The 152 graduates of the 55th Patrick County High School (PCHS) Commencement Exercise on Friday, May 23, were told not just to be graduates of the school, but also graduates of humanity.
The words of wisdom came from Student Government Association President Eliza Lin Clifton, who encouraged her fellow graduates to be “people who choose empathy over ego, action over apathy, and love over hate,” as that is the greatest distinction people can strive for.
Clifton said being kind is free, and choosing cruelty or judgment—especially toward others who are different—costs far more than most realize.
“Empathy is at the core of what it means to be human. In a world that feels more divided every day we must remember this: none of us have any control over the circumstances of our birth, families, where we grew up, what we faced, or what we were given. Some of us have had the freedom to dream without limits, others carried burdens far too heavy for their age. Some of us have hidden parts of ourselves, our identities, our truths just to avoid bullying or rejection,” she said.
That shouldn’t be the world the graduating class is stepping into, and it definitely shouldn’t be the world they allow to continue, Clifton said.
However, she believes that with that awareness comes a responsibility to not just chase their own goals, but to help others reach theirs.
“Success shouldn’t be measured by how far we go, but by how many people we bring with us. The true measure of a person isn’t how high they rise, but by how they treat others on the way up,” she said.
Inequality isn’t some distant issue, Clifton said, but is present in their own communities—noting that while some graduates were debating which college to choose, others were wondering if they’d have a safe place to sleep after the ceremony.
“These divides are real. They don’t always show on the surface, but they shape lives. If we want to change the world we’re entering, we have to stop pretending they don’t exist. We must be better and we must stop the hate. We must stop the bullying, not just in schools but in society, not just when it’s easy, but especially when it’s hard. It’s not enough to not be mean, we have to be actively kind,” she said.
Although graduation day should be filled with nothing but excitement, Senior Class President Jymasia Hykeim Manns said it also has a bittersweet feeling, as it seemed like a day so far away but came so quickly.
“I can remember like it was yesterday getting lost in the hallway on the first day of eighth grade — I panicked a little bit. Ever since that day we have all been looking forward to graduation for years,” he said.
During that time, Manns said he was told that the years would fly by and to enjoy every moment.
“I didn’t believe them at first because it felt like it was never going to end. It wasn’t until these last few months that I realized our lives were about to change forever. In those five years there were many ups and downs, but we made it,” he said.
No matter how many challenges the graduating class faced, it kept pushing forward to this day.
Manns said he was talking with a friend one day about tattoos, who said he wanted one of a shark.
“At first I was confused about why he wanted that, but once he explained the purpose of it I realized the depth behind it. The meaning of it was that a shark can’t swim backwards, it can go forward. The mentality to keep moving forward is something that we all need to keep as we go through life,” he said.
As a Marvel movie fan, Manns said in The Amazing Spider-Man 2, the character Gwen Stacey says, “It’s easy to feel hopeful on a beautiful day like today, for there will be dark days ahead of us too. There will be days where you feel all alone and that’s when hope is needed the most.”
Manns said he chose that particular quote to encourage the rest of his class to always have hope, even on the bad days that may come.
“Jeremiah 29:11 says, ‘For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’ This verse assures us that even though we may not know what comes next in our lives, God has a plan for each and every one of us,” he said.
PCHS Principal Hope Perry said the 152 graduates have accomplished outstanding academic achievements.
“Their future looks incredibly bright and we couldn’t be prouder of their hard work, dedication, and their success,” she said.
While earning their high school diplomas, Perry said nine graduates also earned their associate degrees from Patrick & Henry Community College (P&HCC), and seven graduates earned their Applied Mechatronics Career Studies Certificates.
Perry said it’s her desire that PCHS students leave with one of three things: gainful employment, plans to continue education, or plans to go into the military.
Of the graduating class, she noted three plan to enter the military — two in the United States Army and one appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy.
“Students whose courage honestly leaves me in awe, especially because they’re going to be leaving in the next month as their new chapters begin. They made the bold decision to serve and protect our wonderful country for at least the next four years. That kind of selfless commitment to something bigger than themselves is something that I truly respect. We are so proud of them,” she said.
The Class of 2025’s class colors were Cougar green and gold. The class flower is wildflowers. The class song is “Dreams” by Fleetwood Mac, and the class motto is “If you’re going to be late, you might as well go to Hardee’s.”
