Foxborough High Class of 2012 Has One Last Goodbye at Graduation

While sad to see the end of the collective journey for the Class of 2012 at Foxborough High School, class president Edward Shine remained optimistic in his opening remarks that this was not an end but rather a beginning at baseball field Sunday.

“Today is indeed a day for celebration as it represents not only 12 years of school coming to a close, but also the start of a new chapter in our lives,” Shine said.

For the 202 members of the FHS Class of 2012, this was the end of their high school journey.

Both superintendent Debbie Spinelli and school committee vice-chair Katie Adair spoke at the beginning of the commencement exercises. For Spinelli, this was her first graduating class and she couldn’t ask for anything better.

"You’ve been a great class so if you going to have to attach your name to a first graduating class, you would be it,” Spinelli told the graduating seniors.

In her speech, Spinelli asked the class to remember their potential and what someone else may thing of your potential will not matter as long as you know what you can do. Relating it to herself, Spinelli said that only a few years ago she did not see herself as a superintendent, admitting that she surprised herself with her potential.

“You do not yet know your own potential,” Spinelli continued. “Try to surprise yourself with your potential. Don’t let anyone else predetermine or judge your potential. It is yours alone. If you don’t yet know your own potential, how can they?”

It was an extra special day for Adair. In addition to speaking, her son, Dan Adair, was also graduating. Telling the class that things may not always work out, the journey isn’t about sticking to a plan but rather seeing what happens when the plan doesn’t work out.

“Class of 2012, dream and believe," Adair said. "Don’t get discourage if in the pursuit of your goal a door closes. How we view our circumstances can make the difference between being stuck and not. Discover what you can learn from them. Don’t lose sight of the bigger picture.”

Returning to the stage for the first of two senior speeches, Shine admitted that he’s not going to remember every detail but he will remember the bigger picture like the friendships made during his time in high school.

“I may not remember what I ate for lunch on that first day of high school, but I will remember that a group a seniors asked me, a nervous, insecure freshman to eat lunch with them,” Shine said as an example. “We may not remember everyone whose paths we crossed here, but my fellow classmates I think that you would agree we me that we would never ever forget the friendships that we forged here.”

As class valedictorian Alana Prinos gave the final speech before the presentation of the diplomas, she went back to the acronym YOLO (you only live once) that the class has made their unofficial class motto.

“What sets us apart is that we have learned to embrace the true spirit of YOLO over the course of our last four years here at Foxborough High, “ Prinos said. ”YOLO means don’t be afraid to take risks. Do something different or try something that has never been done before.”

The spirit of the acronym remained strong to the end as Prinos encouraged her peers to seize the day and always give life everything you got.

“Every single day that goes by is a once in a lifetime opportunity," Prinos said. "Whatever it is you decide to do that day, give it everything you have. Put your heart and soul into it.”