GRANGER — Strong bonds created in the last four years were remembered for Granger High School graduates this past weekend.
On Saturday, May 25, the class of 2024 made their final stand together on the stage at the Taylor Main Event Center for graduation.
“It’s been journey of challenges, late nights and early mornings, and now, we’re standing at the edge of new beginnings,” said Chase Edwards during the welcome. “Each of you have turned pages, written papers and contributed to the legacy of this institution...Remember that this is not just an end, but a launchpad into the adventures that await.”
Salutatorian Payton Filla expressed gratitude to everyone who helped the graduates reach the peak of their high school careers – graduation. She also thanked her late brother Dylan Filla, who passed away in October 2022.
“His tragic passing my junior year has pushed me to be the best that I possibly can,” she said fighting through tears.
While she didn’t want to speak for everyone, Filla said she knows everyone was waiting for graduation since they were freshmen.
“I’m proud to say we did not just passed high school, we took off,” she said. “Through the mental health trials, endless homework, nonstop rumor and just waking up to go to school, we made it.”
She encouraged her classmates to carry memories, friendships and lessons learned into the future.
“Let us strive not only for personal success, but for the betterment of society,” she said.
Valedictorian Tessa Burton said the year was filled with ups and downs, firsts and lasts including students last first day of school.
“It’s crazy how fast these years of high school went by,” she said.
She talked about how as eighth graders they did not know what the future held because of the pandemic. As freshmen, things were getting back to normal except having to wear masks to play sports.
“The COVID babies are finally graduating,” she laughed. “We couldn’t have been here without the support of our family, our friends and out teachers.”
As she began to thank her family, Burton broke down into tears when speaking of her brother Tristen Burton who passed away in February.
“I know he’s right here and he’s so happy for me to be on this stage,” she said.
To close her message to classmates, Burton said to have faith.
“Don’t give up on God when things become difficult, because God would never give up on you,” Burton said.
