As a community is a tapestry of relationships, those formative places in which we first gather are the looms. For 102 years, Liberty HS has produced a colorful weave of over 70,000 graduates, among them the class of 2024, which officially commenced at Stabler Arena June 6.

Herman Melville, whose famed Ahab was literally adrift from his fellow man while stalking his obsession, supplied the year’s theme, “We cannot live only for ourselves. A thousand fibers connect us with our fellow man.”

Such was in the mind of each speaker as they reflected on the small interwoven society of high school and the greater one they are joining as young adults.

“Each of you has a unique story, full of growth, opportunities, challenges, friendships, failures and successes,” said class Secretary Julia Medaska. “Despite our differences, we’re here and we’re graduating together. After today, each of you holds the power and privilege to write the next chapter in your story, guided by the lessons learned and the memories created at Liberty HS.”

She quoted Henry David Thoreau’s Walden: “Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you want.”

Medaska said, “Never forgot that your fellow graduates, teachers, and the rest of the Liberty HS community will always have your back.”

Faculty-chosen speaker Grace Daja said the fabric of community is vibrantly cultivated at Liberty. “We’re made up of people from all over the world with different cultures, backgrounds and traditions, and we can come together to do anything and everything we set our minds to. This community has taken many forms; the camaraderie of the sports teams, the musical buzz of the band, the energy C6 and the liveliness of pep rallies. It’s the collective intelligence of our chess teams, our robotics teams, our scientists and our business leaders. But most importantly this community consists of differences, the diversity that all of us bring to the table.”

When Daja arrived at Liberty, the first organization she found was the band, she said, and fascinating and caring people whose music came together with power, each person contributing to a mighty presence. “It’s not the single soccer player that wins the game or the single event that wins the track meet. Yes, each of those individual voices are important, but the greater sound when we come together as one. When the individuals become one, we have the power to shape our world in ways we never thought were possible.

“Our Liberty family becomes stronger every year,” Daja said. “We’ve connected ourselves with the people around us, forming bonds that will last a lifetime, and we’ve weaved ourselves into the fabric of the city, helping those older and younger. When I was working with Cops ‘n’ Kids, there were kids that showed up to every event. Those same people are the ones that I saw at the apple or blueberry festivals, or at the library. That’s one of Liberty’s greatest strengths; the ability of its students to reach out into their communities and diversify their experiences and the Liberty hive mind.”

Class Speaker Sergio Laracuente first reassured his friends. “This speech will be short and sweet, just like my attention span in the classroom.” He continued, “What am I doing standing up here. I wasn’t class president, and I definitely not valedictorian. It’s just me: Serge. But you know what, the world is made up of people just like me, who didn’t necessarily have the greatest privileges or accomplishments, but why shouldn’t we have a voice too?”

As the self-appointed voice of the common man, Laracuente told his classmates to look around and appreciate the beauty and the faces of the people around them. “I know a handful of you just want to grab your diploma and leave right away, and that’s OK. Still, for many of you this will be the only time you get to experience a feeling like this, so enjoy the moment. Though the chaos we’ve all been through the last four years has been rough, there’s also profound beauty in the shared experiences, the bonds we’ve formed and the strength that’s carried us through.”

Laracuente continued, “As you leave the familiar halls of Liberty HS think back to the beginning: You as a wide-eyed freshman envisioning what you could accomplish. That was your entrance to new opportunities. Whether the past four years have been enjoyable for you, I hope you appreciate that Liberty prepared you for the real world. Liberty is as real and as beautiful as it gets. It’s not uncommon for people to wait their whole lives to start living those dreams beyond the boundaries of what seems possible. Envision your future filled with purpose, passion and impact. If your dream is to start a business, travel the world, become an artist, or make a difference in your community, never underestimate the power of your aspirations.”

Laracuente concluded, “If anyone tells you your dreams are silly, there’s a millionaire walking around who invented a pool noodle.”