First published in the June 9 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
By Supervisor Kathryn Barger
Congratulations, Class of 2022! You’ve reached an incredible milestone in your lives and our community is immensely proud of your achievements.
Your remarkable class has accomplished a lot already and overcome many challenges. Because of all the work you’ve done so far, you’re prepared to succeed in college, in your career and in your community.
You’re the next generation of leaders and our future workforce. Your success greatly matters. I’d like to share some advice that I hope you can use to inform your next steps and path forward.
My main message to you is simple: The very best is still to come. Don’t give up. In this next chapter, continue to be open to new things because you never know what remarkable opportunities await you when you say “yes” to a challenge. In the process, don’t be afraid to fail. It’s not what hurdles you encounter that matter, but how you handle them. Your future is limitless — all you need to do is lean on the strength you already have within yourself.
And lastly, remember that the most important part of life is the relationships you build along the way. Our goals are so much more worthwhile when we achieve them together. No matter what path you choose, or how many detours you take, always stand tall, keep trying and surround yourself with a community who cheers you on every step of the way.
