Be Bold, Brave, and Courageous: Address by JOC President

Thank you Mr. Milanovich. It’s an honor to be with everyone virtually today as we celebrate the achievements of the Lawrence County Career and Technical Center Class of 2020.

We share with everyone the excitement of our graduating seniors and the tremendous pride of their families, friends, and faculty members. We see accomplished young men and women ready to launch into their next life experience.

The class of 2020 has faced circumstances during this coronavirus pandemic. Graduates you have been impacted by your final semester being cut short, finishing your classes virtually, and all of the special events associated with your senior year being cancelled. Even though your graduation ceremony is lacking the usual pomp and circumstance ceremony due to the pandemic, your graduating class is stepping into the future with more purpose, vision, passion, energy, and hope. Please don’t let the Class of 2020 be defined by what you lost, but by how you responded to it. Remember to act today and tomorrow with love, compassion, and respect.

I hope that all of you have been inspired to pursue careers where you can use your voice to help create a better future for everyone everywhere.

 My advice to each of you is to take pride in yourself, embrace the challenges of today, be open to change, strive to be the best you can be, and remember to give back to your community . Don’t be afraid to try something new. You’ve made it through these difficult last few months making sacrifices due to the pandemic and the obstacles it presented. 

I agree with Tom Hanks when he said, “Now the future is always uncertain but we who celebrate what you have done, who celebrate all of your achievements, we are certain of one thing on this day- YOU WILL NOT LET US DOWN.”

Graduates you have an important role to play in making this world a better place by choosing to do something with real purpose and necessity. Stay focused, embrace your desire and believe in yourself to achieve great things. 

On behalf of the JOC, I’d like to congratulate you all and wish you all the best of luck in the future. Remember to be BOLD, BRAVE, AND COURAGEOUS!

Please enjoy Mrs. Allenbach’s address she made for our virtual graduation HERE.