome some adversity or challenge during their high school years.
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“Often that adversity will change or define our lives. I can tell you that many of us have endured such an experience during our time here, including me,” Schanck said.
The honor student and four-year member of the MCI jazz band and chorus revealed that he developed an eating disorder along with severe depression that begain during his sophomore year. “Earlier this year, my condition became so critical I was forced to seek treatment in the form of intensive hospitalization. Yet this care was the answer I needed and I am currently well on my way towards full recovery,” Schanck said.
The valedictorian emphasized that he didn’t tell the story “to garner sympathy.”
“It is simply my personal example of the trials we all will face. Our challenges will all be different. They may be medical or financial, the loss of a home, the loss of a loved one or any countless other hardships. However, the point is that although we will all face adversity, we all have the capability to overcome these adversities. With the will, the aid of (those) who care about us, and a faith in God — however we choose to comprehend God — we will succeed,” Schanck.
In a sense, Schank’s revelation paralleled the school’s theme for the 2012 year: leadership.
“This outstanding senior class sought to improve student culture by taking positive risks as leaders; and by doing so themselves, risked failure, discomfort — even popularity,” MCI Headmaster Christopher Hopkins said. But as a result, Hopkins said that he could see “a palpable shift in the sense of responsibility to self and others on campus. I’m proud of them, this school and the community.”
Commencement speaker Michael A. Gallagher, who is retiring next month at the superintendent of School Administrative District 53, recalled that he, his wife and daughter attended their first graduation 27 years ago. “My wife and I haven’t missed one since. Believe me, 27 years ago, I never imagined I’d be on this stage,” Gallagher said.
Gallagher commended the class for selecting “an impressive motto: ‘Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.’ This speaks highly of our ambition to be adventuresome and your desire to take healthy risks that will make your way in life one that will leave evidence of your accomplishments.”
One of those accomplishments, Gallagher noted, was the formation of the Student Leadership Committee to address the results of the latest Maine Integrated Youth Health Survey.
“This committee of students wished to enlist the support of the adult community in an attempt to assist them in changing the current community culture by reducing the use of tobacco products and the use and abuse of alcohol and drugs,” Gallagher said. “Take a minute and imagine a committee of fifth-graders through seniors in high school working together to formulate their own mission statement.”
Gallagher also praised MCI senior Sammy Gachagua, who started a drive to collect shoes for youngsters in his home country of Kenya so that they could attend school. Gachagua’s quest went viral through the Internet and media coverage, and Gallagher noted that while Gachagua’s goal was 1,000 pairs of shoes “he ended up with four times that amount.”
“Wouldn’t it be great if all our goals ended up four times better than we expected?” Gallagher asked.
Gachagua later drew one of the biggest rounds of applause when he was announced as the winner of the Margaret Witham Challenge Cup, named in honor of the former MCI teacher, guidance counselor and alumni director. The recipient is the senior “who best demonstrates the ideal of setting high goals and challenging himself or herself to achieve them.”
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